Championship leader Evans retires from Rally Kenya

Elfyn Evans has been forced to retire from Rally Kenya after his car suffered damage in swamp-like conditions on Saturday.

The Welshman had made a promising start on Thursday and was second overall prior to suffering rear-right suspension damage on the punishing 31km 'Sleeping Warrior' stage.

Oliver Solberg, who is second to Evans in this year's World Rally Championship (WRC), also had to retire along with nine-time world champion Sebastien Ogier.

It meant Evans' Toyota team-mate Takamoto Katsuta was able to take the lead going into Sunday's final stage.

Toyota's deputy team principal, former WRC champion Juha Kankkunen, said: "The last stage was quite muddy and tough, and the mud went into the engine side and broke the alternators for both of them [Solberg and Ogier].

"Oliver also has a little bit of, let's say, a transmission problem as well, and Elfyn we know already, so it hasn't been the best morning.

"I have been in Kenya so many times that it doesn't surprise me when something like that happens. The conditions have been really tough and the cars should be built for that, but in those muddy conditions it can go everywhere."