Burns goes off on first stage
Richard Burns' first Special Stage as reigning World Rally Champion went less than smoothly when he crashed off the road
Peugeot's new signing misjudged a crest and lost control of his Peugeot 206 WRC. But he was able to continue with only light damage to the front of his car.
"Halfway through the stage there was a crest and a jump," Burns explained. "We landed heavily on the crest and it threw us off the road. We were in 5th gear. We landed in a field. We kept the engine running, put it back into first gear and got back on the road again.
"It probably cost us between 10-15 seconds. It's the first time I've driven the car in completely dry conditions."
The world champion's moment accounts for his lack of pace on the opening stage. Burns' Peugeot stopped the clocks more than 27 seconds slower than rally leader Carlos Sainz.
Due to SS2 being cancelled, the drivers head straight to SS3, which is in fact a a re-run of the opening Selonnet-Turriers section. Burns lies 12th overall.
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