Katsuta holds commanding lead after chaotic Saturday at Safari Rally

Takamoto Katsuta holds a significant advantage heading into the final day of the Safari Rally following a Saturday marked by extreme mechanical failures and retirements. The Japanese driver’s decision to prioritize car preservation through the morning loops proved decisive as the field was decimated by the challenging terrain and technical issues.

The rally standings underwent a drastic transformation during the morning sessions, particularly following the Sleeping Warrior stage. Elfyn Evans was forced to retire with suspension damage, while both Oliver Solberg and Sébastien Ogier suffered alternator failures during the subsequent liaison, effectively clearing the top of the leaderboard.

Adrien Fourmaux moved into second place, trailing Katsuta by one minute and 25.5 seconds, while Sami Pajari currently occupies the final podium spot. The day concluded early when officials cancelled the second pass of the Sleeping Warrior stage due to weather-induced damage that compromised emergency access to the route.