Hayden Paddon driving for Hyundai at the Monte Carlo Rally. Photo: AFP
Hayden Paddon has dropped to 13th after a dramatic third day of the Rally of Monte-Carlo.
Paddon slid off the road on the 12th stage and was stuck in deep snow before his Hyundai car was pushed back into the race by spectators.
The New Zealand driver lost four minutes in the incident.
On social media, Paddon wrote that the event was "definitely the most difficult we have ever done".
"Finishing the day with a super special stage around the streets of Monaco was special and a reminder we are lucky to be here driving a very cool car.
"4 more tough stages tomorrow with alot of snow expected, so we will use it as a chance to continue learning.
"I must say a big thank you to everyone for the messages of support and encouragement. This has been such a tough week, so it's amazing to read so many positive words".
After nine special stages, Paddon is seven and a half minutes behind leader Oliver Solberg of Sweden.
Solberg was poised to become the youngest winner of the Monte-Carlo Rally after the 24-year-old Toyota driver wrapped up Saturday's penultimate leg with a 59.3-second advantage.
If the Toyota driver stays ahead through Sunday's final four stages of the season-opener, he will break the age record set by French teammate and reigning champion Sebastien Ogier in 2009 when he was 25.
Solberg, whose parents are Norway's 2003 world champion Petter and Sweden's WRC Commission president Pernilla, lived dangerously on Saturday's stage 12 when he slid on some ice and went through a fence into a snow-covered field before returning to the road.
"I don't know what happened, I was so careful the whole stage. I tried to follow the ruts and on the exit it was just full snow. I was very lucky to get out of it," he told the wrc.com website.
"I think everyone's been off a little bit everywhere but I am in a good position. Let's see tomorrow. It's probably going to be another crazy day."
Teammate Elfyn Evans was second overall with Ogier, now a record 10-times Monte Carlo winner and nine-times world champion, completing the Toyota one-two-three.
Ogier was 26 seconds behind Evans in the slushy conditions on mountain asphalt roads in the Alps to the north of the Mediterranean principality.
Saturday's last super-special stage was held in Monaco using part of the Formula One grand prix circuit, the first time it has been used since 2008, with spectators watching in heavy rain.
The final day features 71.9km of competition including two highlight runs over the Col de Turini famed for switchback hairpin corners and precipitous roadside drops.
Reuters, with additional reporting on Hayden Paddon by RNZ
