Spain's two-time world champion Carlos Sainz was at the wheel of the Ford Focus when it slid wide at a corner eight miles into the muddy forest

Colin McRae crashed at 100mph

stage and into a group of spectators.

Initial reports suggest up to 15 people may have been injured.

Two air ambulance were called and organisers have stopped the stage and cancelled the next one which was also scheduled for the forest area.

A Ford spokesman said: "We know that Carlos went off the road and he hit some spectators, we do not know how many.

"He was told to continue. The stage has been cancelled and ambulances are on their way."

Sainz, who was in fourth place at the time, got to the end of the 13.53-mile stage but had lost four minutes to his rivals

Ford has withdrawn Sainz and co-driver Moya

Rally has been stopped

from the rally and the next stage of the event, at Trawscoed, has been cancelled.

It is the second crash noted in this year's event.

On Friday Colin McRae started the day in first position as he tackled the St Gwynno stage in his Ford Focus.

But he soon crashed out when he barrel-rolled the vehicle at 100mph, briefly needing hospital treatment.

The cancellation of the next stage leaves just one more stage this evening, a 1.5-mile superspecial in Cardiff Bay.