The X-Raid team's new Mini Dakar entry has been forced out of the rally after Guerlain Chicherit crashed while getting some testing mileage during Saturday's rest day in Arica.
Following early delays, Chicherit had shown promising pace in the event as he got the Mini back up to ninth overall by the end of Friday's sixth stage. But during a practice run, he crashed heavily, causing severe damage to the Mini and sustaining a head injury. Chicherit was kept under observation in the rally's medical centre and did not require a hospital visit.
"Guerlain is not seriously injured, but the car somersaulted once or twice," X-Raid team boss Sven Quandt said. "We don't have time to repair and anyway we don't have all the parts we need."
The rally has resumed this morning with Carlos Sainz leading Nasser Al-Attiyah in a Volkswagen 1-2, while Stephane Peterhansel is third in the best of X-Raid's BMWs.