SS13: Meeke fighting power loss

Kris Meeke continues to struggle in his bid to climb back into the top five on Wales Rally GB after his MINI John Cooper Works WRC was struck by a possible engine mounting failure.

Briton Meeke was 6.6s slower than stage winner Jari-Matti Latvala in a Ford Fiesta RS WRC. “I think an engine mounting has gone, the engine is rattling and the turbo pipe is off,” said Meeke. “We tried to reattach it but it’s gone again.”

“It was a clean run but I broke far too early for one corner and lost maybe half a second,” said Latvala who still managed to go 0.3s quicker than eight-time world champion Sebastien Loeb.

Frenchman Loeb admitted he’d made several mistakes behind the wheel of his Citroen DS3 WRC. “It was so muddy that it was difficult to make a clean run. There were many spectators where you have the water splashes and the jumps.”

Mads Ostberg says he is struggling to find a rhythm after rival Petter Solberg’s exit prior to today’s first stage. “The way I’m driving now I’m not secure at all,” said the M-Sport Stobart driver. “I don’t find any rhythm at all, I have to calm down.”

Matthew Wilson reported a moment striking a rock near the end of the stage, which momentarily launched his Fiesta. “There was a massive hit to the sump guard,” said the Briton. I hope it’s okay.”

Sebastien Ogier said he dropped a few seconds when his Citroen’s engine briefly cut following a water splash.