FIA World Rally Championship crews had to face tumultuous challenges during Saturday’s first half.

Deep ruts, rocky tracks, and plenty of standing water, with some sections resembling full-on mud baths, are some of the nightmares the drivers faced.

Meanwhile, Elfyn Evans emerged as the Saturday morning winner to tighten his grip on Safari Rally Kenya, stretching his lead to 1 min 32.5 sec. His rival, Kalle Rovanpera, faced a tyre problem.

“Evans started the day 7.7 sec clear and immediately made a statement on Sleeping Warrior. Despite sustaining rear tyre damage towards the end of the 26.97-kilometre test, he still managed to pull 8.2 seconds further ahead of Toyota GAZOO Racing teammate Rovanpera.

“Rovanperä hit back on Elmenteita—but not in the way he would have hoped. A front-right deflation in the final five kilometres saw him hemorrhage 21.1 seconds to the Welshman, and things went from bad to worse on the following stage at Soysambu. There, a front-left puncture cost the Finn a further 55.5 sec, leaving him trailing Evans by 1 1min 32.5sec at the midday halt,” stats by WRC show.

Thierry Neuville, who also lost time early on, fell to fifth after stopping to change a wheel on the day’s opener.

“That handed fourth to Takamoto Katsuta, who overcame a half spin on Sleeping Warrior and ended the loop 1 1min sec clear of Neuville. Katsuta, who went fastest on SS13, trailed Tanak by 1 1min 47.7sec,” WRC explains.

In sixth overall is Sami Pajari, who remained unchallenged. Jan Solans overtook Gus Greensmith to finish seventh and the WRC2 lead. Greensmith was eighth while Gregoire Munster and Fabrizio Zaldivar rounded out the top 10.