Novikov in trouble

Evgeny Novikov’s bid to make it two podiums out of two in the FIA World Rally Championship powered by Nokia looks to be over after the Russian stopped less than 10 kilometres into stage three of Philips Rally Argentina.

Novikov completed stage two with a damaged right-rear wheel. He was seventh overall starting the 51.88-kilometre Speedagro Ascochinga/Agua de Oro stage but hit trouble after approximately nine kilometres.

Reports suggest Novikov has taken a wheel off his M-Sport Ford Fiesta RS WRC and is unlikely to go any further on day one of the Villa Carlos Paz-based event.

Novikov arrived in Argentina on a high after claiming his maiden podium finish in the WRC on Vodafone Rally de Portugal at the start of April.