SS14: Kubica crashes out

Robert Kubica retired from Rallye Monte-Carlo after crashing his Ford Fiesta RS as he crossed the finish line of the penultimate stage on Sunday morning.

The Pole, who won four stages during the first three days, was reported to have suffered brake failure as he crossed the flying finish of the legendary Col de Turini test. His car went off the road and the impact ripped two wheels from the Fiesta RS.

Second-placed Jari-Matti Latvala appeared stressed as he steered his Volkswagen Polo R into the finish. “The brakes are horrible. I had no bite on them and it was very, very scary to drive. We only have one stage left, so I hope it will be OK,” said the Finn.

He was only seventh, two places behind team-mate and leader Sébastien Ogier, who was 11.4sec faster to increase his lead to 58.8sec.

Sébastien Loeb won the stage by 8.8sec from Citroen team-mate Mads Østberg. That promoted the Frenchman to eighth in the standings, relegating the Ford Fiesta RS of Martin Prokop.

Yuriy Protasov encountered gearbox problems through this morning’s opening test and things were no better here. His DS 3 had no third gear and the Ukraine driver dropped 90sec.