Seventh for Wilson but hospital for Pivato
Last updated 19:41, Thursday, 06 November 2008
MATTHEW Wilson and Scott Martin finished seventh in Rally Japan lifting them to 10th in the drivers’ standings.
But the edge was taken off their success by a serious crash involving team-mates François Duval and Patrick Pivato.
Pivato had to be airlifted to Higashi Tokushukai hospital in Sapporo with a fractured pelvis and fractured tibia.
He has had surgery and is said to be progressing well.
The accident occurred 4.8 kilometres into stage six on a fast muddy section of road when Duval slid wide into a crash barrier, heavily impacting a steel support pole on the co-driver’s door.
First on the scene were team-mates Wilson and Martin who aided Duval in alerting safety officials.
Organisers and event medical staff did a fantastic job to arrive speedily on the scene and work efficiently to help the Frenchman out of his car after he was trapped in it for several minutes after the accident.
Duval was uninjured in the accident and accompanied his navigator to the hospital. Of course, the pair had to retire from the rally.
Wilson fluctuated throughout the event and by the end of day two was perched nicely in fifth despite some time-loss due to a lack of rhythm with his pacenotes on these brand new stages to the WRC.
The final day the West Cumbrian was in a fierce battle with the two Suzuki drivers but unfortunately slipped back to seventh on what has been one of the most demanding day’s rallying in recent years.
Wilson said: “The first day went really well for us and I really enjoyed it apart from the incident with François.
“I think everyone in the whole WRC community did an amazing job to help and support the situation and I hope Patrick gets well soon and will be back on the rallying scene in no time.
“Days two and three were a lot more difficult for me and I really struggled in the conditions which were some of the toughest and most demanding I have ever experienced.”
Stobart VK M-Sport Ford team principal Malcolm Wilson said: “This has been one of the most difficult rallies for the Stobart team under the circumstances.
“Patrick has been making steady progress since the difficulties he went through on Friday evening in hospital.
“I must say a big thank you to everybody in the WRC community for their support and help with the situation. It has really shown the true spirit and camaraderie within this amazing championship.
“Matthew’s performance on Friday was one of his best to date. Unfortunately arriving first on the scene to François and Patrick’s accident made it difficult for him over the last two days but considering the condition of the stages it was a fantastic achievement to finish seventh.
“It has also given him some great experience on a rally that has thrown all of the elements at competitors.”
