News24
24 Jan 2020, 17:43 GMT+10
Reigning World Rally champion Ott Tänak and co-driver and compatriot Martin Jarveoja crashed out of the season-opening Monte Carlo rally on Friday, January 24.
The duo's Hyundai i20 left the road during the fourth special stage.
The car seems to put two wheels on the snow-covered section off the road and the 32-year-old Estonian loses control of the vehicle, veering off the mountain and rolling multiple times.
According to the organisers both were unharmed, but their Hyundai was badly damaged.
Elfyn Evans won the stage ahead of Sebastien Ogier and Thierry Neuville.
Watch the crash here:
AFP reported that Tanak, 32, has never won the Monte Carlo Rally. He was in fourth place overall when he crashed.
His team-mate Thierry Neuville was leading going into the stage from Saint-Clement-sur-Durance to Freissinieres but finished third, ceding the overall lead to Welshman Elfyn Evans in a Toyota who also won Friday's opening stage.
"I was slowed down so much in that section," Neuville, a Belgian, said. "I knew there was something when I saw Ott's lines, so I lost quite a lot of time."
Frenchman Sebastian Ogier, in a Toyota, was second on the stage and is third overall, 5.5sec behind Evans and 2.1sec behind Neuville.
"I hope Ott is okay," Ogier said. "It was a very fast section where he went off with a big compression."
The temperature was below freezing overnight and while there is not a lot of snow on the roads, patches of ice have made the route difficult since the start on Thursday evening.
Several drivers have already been forced to retire after going off the road, including Britain's Gus Greensmith (M-Sport Ford).
Get a daily dose of Raleigh Times news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Raleigh Times.
More InformationREDMOND, Washington: Artificial intelligence is transforming Microsoft's bottom line. The company saved over US$500 million last year...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: A federal rule designed to make it easier for Americans to cancel subscriptions has been blocked by a U.S. appeals...
BASTROP, Texas: In a surprising turn at Elon Musk's X platform, CEO Linda Yaccarino announced she is stepping down, just months after...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: Former British prime minister Rishi Sunak will return to Goldman Sachs in an advisory role, the Wall Street...
LONDON, U.K.: Physically backed gold exchange-traded funds recorded their most significant semi-annual inflow since the first half...
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands: Some 32 percent of global semiconductor production could face climate change-related copper supply disruptions...
ATLANTA, Georgia: The United States is facing its worst measles outbreak in more than three decades, with 1,288 confirmed cases so...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: After months of warnings from former federal officials and weather experts, the deadly flash floods that struck the...
(Photo credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images) Casey Mize got some big news before his final start prior to the All-Star break. The Detroit...
(Photo credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images) Cal Raleigh blasted his major league-leading 37th and 38th home runs, including a grand...
(Photo credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images) Matt Olson will replace Atlanta Braves teammate and fellow All-Star Ronald Acuna Jr. in...
(Photo credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images) Athletics designated hitter Brent Rooker and New York Yankees second baseman Jazz...