New Headline: Welsh Driver Struggles on 'Uncharacteristically Poor' Route at Grand Prix

Motorsport photo Oliver Solberg emerged from a Safari Rally Kenya mud bath with the lead, as several crews slammed rally organisers over a “dangerous” decision to make changes to the route. Solberg took a slender one-second overnight lead over Toyota team-mate Sebastien Ogier into Saturday, which was expected to test crews to the very limit. While the rain stayed away, severe muddy conditions turned sections of stages into swamps.

Despite picking up a double puncture in stage 12, Solberg emerged with a 42. 6s lead over Ogier, who had tumbled down the order after losing two minutes to a left-rear puncture in the opening test. There was further drama for Elfyn Evans , who was forced to retire from second with a right-rear suspension failure in stage 13.

Prior to Evans’ exit, the Welshman and Solberg were angered by a decision made by the rally organisers to make alterations to Stage 12. Barriers and taping were added to sections in an attempt to restrict corner-cutting, with the amendments communicated to crews via a video. Solberg, Evans and Toyota team-mate Takamoto Katsuta all picked up double punctures on the right-hand side of their cars in the stage, with the route changes suggested as a reason for the tyre failures.

"Seriously, organiser and FIA, what they’ve done here at the end is unacceptable. Putting sticks [up on corners] after recce and sending us a phone video. All the sticks are gone and there are rocks everywhere, they talk about safety, this is dangerous," said Solberg.