Monster World Rally Team driver Ken Block is expected to restart on tomorrow's second day of the Rally of Portugal following his accident on the fourth stage.
The American rolled his Ford Focus RS WRC 08 out of 13th place – having already dropped down the order with a spin on the Santa Clara test, which opened proceedings this morning. Monster Ford team manager Derek Dauncey said: "We need to get the car back here before we confirm whether Ken will restart, but it really doesn't sound like there's a lot of damage.
"The car rolled off the road, damaging the roof and the rear spoiler. The boys got it back on its wheels, but the left-rear damper was off the mounting. The reason they didn't try and fire the car up to get back here was because the car was in a field of deep, dry grass. Mindful of what happened to Conrad [Rautenbach] last year, when his car set fire to the grass, they decided to leave it where it was."
Block had talked of his desire to get through the entire route of the Faro-based event, having been forced to retire then return via superally rules on his previous two World Rally Championship outings.
"Ken will be very disappointed here," continued Dauncey. "We know how much he wanted to get through the whole event, but these things can happen. It's not a big accident at all and, as usual, we will sit down, work through these things and come out fighting again."