Thierry Neuville and Nicolas Gilsoul escaped injury after a heavy test crash into a river in Corsica on Wednesday afternoon.

The Belgians were preparing for next week’s Corsica linea - Tour de Corse (5 - 8 April) when their Hyundai i20 plunged off the road at a bridge near Linguizzetta, about 50km south of the rally base of Bastia on the east coast of the Mediterranean island.

It is believed the accident happened at the exit of a left corner. The car came to rest several metres below the concrete bridge in a shallow section of the river, with significant damage to the front and rear.

A Hyundai spokesman confirmed that both driver and co-driver were unhurt although the late afternoon accident ended Neuville’s one-day test for the fourth round of the FIA World Rally Championship.

Team-mates Andreas Mikkelsen and Dani Sordo tested earlier in the week so Neuville’s shunt caused no further disruption to the Korean manufacturer’s preparations.

Muy fuerte el accidente de Neuville y Gilsoul en los test previos de Córcega. Por lo que parece, piloto y copi se encuentran bien. #WRC (@FredrikAahlin) pic.twitter.com/zLNaNLLOzG — Mundo Rallyes (@MundoRallys) 28 March 2018

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