Ott Tanäk crashed out of third place in the 22.15km Malhao (SS10) when the Estonian went off the road at the same place where Jari-Matti Latvala suffered his monster crash in 2009.
Tanak’s Fiesta RS came to rest blocking the road, and both Mikko Hirvonen and Jari Ketomaa were held up for several minutes. The stage was neutralised and the remaining competitors drove through uncompetitively. Notional times will be awarded to those crews.
Both Tanak and co-driver Raigo Mölder are reported to be OK.
Latvala’s crash in 2009 was one of the biggest in WRC history. A long fast straight leads into a right corner that tightens into an immediate left bend. Latvala’s car leapt the crash barrier and plunged almost 200 metres down a hillside as it rolled 12 times.