Tanak was firmly in the fight for the win having won two stages on Friday placing the 2019 world champion 1.1 seconds adrift of the lead when drama struck.
Tanak had completed the final 10km of stage five with a hybrid issue, which then triggered a red warning light on his car that required him to stop on a road section.
As per new Rally1 hybrid FIA regulations such a situation requires the team to retire the car as a safety precaution.
The team is then unable to touch the car until it is declared safe by hybrid unit supplier Compact Dynamics.
This is the first time the new regulations have been put to use since the launch of the new Rally1 rules.
Speaking to Autosport, Hyundai deputy team director Julien Moncet declared the situation frustrating given Tanak had been challenging for the lead.
“It is very frustrating for us and for him,” said Moncet. “He did an incredible race up until this point and he could have been in a leading position, it is not his fault at all.
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