TRIER (GERMANY) - Jari-Matti Latvala strengthened his grip on the Rally of Germany on Saturday as the Finn's Volkswagen teammate, defending world champion Sebastien Ogier, crashed out.
Finish driver Jari-Matti Latvala and his compatriot co-driver Mikka Anttila steer their Volkswagen Polo R WRC as they compete during the FIA World Rally Championship of Germany in Trier, on August 22, 2014
Latvala increased his lead over the chasing pack from 37sec at the start of the third day's action to 56sec going into Sunday's closing stages.
Briton Kris Meeke, driving a Citroen DS3, is lying second with Hyundai's Thierry Neuville one minute adrift in third.
Ogier's involvement in the ninth leg of the world rally championship came to a premature end when his Volkswagen Polo smashed into a roadside barrier on Stage 8, which was then cancelled for safety reasons.
This was the Frenchman's second mishap -- on Friday he careered off the road and into a vineyard.
"We were in sixth gear on a long straight," Ogier said of Saturday's accident.
"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 co-driver) and me are both okay."