Pons gets OK to re-start despite fiery exit.
The Kronos Citroen World Rally team have confirmed that their number two driver, Xavier Pons will be able to re-start the Rally Argentina on Saturday for the second leg of the event.
Pons was the first major retirement of the event, when he went out on SS6, the 14.53 kilometre run through Cabalango-Carlos Paz.
The Spaniard slid wide on a corner and hit a rock early on in the test and although he tried to drive slowly to the end of the stage and then limp it back to the mid-day service, he was subsequently forced to stop after his Citroen Xsara WRC briefly caught fire.
The Kronos Citroen World Rally team have confirmed that their number two driver, Xavier Pons will be able to re-start the Rally Argentina on Saturday for the second leg of the event.
Pons was the first major retirement of the event, when he went out on SS6, the 14.53 kilometre run through Cabalango-Carlos Paz.
The Spaniard slid wide on a corner and hit a rock early on in the test and although he tried to drive slowly to the end of the stage and then limp it back to the mid-day service, he was subsequently forced to stop after his Citroen Xsara WRC briefly caught fire.
"The impact had consequences for the transmission and fuel system," read a statement from the team, "which caused a small fire that was rapidly extinguished by the crew."
Pons will now re-start the second leg on Saturday way down the order in 33rd place overall, having incurred 25 minutes worth of penalties for each stage missed, as laid down under the SupeRally regulations.
"Their aim will be to work hard, gain experience for future events, and to target some manufacturer points," added the Kronos squad.
Pons was one of three 'works' retirements during the first leg, with BP Ford duo, Marcus Gronholm and Mikko Hirvonen also going out later on in the day.
