Loeb given one-minute time penalty

Sebastien Loeb has been handed a one-minute time penalty for checking in early at the regroup in Villa Carlos Paz.

The Citroen Total World Rally Team star, a winner in Argentina on the last five occasions, completed the morning loop of three stages 18.9s adrift of leader Jari-Matti Latvala in fourth overall. The punishment would drop the seven-time champion back to sixth position when it is applied to his total time.

Citroen will not make an official comment until senior team members have met with the rally organisers. However, it is understood Loeb’s co-driver Daniel Elena checked in two seconds ahead of the allotted time due to confusion created by a large build-up of people surrounding the timing clocks at the entrance to the control.