Evgeny Novikov’s debut on ADAC Rallye Deutschland is over almost before it has began after the Russian retired on the opening stage of the FIA World Rally Championship qualifier.
Co-driven by stand-in navigator Nicolas Klinger for the first time, the 21-year-old Novikov took a rear wheel off his Fiesta RS WRC during an off on the 24.90-kilometre Mittelmosel run.
He will return under Rally 2 regulations on Saturday morning but will almost certainly fail to finish outside of the top 10 when substantial time penalties are applied.