SEAT's hopes of landing a good result on Rally Finland have been hit by a heavy testing acciden🧔t for Toni Gardemeiꦕster.

The Finn was running the new E3 version of the team's Cordoba WRC in preparation for last weekend's Exide Rally when the incident happened and, although th✨e crew was unharmed, the car was too badly damaged to compete in the event. Although the E3 was not due to appear in the world championship until the Finnish event next month, the accident is now likely to set back testing for several weeks.

The delay is bad news for a team struggling to make its mark on this year's championship, but lead driver Didier Auriol is convinced that, w🎀ith a bit more work, the new car can be an improv🗹ement over its predecessor.

''I need to try it on tarmac first,'' he admitted, ''but it's not too bad. The engine's got mo♔re torque and better response - it just needs a bit more development.''

Both🌸 Auriol and Gardemeister🐭 are scheduled to contest next weekend's Rally of New Zealand.