WRC Rally Argentina: Longest stage slashed due to muddy conditions

Rally Argentina organisers have been forced to cut short the longest stage of this week's World Rally Championship round after crews struggled to get through mud on the recce.

Saturday's San Marcos-to-Characato test has had the first nine miles chopped out, shortening what would have been the rally's showcase stage to 26 miles.

The area was hit by storms in February, with a third of the region's regular rainfall (12 inches) falling in 12 hours. While repair efforts were carried out, more recent rain made the roads near impassable.

The second stage on Friday has also been tweaked, with half a mile taken out of the Villa Bustos-to-Tanti test, but it's Saturday's stage which comes as the biggest disappointment to the organisers.

At its expected 35 miles, it would have been the longest of the season so far.

This week's fourth round of the championship won't be short on challenge, however, as crews still face two runs of the 32-mile Ascochinga test on Friday.

Kris Meeke's co-driver Paul Nagle admitted the organiser's decision had been the right one.

"It just wouldn't have been possible to compete there," he said. "No chance.

"It took us about half an hour to get through it on the recce. The rest of the road is good, it's very rough, but it's all passable."

Last year's winner, Jari-Matti Latvala said the rough roads would alter his approach to the event.

"The rally this year will be a combination of speed and durability, so it's not necessarily as hard and attacking as last year," the Finn said.

"You have to be wiser this year because it's asking a lot more from the car. You can't push 100 per cent all the time.

"In some stages you'll be flat-out, but then you have to be a little more patient in some areas."

Meeke and Sebastien Ogier were tied with the fastest time through last night's shakedown stage.

The event gets underway with a superspecial stage in San Luis, 150 miles south of Villa Carlos Paz, tonight.