Tanak "all good" after spectacularly crashing out of Monte Carlo

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Updated

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: CONTAINS A WHITE FLASH

SHOWS:

GAP, FRANCE (JANUARY 25, 2020) (WRC - NO RESALES)

1. (SOUNDBITE) (English) WORLD RALLY CHAMPION, OTT TANAK, ON SPENDING NIGHT IN HOSPITAL FOLLOWING CRASH, SAYING:

"Yes, all good and no worries. So, we just stayed overnight."

NEAR SAINT-CLEMENT-SUR-DURANCE, FRANCE (JANUARY 24, 2020) (WRC - NO RESALES)

2. VIDEO OF TANAK'S CRASH AS SEEN FROM THE ROAD. AUDIO OF INTERVIEWER ASKING TANAK ABOUT THE CRASH FROM JANUARY 25, 2020

GAP, FRANCE (JANUARY 25, 2020) (WRC - NO RESALES)

3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) WORLD RALLY CHAMPION, OTT TANAK, ON CRASH, SAYING:

"Oh basically, [OFF CAMERA: IN CAR VIEW OF TANAK CRASHING NEAR SAINT-CLEMENT-SUR-DURANCE, FRANCE ON JANUARY 24, 2020] we hit some bump that I did not recognize during the recce (pre-race reconnaissance), obviously. And I guess we were just a bit too fast and basically, we hit the first bump and that already sent us into the wrong line and then from the second bump we were off. So, it was quite a high-speed accident."

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) WORLD RALLY CHAMPION, OTT TANAK, ON WHAT HAPPENED INSIDE THE CAR DURING THE 14 SECONDS OF THE CRASH, SAYING:

"I didn't say anything and - yeah, I guess [OFF CAMERA: TANAK AND CO-DRIVER MARTIN JARVEOJA GETTING OUT OF CAR FOLLOWING CRASH NEAR SAINT-CLEMENT-SUR-DURANCE, FRANCE ON JANUARY 24, 2020] - it was nothing fancy and I was never really counting the seconds, so yeah. There was nothing we could change."

5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) WORLD RALLY CHAMPION, OTT TANAK, ON HOW THE CAR HELD UP, SAYING:

"I've actually not investigated the car after, but yes, obviously all the safety equipment did it's job. So, yeah, I believe we're happy to be here and no injuries, so it's nice."

6. WHITE FLASH

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) WORLD RALLY CHAMPION, OTT TANAK, ON STARTING SEASON BY CRASHING OUT OF MONTE CARLO, SAYING:

"Um yeah, normally I've not done this in Monte before, but OK. That's the position we have at the moment and now we need to start to build it back and come back."

STORY: World rally champion Ott Tanak seemed unfazed a day after walking away from a frightening crash that put him out of the Monte Carlo Rally on Friday (January 24).

On Saturday (January 25), Tanak said he and co-driver Martin Jarveoja were "all good" and without injury after spending the night in hospital for precautionary checks following the spectacular crash which has since gone viral.

The Estonian said a "bump" sent him off the road and that from there, "there was nothing we could change."

Both Tanak and Jarveoja were able to exit the car unassisted after the accident 9.2km into the 20.68km fourth stage, but it was not the start to the race season they had hoped for with Tanak saying they now have to focus on making a comeback.

With Tanak rolling his Hyundai out of the season-opening event, a three-way race for first has emerged going into Sunday's (January 26) final four legs.

Elfyn Evans lead's, but France's Sebastien Ogier and Belgian Thierry Neuville are within 6.4 seconds of the leader.