M-Sport Ford driver Pierre-Louis Loubet is avoiding any predictions of a result at next week’s Central European Rally as he searches for a confidence-boosting finish alongside new co-driver Benjamin Veillas.

Veilas previously navigated for Sebastian Ogier.

Speaking to WRC.com after a pre-event test, Loubet said “The test was good,” he said. “The weather was sunny, it was nice – the feeling was good. For next week, I don’t want to think too much to the result. With a new co-driver I just want to make a good rally. It’s the first rally with Benjamin, so I try to build the confidence and do a normal rally.”

It didn’t take long for Rally Chile Bio Bio to bite. Hard

Esapekka Lappi and co-driver Janne Ferm emerged unscathed after cutting the last corner of the opening stage, rolling his Shell Mobis Hyundai i20 N into a ball of scrap 19.6km into the rally. The roll cage is badly damaged so the Finn is unable to rejoin the event.

Just two stages later, Pierre Louis Loubet tossed his Ford Puma into the weeds.

The most bizarre incident befell Gregoire Munster, making his Rally1 debut in another Ford Puma. Co-Driver Louis Louka left his pace notes behind, so they arranged to receive them on his cellphone, and that’s how they’re running…

Standings after SS3