FIA investigating fiery WRC Portugal crash

The Ponte de Lima stage was allowed to continue while Paddon's Hyundai burned at the side of the road.

It was only stopped when Ott Tanak crashed his Ford Fiesta RS WRC at the same place and landed in the middle of the blaze.

The Estonian was understandably furious at both the absence of any warning of the crash and the decision to let the stage run.

FIA rally director Jarmo Mahonen said the governing body had requested a full explanation of what unfolded.

"We want to know what was happening and what the organisers' thoughts are on this," he said.

"That's why we have started the investigation.

"The organisers will make their report and we will consider that.

"It's too early to say more."

Portugal clerk of the course Pedro Almeida defended his actions in the wake of the incident.

"My position is this, you stop the stage under one of two conditions: the road is blocked or you need to send urgent medical assistance to anybody," Almeida told Autosport recently.

"If the road is clear and no assistance is necessary, from my point of view there is no reason to stop the stage.

"What I'm going to say is not politically correct, but this is rallying. This is not a circuit. You must be prepared, as a driver, for unexpected things.

"The crash was less than 100 metres before a radio point. Immediately we knew about the accident and we knew the drivers were safe, the car was in flames and around there was a lot of fire.

"The rally route was always clear. All the drivers went through without any major problems.

"My intention was to send all of the [World Rally] cars through the stage."