Laukkanen retires from Manx Rally

Laukkanen and co-driver Kaj Lindstrom were leading the event when they suffered the terminal damage during stage five, on the opening leg of three-day Isle of Man event.

'Naturally, I'm very disappointed to go out so early,' said the Finn.

'We set the fastest time on the fourth stage and although the Megane was not handling as I would have liked I am sure we would have been in contention for another win.'

SEAT Ibiza driver Gwyndaf Evans leads the event after six stages.

Martin Rowe [Renault] is second, despite a nervous start.

'The car was fine on the opening stages and we were fastest on the third through Castletown,' said Rowe, 'but once we got out onto the fast bumpy stages the car was unpredictable and I had to take it easy.'

His co-driver Derek Ringer said, 'That was a bit of a bucking bronco ride.

'Martin just couldn't feel confident in predicting where the car was going to land over the bumps, so it was wise to survive until the overnight service where we could make some changes to the set-up.'