Ott Tänak crashed out of the third special stage of Secto Rally Finland, severely denting his World Rally Championship title hopes.
Tänak had been lying sixth overall after Friday’s opening stage but crashed just over a mile into SS3 Saarikas – a brand-new stage on the rally.
His Hyundai oversteered on entry to a right-hander, ran wide down a ditch and rolled over, with the underside of the i20 N Rally1 then striking a tree before coming to rest.
The incident led to a stage interruption as medical crews entered the stage to check on Tänak and co-driver Martin Järveoja. While Tänak has been confirmed as OK, Järveoja has been taken to hospital for further checks.
In a short statement, Hyundai Motorsport said: “Ott and Martin went off the road on SS3 of Rally Finland. Ott is OK, however Martin will be taken to hospital for further checks. We will provide more updates when possible.”
Once the stage resumed Kalle Rovanperä took the lead of his home rally by 0.8s by setting the fastest time, besting Toyota team-mate Elfyn Evans who moved up to second place.
Toyota has a lockout of the top four places; Sébastien Ogier has dropped from the lead to third place, while Takamoto Katsuta remains fourth.
Esapekka Lappi is now the lead Hyundai in fifth place, passing Thierry Neuville after the championship leader overshot a junction and slid straight on into a narrow clearance in the Finnish forest.
Sami Pajari's Toyota is bruised from a trip into the trees but still running
Sami Pajari continues to hold off Grégoire Munster for eighth place despite a damaged GR Yaris Rally1; he slid wide in the final section of Laukaa and went backwards into some trees, breaking the rear wing and mangling the bodywork on the rear quarters.
