Latvala requires hospital check-up after heavy shunt

The Finn, chasing the first back-to-back victory of his WRC career, held a 13s lead over Hayden Paddon into SS14 and looked set to increase his advantage.

However, he would lose control of his car after hitting a rock and violently rolled the Volkswagen Polo R WRC three times, retiring for the day.

"First things first: Miikka [Anttila, co-driver] and I are well," said Latvala. "We will, however, be taken to hospital for a check-up – just to be on the safe side.

"We were actually having a good day. We had a good rhythm and had not had any problems. We hit a rock on stage 14 and came off the road. We then rolled several times. We obviously could not continue the rally after that.

"Whether or not we are able to return under Rally 2 regulations tomorrow depends on the doctors’ decision and the state of our car. The crash is naturally very disappointing, but it also showed just how safe the Polo R WRC is."

Rock "part of the road"

After the crash that could mean his third retirement from four rallies in 2016 so far, Latvala said there was nothing he could've done about his Rally Argentina shunt.

"I'm really disappointed but I don't know what else I could have done," he said.

"I had a good lead, it had been a controlled drive and I was in control on the stage. If I have to avoid every stone then we can go home, there is no point to come to the rally.

"You can't avoid every rock if you try to win. And this wasn't a loose rock, it was part of the road. I can't understand how it breaks. But that's how it is - very unlucky. "