Going back to the rallycars, the 'Photo Finish' feature in this week's Autosport features a pic of Tony Pond's infamous first-stage exit from the 84 RAC in A478WOE. Apparently, according to co-driver Rob Arthur, it was all down to the tyres...
Readying themselves for the first stage of the event, Arthur noticed the TWR mechanics fitting strange Dunlop rubber. It became apparent that Pond's preferred slick was nowhere to be seen. No matter, this was a super sticky qualifier 
This would work.
"Not far after the start there were some hairpins" says Arthur "These tyres had gone off after those....TP turned into a right-hander and the tyres did nothing. Next thing we were on the grass and into a tree"
(Autosport 17/5/2007)