Hänninen blames "stupid mistake" for exit
"We tried to get back onto the road but it was impossible"
Juho Hänninen has spoken of the “stupid mistake”, which ended his dream of becoming Intercontinental Rally Challenge champion for a second year in succession.
Hänninen crashed out on the second corner of Friday’s first stage in Cyprus after running wide and rolling. A broken rear suspension arm would have forced his retirement although he had been unable to regain the road in any case, despite the efforts of a number of spectators.
“It was a stupid mistake,” said the ŠKODA Motorsport driver. “I was too fast for the corner, I still don’t know but we were out. We tried to get back onto the road but it was impossible. Now we repair the car and hope to come back tomorrow.”
A spokesperson for Hänninen’s ŠKODA team said: "It’s a shame for Juho but there is still a long way to go in this rally and there are still three ŠKODA drivers in the race for the title. That is the most important thing."