Loeb fastest but disaster for Burkart

While Sebastien Loeb kept a firm grip on the lead of Rally de Espana on Saturday’s opening stage, there was high drama further down the order when J-WRC title hopeful Aaron Burkart tumbled out of the competition.

Burkart, 28, began this final round of the Junior series with a seven point lead in the standings, and was on course to scoop the title before an incident fifty metres before the end of the 26km all asphalt Santa Marina.

The German’s Suzuki Swift left the road on the final corner and tumbled down a bank. Burkart and his co-driver Andre Kachel were uninjured but their car was too far down the bank to get back on the road.

“I was braking for the corner but we lost a front wheel. No wheel, no turning. So we went straight on. I pulled the handbrake but that was it. I don’t know how this happened. I’m sure I didn’t hit anything. Yes, we were cutting the corners - but no more than anybody else. I feel upset - on the edge of crying. Literally 50 metres before the finish and the wheel comes off. What can you do?”

Back in the WRC competition, Ford Focus RS driver Federico Villagra was also in trouble. The Argentinean Munchis team-leader lost more than a minute to the leaders as a result of an overheating engine.

Overall standings after SS7: