Meeke leads as crash mars Rally of Argentina

Citroen duo Kris Meeke and Mads Ostberg led the Rally of Argentina on Saturday, but the race was overshadowed when six spectators were hurt after a car careered off the track.

The accident happened on the ninth stage in Cordoba when the Hyundai of New Zealand's Hayden Paddon ploughed into the crowd.

Rally press officer Augusto Lobo told AFP that the seriousness of the injuries was not known while a spokesman for the local Capilla del Monte area said six people had been hurt.

In the race, British driver Meeke was more than 38 seconds ahead of Ostberg with Finland's Jari-Matti Latvala, in a VW-Polo, in third spot, more than a minute off the lead.

World champion Sebastien Ogier, whose Polo broke down on Friday to leave him out of contention for a fourth successive win this season, rejoined the race on Saturday but with a 35-minute penalty.

Behind the top three, Britain's Elfyn Evans was fourth in a Ford Fiesta, at more than two minutes off the lead, with Thierry Neuville in a Hyundai in fifth spot.
Source: AFP