Fire destroyed Hayden Paddon’s Hyundai i20 after both he and Ott Tänak rolled (separately) at the same place in Friday afternoon’s opening speed test at Rally Portugal. Officials immediately cancelled the stage.
The Kiwi’s car caught fire after he crashed heavily 11.90km into the second pass of Ponte de Lima. It burned out within five minutes and while Paddon and co-driver John Kennard were unhurt, they were only able to save their crash helmets from the burning wreckage.
What we know so far
– Stage description: Ponte de Lima (SS2 and SS5), 27.44km. Friday’s morning and afternoon opening stage is wide but extremely twisty, with hardly a straight to speak of. After a very short initial asphalt section, the road comprises smooth gravel on top of a clay base. There are a couple more short asphalt stretches where main roads link the gravel sections and far fewer trees – possibly a result of last year’s forest fires. The longest test of the day.
– Paddon crashed 11.9km into the stage, rolling down a hill after what looked like hitting a rut or rock.
– Paddon’s car then caught on fire and burned out within 5 minutes, with Paddon and Kennard only able to save their helmets.
– Other drivers described the stage as being very rough.
– Ford driver Ott Tanak rolled in the same place just minutes later
– At the end of the previous stage (SS4), Paddon and Kennard were in 6th place overall. The car had a small problem with the diff which was fixed at the midday service.
Here’s a Youtube clip showing the accident (roll over) Click Here
More to follow…..
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