The World Rally Championship has commenced in dramatic circumstances with Hyundai factory driver Hayden Paddon rolling his i20 on the opening test of the Monte Carlo Rally.
Paddon and co-driver John Kennard were uninjured in the crash towards the end of the 21.25km Entrevaux to Ubraye SS1 with the Hyundai sliding into a bank before rolling on its side and blocking the road.
There are reports that a spectator has been involved in the incident with organisers set to release an official statement.
Paddon’s team-mate Thierry Neuville was the fastest in the stage by .7s from M-Sport’s Sebastien Ogier.
Hyundai’s third driver, Dani Sordo was third best but was held up by the Paddon crash with a host of other drivers including Jari-Matti Latvala (Toyota), Ott Tanak (M-Sport), Kris Meeke (Citroen), Craig Breen (Citroen) and Stephane Lefebvre (Citroen) all reduced to road speed on the stage.
It is not yet known how final times will be distributed for the stage.
The second night stage – the 25.49km Bayons to Breziers run – has been subsequently delayed.