Ott Tanak crash video: M-Sport driver crashes into a lake during the Mexico Rally

Estonian rally driver suffered damage to his Ford Fiesta RS WRC's steering that meant he couldn't avoid a watery finish to Friday's action

Ott Tanak crashes into a reservoir during the Mexico Rally (YouTube/@wrc)

Reigning world rally champion Sebastian Ogier dominated the second day of the Mexico Rally in Guanajuato to extend his overall lead, but it was a campaign-sinking moment crash for Ott Tanak that was the biggest talking point of the day after he ploughed down a steep hill and into a lake.

Tanak’s M-Sport Ford Fiesta RS WRC was captured near the start of the Los Mexicanos stage on Friday morning when he suddenly lost control, with damage to his steering proving to be the culprit for what was about to unfold.

With his front-right tyre clearly pointing the wrong way, Tanak was unable to direct the car and went off track just as he approached a steep drop, which led, rather unfortunately, to a reservoir.

Tanak’s Fiesta plunged into the water, and in a matter of seconds began to sink, with the Estonian and his co-driver Raigo Molder managing to escape the sinking vessel moment before it submerged under the surface.

Watch the video below...

"If you are in a lake, close to the limit of your life and fighting for it, when you finally win that fight it's an amazing feeling," Tanak astonishingly told http://www.wrc.com.

"I opened the seat belts and immediately after opening the door the car filled with water. Then it went down in a short time."

What was even more incredible was Tanak’s admission that he was hopeful of starting Saturday’s action providing the M-Sport team were able to retrieve the car and repair it enough to race on day three, with another eight stages scheduled to be completed.

Meanwhile, Ogier leads Finland’s Jari-Matti Latvala by 10.9 seconds with Norway’s Mads Ostberg in third, a further 15.9 seconds back.

Wales’ Elfyn Evans sits in fifth, but Kris Meeke of Northern Ireland has dropped to 26th despite winning Friday’s opening stage after crashing out of the second.