Munchi's Ford World Rally Team founder Luis-Perez Companc has been forced out of the Neste Oil Rally Finland following the final test on Saturday.

Companc, who announced prior to the start that this would be his last appearance in the World Rally Championship, had completed the day just outside the top ten in his M-Sport-run Focus RS WRC07 - and significantly on course for the final manufacturers' point.

However during the final test he collided with a large rock and, while he was able to finish the stage, 500 metres after the finish co-driver Jose Maria Volta began complaining of pain in his ribs. Volta was subseqently taken by helicopter to hospital for what the team described as 'precautionary checks'. Early unconfirmed reports suggest he may have suffered a broken rib.

Luis-Perez Companc was unhurt in the accident, but he has retired from what was his 30th outing in the sport.

It marks a bad end to the event for the Munchi's squad, as Federico Villagra also went out late on in the sister car. He went off the road 200 metres from the end of the penultimate test, the 21.13 km Juupajoki stage, SS20.

In the incident his Munchi's Focus RS WRC07 caught fire but both he and co-driver Jorge Perez Companc were fortunate enough to quickly extinguish the flames and were unhurt. The damage to the car however means they will not be able to continue on day 3. Villagra had been 12th overall.