TRIER, Germany // Jari-Matti Latvala strengthened his grip on the Rally of Germany yesterday after the Finn’s teammate, defending world champion Sebastien Ogier, crashed.
Latvala increased his lead from 37 seconds at the start of the third day to 56 going into the closing stages today.
Citroen Total Abu Dhabi’s Kris Meeke is lying second, with Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville one minute adrift in third.
Ogier’s involvement in the ninth leg of the World Rally Championship came to a premature end when his Volkswagen Polo smashed into a roadside barrier on Stage 8, which was then cancelled for safety reasons.
It was the Frenchman’s second mishap – on Friday he careered off the road and into a vineyard.
“We were in sixth gear on a long straight,” Ogier said of yesterday’s accident.
“Then there was a slight corner to the right on a ridge. The jump was a little longer than we thought, the back took off when we touched down, and I lost control of the car.
“Then we hit the roadside barrier and we landed in a ditch. The most important thing at the moment is that Julien [Ingrassia, the co-driver] and me are both OK.”
Meeke, who has finished third three times this season, is hopeful of maintaining his position on the final day.
“It’s promising to be in second position,” Meeke said.
“But we know that anything can still happen in the rest of the rally. We’ll be taking a good look at the weather forecast, because we’ll need to make the right tyre choice.
“The fight [for second] towards the end of the day with Neuville was amazing.
“I decided to drive at my own pace and apparently it was good enough.” In WRC3, Abu Dhabi Racing junior driver Mohamed Al Mutawaa and Stephen McAuley are sitting eighth.
“I’m enjoying Rally Germany especially today under the heavy rain on the last stages of the day,” Al Mutawaa said. “I’m slowly gaining the experience. Hopefully by next year, I will compete with the top guys in my class.”
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