Crash won't hamper Ford preparations

The crash, which happened while running in the dark last night rather than early this morning as first reported, did halt Ford's test, but the team is already shipping another Fiesta RS WRC out to Portugal for Mikko Hirvonen to use on Saturday and Sunday.

Latvala had been expected to run through today, but he will now drive the new car after Hirvonen on Monday.

Wilson said: "Unfortunately, Jari crashed on what would have been one of his last runs last night. We've got the other car on its way for Mikko to use and Jari will be back in it for another day, so both guys will get their two days on gravel as planned before Mexico."

The Cumbrian added that the Fiesta's shorter wheelbase and different handling characteristics made the car harder to drive the its predecessor.

He said: "Both of our drivers stressed in Sweden that the shorter wheelbase does make the car more reactive and harder to drive and it seems Jari has fallen foul of that."

This is Latvala's second successive pre-event crash and, once again, the test Fiesta has suffered substantial damage in the accident.

While the crashed car was rebuilt in Sweden, it did scupper Ford's plans to contest the Arctic Rally. This time, however, the Fiesta will be returned to base with damage to the roll cage in two places. The car barrel rolled down the road close to the end of the stage. Both Latvala and his co-driver Miikka Anttila were uninjured in the shunt.