Oliver Solberg maintained his lead at the Safari Rally Kenya on Friday, though his advantage is rapidly shrinking as Sébastien Ogier mounts a fierce challenge. After six dry stages, the gap between the two Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT drivers is down to just one second, setting the stage for a thrilling showdown on Saturday.
Solberg began the day with a comfortable 33.3-second lead over teammate Elfyn Evans and a margin of over a minute over Ogier. However, Ogier quickly began to close the gap, capitalizing on favorable conditions after a heavy rain shower hampered his performance on Thursday.
Ogier showcased his speed by winning stage four, finishing 2.5 seconds ahead of Sami Pajari and a significant 16.2 seconds faster than Solberg, who admitted to losing approximately 10 seconds after overshooting a corner. Evans also struggled, battling a brake issue with his GR Yaris.
The remaining two stages of the morning loop were dominated by Pajari, who continued to push the limits despite a near roll in stage four and a risky jump in stage six.
Earlier in the day, the opening stage, a second pass through Camp Moran, was canceled due to deteriorating road conditions caused by overnight rain, rendering sections inaccessible to support vehicles. Despite the cancellation, the rally resumed with blue skies and dry stages, allowing for speedy-paced competition.
By the end of Friday’s morning loop, Solberg’s lead had been reduced to 28.8 seconds, with Ogier now only 38.2 seconds behind. Ogier continued to close the gap to Evans, bringing the difference between the two Toyota drivers down to nine seconds. This rally is a crucial event in the World Rally Championship season, and the battle between Solberg and Ogier promises to be a highlight.
