Ogier crashes out in Germany

Trier - World champion Sebastien Ogier pulled out of the Rally of Germany on Saturday after writing off his Volkswagen in his second crash of the day.

The Frenchman, who also exited the road into a vineyard on Friday, crashed his car heavily into a roadside barrier shortly into Stage 8, which was then cancelled for safety reasons.

"We were in sixth gear on a long straight," Ogier said. "Then there was a slight corner to the right on a ridge.

"The jump was a little longer than we thought, the back took off when we touched down and I lost control of the car.

"Then we hit the roadside barrier and we landed in a ditch.

"The most important thing at the moment is that Julien (Ingrassia, the copilot) and me are both okay."

Ogier's team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala of Finland was leading the rally, which ends Sunday.

Rally of Germany standings after Saturday's stages:

1. Jari-Matti Latvala (FIN/VW Polo-R) 2hr 19min 00.7sec, 2. Kris Meeke (GBR/Citron DS3) at 56.6, 3. Thierry Neuville (BEL/Hyundai i20) 1:00.9, 4. Dani Sordo (ESP/Hyundai i10) 1:26.8, 5. Andreas Mikkelsen (NOR/VW Polo-R) 1:37.0, 6. Mikko Hirvonen (FIN/Ford Fiesta RS) 1:53.2, 7. Elfyn Evans (GBR/Ford Fiesta RS) 1:58.1, 8. Mads Ostberg (NOR/Ford Fiesta RS) 1:59.3, 9. Martin Prokop (CZE/Ford Fiesta RS) 4:09.6, 10. Robert Kubica (POL/Ford Fiesta RS) 6:39.1

Retirements:

Sebastien Ogier (FRA/VW Polo-R)