Early exit for Novikov

Evgeny Novikov’s debut on ADAC Rallye Deutschland is over almost before it has began after the Russian retired on the opening stage of the FIA World Rally Championship qualifier.

Co-driven by stand-in navigator Nicolas Klinger for the first time, the 21-year-old Novikov took a rear wheel off his Fiesta RS WRC during an off on the 24.90-kilometre Mittelmosel run.

He will return under Rally 2 regulations on Saturday morning but will almost certainly fail to finish outside of the top 10 when substantial time penalties are applied.