Loeb criticises Argentina organisers

Seven of Friday's eight stages were called off after bad weather delayed competitors' return from Buenos Aires - where the opening River Plate Stadium superspecial had been held - to the rally base in Cordoba. Only Friday evening's Cordoba stadium superspecial went ahead as planned.

The trip to Buenos Aires saw competitors and officials travel by air while the cars were taken by road transporters overnight. Although the outward journey went smoothly on Wednesday, storms and subsequently fog meant that the last of the three aeroplanes bringing crews back to Cordoba did not arrive until Friday afternoon.

Loeb said he had always feared that the schedule would prove over-ambitious.

"When I first heard about what the organisers were planning for the 2007 event, I wasn't particularly enthralled at the idea," he said.

"The way things turned out shows there was good reason to be concerned.

"All these cancelled stages are such a shame for all the spectators who were waiting to watch us through the stages. Argentina is a country where rallying is immensely popular and depriving all the fans of today's action is such a sad waste."

Subaru team director Richard Taylor accepted that the weather disruption was out of the rally officials' hands, but agreed with Loeb's criticisms.

"It's been a strange opening leg, in that we've completed less then five kilometres of competitive rallying," Taylor said.

"We sympathise with the event organisers, because the disruption to the event has been caused by circumstances out of their control.

"It is particularly sad for the huge number of fans who went out onto the stages to cheer on the drivers.

"However, it seems that the plan to hold the Superspecial in Buenos Aires on Thursday evening was too ambitious."

Although Citroen boss Guy Frequelin concurred, he added that he hoped Friday's events did not jeopardise the Rally Argentina's place on the calendar.

"On paper, the idea of taking the rally to a new public in Buenos Aires was a sound one. In the end, however, it all went wrong," said Frequelin.

"It's such a huge shame for all those who, like every year, turned out in numbers to watch the stages.

"I hope this won't have any repercussions for the event, which is one the great World Rally Championship fixtures.

"We always receive such a warm welcome here and it would be a pity to deprive ourselves of the trip out to Argentina. Let's put this unhappy incident behind us now and let's get on with the real sport."