Magalhães out after high-speed crash

Bruno Magalhães’ bid to replicate his point-scoring finish on Rallye Monte-Carlo last season has ended in disappointment after the Peugeot Sport Portugal driver crashed out on Wednesday’s final stage.

The three-time Portuguese champion and Intercontinental Rally Challenge event winner, was in ninth overall when he left the road at high speed.

Although his Peugeot 207 Super 2000 suffered extensive damage, both he and co-driver Paulo Grave were uninjured.

“It was in a very fast part,” said Magalhães. “We were in sixth gear on a fast right and we started to slide at the rear. It was impossible to recover, we hit a bridge, the car went up and we landed in a small river. We are both okay but the car suffered a lot of damage.”

Magalhães and Grave were competing together for the first time since 2007: “We were finding our confidence and rhythm. Everything was okay and we were beginning to push but then we crashed. It happens.”