Disaster for Ogier on SS8

Citroen Junior team driver Sebastien Ogier made a dramatic exit from the battle for victory on Rally de Espana when he crashed his C4 World Rally Car on Saturday’s second stage.

The Frenchman was lying second, 8.2sec adrift of rally leader Sebastien Loeb, heading into the 20km La Mussara stage, but went off 4km before the finish control.

Ogier’s car collected right-hand rear damage in the crash, which is believed to have happened at a left-hand hairpin. It was more than 10 minutes before Ogier could get underway again - eventually getting his battered car to the finish in a time 15min 36sec slower than the stage winner, Sebastien Loeb.

Ogier’s misfortune promoted Petter Solberg into second, 42.7sec adrift of Loeb, while leading Ford pilot Jari-Matti Latvala moved up to third, just 5.8sec behind the Norwegian.

Loeb’s team-mate Dani Sordo is fourth, 12.6sec further back.

Overall standings after SS8: