by Rob Wilkins
TO HEAR THE INTERVIEW IN FULL WITH PHIL PUGH: CLICK HERE
Guy Wilks' regular co-driver Phil Pugh has spent much of the season on the sidelines due to a back problem.
Crash.net Radio caught up with him at the Castle Combe Rallyday recently to find out how he is recovering and when he hopes to return to the cockpit...
Crash.net:
Phil, it’s been a difficult season for you. How are you now?
Phil Pugh:
It has been very frustrating. I have been struggling with a back injury - a herniated disc. I probably had it not long after the Pirelli and I went to Australia and did that event and was in quite a bit of pain. I really struggled to do the
Jim Clark and that was cut short due to a car fire. I decided after that I had to get it sorted. I just couldn't keep popping the pills. It was doing me no good. I had an MRI scan and it showed that I had a herniated disc - a really bad one. The surgeon gave me the bad news that I would probably have to have an operation. I took a lot of advice and went to see a lot of people and they said: 'You don’t need an operation, you shouldn’t have an operation'. We therefore decided against it but it is probably a longer recovery time not having an operation and doing it naturally. I am quite lucky though as I found a very good Chinese lady who does some very good massages. I have pencilled in the last round of the Australian Rally Championship with Guy in the Honda. That is my deadline and I have got to work to it. I have just started training again. I am feeling good.
Crash.net:
What do you think Guy needs to do on the Trackrod?
PP:
It is quite similar in a way to last year’s championship where we were under pressure to do well on the last three rounds - they had to be full scores. He knows what to do and the car is capable of it. Both things have just got to gel together. The car has got to stay together and he has got to keep his head together. But he is capable and so is the car. I see no reason why we can’t do it.
Crash.net:
Are you going up to the Trackrod?
PP:
I will be there as a spectator. It will be quite frustrating but I will try and give him as much support as I can.
Crash.net:
I assume, if you are going to compete in Australia that you are going to do Rally GB too?
