Arai crashes during pre-Mexico test

The second round of the FIA World Rally Championship will officially get underway on Thursday evening, but there was drama even before the recce began for Japan’s Toshi Arai and his new British co-driver Daniel Barritt.

The pair, expected to be front-runners in the P-WRC competition, were carrying out a test with their Subaru Impreza on Monday and completed one pass of the gravel road - at an altitude of around 2000 metres above sea level - without any problems.

Arai’s new co-driver Barritt later complained that there had been some interference in the intercom system, but the Japanese launched the Subaru into a high-speed roll on the second pass through the stage.

Arai and Barritt escaped injury but their car sustained damage to its front-end and roof and the test was abandoned. Arai’s car was taken to a garage in Leon for emergency repairs and was returned on Tuesday afternoon. Subject to a satisfactory scrutineers’ inspection, Arai is expected to start the rally on schedule.

Crews will be conclude complete their reconnaissance of the 22 gravel special stages on Wednesday, before the official shakedown and pre-event press conference take place on Thursday.

The rally begins on Thursday evening with the ceremonial start in Guanajuato - a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site. Special stage action on Friday, Saturday and Sunday takes place to the north and east of Leon with the ceremonial finish scheduled for 13:00hrs on Sunday afternoon.