Last week-end's Rally Finland was the final World Rally Championship event for Argentine driver Luis Perez Companc and his trusty co-driver over the years, Jose Maria Volta. Their participation ended earlier than expected, but the pair will leave the championship knowing their illustrious careers have been filled with fond memories.

Perez Companc was looking towards posting a solid top 10 finish... until a collision with a large rock in stage 21 changed their plans.

After finishing their run, Volta began complaining of pain in his ribs and was taken by helicopter to Central Finland Health Care hospital in Jyväskylä for precautionary checks. He was released on Saturday evening with no broken bones fortunately, but just some muscular soreness.

"With the accident we ran wide on a corner into the ditch and hit a boulder very hard on Jose's side," Perez Companc explained. "I could hear that he was winded and breathing heavily and he waved to continue to the end of the stage. Then the pain got worse and we stopped after the finish as it was too much for Jose to continue."

Apart from the collision, which obviously caused some damage to the co-driver's side of the Munchi's Ford Focus RS, it was a fairly smooth and relaxed run. The only other minor issue was an intercom problem on Friday's opening day.

"It hasn't been the perfect end to my rally career and for sure we would have liked to get to the end of my last rally, but we are in Finland. It is a very special place and as you can see, it can catch out any driver," Perez Companc said as he looked back on his last event as a WRC driver.

"It was a surprise accident as the rally was going very well for us, we didn't expect to have been setting those times and it all seemed to be under control," the now former Munchi's Ford team driver reported.

With Perez Companc bidding farewell to the World Rally Championship, he took a few moments to reflect on a few rally events that marked his memories. And it is no coincidence if he chose Finland to bring his rallying days to an end...

"When I look back on my career I would say after my home event of Rally Argentina, then this event in Finland is my favourite rally. Argentina is special because of all the local fans cheering me on and that really is a great feeling... Myself and Jose must thank them all for their wonderful support over the years," he underlined.

"I also have great memories of Rally Japan last year when we were fighting with Matthew (Wilson) for fourth position," Perez Companc added. "I had a very inspiring drive and was able to push hard and drive very near to my limit without making any mistakes; that really was my best result."

In fact, Luis Perez Companc and Jose Maria Volta might not have shared that result if they had followed through with their initial plan of retiring four years ago. A convincing meeting with Malcolm Wilson changed their plans.

"In 2004 when we were racing in the WRC I very nearly retired from the sport, but I spoke with Malcolm and saw how the M-Sport team worked and this really changed my mind," the Argentine recalled.

"We just want to thank him, Ford and all the team at M-Sport for some wonderful times together and putting so much effort in to help the Munchi's team," Luis Perez Companc continued. "I can say that we really will miss them all."