Stobart Ford's
Gigi Galli has had to withdraw from the Rally of Turkey, the eighth round in the World Rally Championship, due to illness.
"Under advice from the team's doctor Galli has decided not to start today due to exhaustion and dehydration caused by the intense heat and demanding rally conditions during the previous two days," confirmed a statement from the Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team. "Galli has been advised to rest and re-hydrate for the safety of his own personal health."
Gigi had been running in the top-three for the majority of the past two days before losing time due to a boost valve failure on Saturday afternoon and slipping back to eighth position.
"This has been a really hard day of rallying and I'm exhausted now at the end," said the Italian in the final service last night,
prior to his withdrawal.
"For sure I'm disappointed with the problem today and not to be able to challenge for a podium again and it's strange that we had the same problem on the same stage a few years ago. But this is rallying and you cannot predict what will happen.
"I still have the opportunity to score a point in the drivers' championship and also even more points for the Stobart team in the manufacturers' so I will be trying my best for the team and the fans here in Turkey."
