Rallying: Ogier To Sit Out Saturday Stages Due To Crash

JYVDSKYLD, Finland, , (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Jul, 2017 ) - World championship leader Sebastien Ogier sat out racing at the Rally of Finland on Saturday following a crash on Friday to give his co-pilot time to recover, his M-Sport team said.

The reigning four-time world champion and his co-driver Julien Ingrassia were taken to hospital for tests after their Ford Fiesta went off the road on the fourth stage. "In agreement with the organisers, we have retired Sebastien to allow Julien more time to recover.

Hopefully they'll be back tomorrow (Sunday)," said M-Sport on Twitter. Race medics had said Ingrassia should take a two-week break after suffering from headaches, nausea, abdominal pain and vomiting, but said they would re-evaluate that decision on Saturday night.

Ogier's car suffered a broken suspension in the crash that prevented him from completing Friday's racing. The Frenchman is hoping to be able to race on Sunday to try to gain points in the power stage.

However, he could lose his lead in the overall standings to Belgium's Thierry Neuville as Ogier holds a slender 11-point lead. The Rally winner picks up 25 points, although Neuville finished Friday down in eighth place, good enough only for five points. Eight specials are on the programme for Saturday, with Finland's Esapekka Lappi, 26, leading through 14 stages.