SS5: Despair for Latvala

Jari-Matti Latvala has dropped out of the lead of Rally Guanajuato Mexico after a broken front suspension arm struck his Ford Fiesta RS WRC.

The Finn’s misfortune means he slips more than 90 seconds behind new leader Mikko Hirvonen, who was second fastest to Citroen team-mate Sebastien Loeb through the final stage of Friday’s opening loop of tests. Hirvonen’s lead over Loeb is a slender 0.6s.

Petter Solberg has climbed from 10th to seventh overall with the third best time in his Ford World Rally Team Fiesta.

Mads Ostberg impressed with the fourth fastest time to move ahead of Thierry Neuville in the overall classification. Latvala’s woes mean Ostberg is now third with Neuville fourth.

Crews are now heading back to Leon for the midday service halt. Stage six, the repeat of the El Cubilete run, gets underway at 13:36hrs local time.