No restart for Hirvonen

Mikko Hirvonen's 2013 World Rally Championship campaign is at an end after confirmation that the Citroen man won't restart on day three of Wales Rally GB.

The Finn had been running in fourth place going into the first run through Myherin but a mistake from co-driver Jarmo Lehtinen saw the pair go too quickly into a corner that Hirvonen thought was flat - with the resultant roll causing too much damage to be repaired in service.

"It came from a mistake in the pace notes on a long, flat corner in sixth that tightened to fifth gear," Hirvonen said. "Jarmo didn't say that it tightened so I just kept sixth gear, flat out, and then it was too late.

"We slid wide, then flipped upside down and the windscreen broke as soon as we hit the roadside bank. The inside of the car is completely full of mud and stones..."

Hirvonen's accident was the third disaster to hit the Citroen team after Dani Sordo picked up a five-minute penalty prior to the start and Robert Kubica then rolled himself on the opening stage of Friday morning.

"For sure you never expect to lose two cars so early on," team boss Yves Matton reflected when approached by Crash.net at the end of day service. "For Robert, it was a small mistake and he missed his braking and although he tried to save it with the handbrake, he ran wide and lost the car. From what we know, his car will be okay for Saturday but the FIA will need to have a look at the rollcage.

"Mikko's was a small mistake from Jarmo and he tried a corner flat that wasn't flat. By the time he realised, it was too late and the car is too damaged to restart which is disappointing for Mikko.

"It is difficult for Dani because of his penalty but he set some good times today and hopefully he can continue like that tomorrow and go as quickly as he can compared to the front runners."