No pain for IRC returnee Wilks

27th August 2010

By Anthony Peacock

Skoda UK Motorsport driver Guy Wilks has reported no ill-effects from his back-breaking crash on Rally d’Italia-Sardinia in June.

The Briton made his return to the Intercontinental Rally Challenge less than three months after fracturing two lumbar vertebrae in his back when he crashed at high speed on the Mediterranean island.

After covering more than 150 kilometres during a pre-event test on Tuesday, Wilks set competitive times on the opening stages of Barum Czech Rally Zlin at the wheel of his Skoda Fabia Super 2000.

“I feel great, no pain or discomfort,” said Wilks. “We’re back at work now so it’s a case of getting on with it. For sure I’m lacking seat time but we’re here to do our best and there’s no more or less pressure on us.”

Wilks was given the all-clear to return to competition earlier this month. His test in Czech Republic earlier this week marked the first time that he drove his Fabia S2000 since his crash in Sardinia on June 5.

The two-time British champion is currently fourth in the IRC standings, 29 points off the leader Juho Hanninen, despite having missed three rallies while he recovered from his injuries.