Toyotas choke in Kenyan quagmire at Safari Rally

The Safari Rally Kenya turned into a nightmare for the Toyota team in muddy conditions on Saturday with the pullout of leaders Oliver Solberg, Sebastien Ogier and Elfyn Evans.

Welshman Evans suffered suspension damage and was dragging the car through thick mud, while Solberg spun out of control and into bushes before picking up two punctures.

"What can I do?" said Solberg.

"I have no spare tyres and I can't see anything," continued the Swedish driver who had zero visibility after running out of windscreen washer fluid.

Ogier's charge came to an abrupt halt after an alternator problem on the road section.

The muddy Kenyan tracks at this third round of the WRC World Championship have been clogging engines and the Japanese manufacturer announced the withdrawal of its three leading crews until Sunday.

"The last special stage was very muddy and difficult, and the mud got in through the engine and broke the alternators on both cars," said Toyota Gazoo Racing's deputy director Juha Kankkunen.

Takamoto Katsuta moved into the overall lead as the Japanese Toyota GR Yaris driver took a cautious approach.

"It is super muddy and tricky and we have no spare, so I completely backed off," Katsuta said.

"It is better to stay in the game and anything can happen in the afternoon."

Katsuta leads by over a minute on Hyundai drivers Thierry Neuville and Adrien Fourmaux.