IRC: Wilks continues recovery from Sardinia crash

Guy Wilks, the Skoda UK Motorsport driver injured on Rally d'Italia-Sardegna last weekend, has returned to his native United Kingdom to continue his recovery from the fractured first and second lumbar vertebrae he sustained in a crash on the Intercontinental Rally Challenge event.

Wilks flew to the UK from Sardinia on Monday evening after being fitted with a special back brace. He went to see a bone specialist in Ipswich, in the east of the country, the following morning where his fractures were confirmed.

However, the specialist, who has worked with injured MotoGP bike riders in the past, reported no complications.

He is now undergoing sessions in an oxygen chamber at a facility in Middlesbrough in the north of England near his home in County Durham to assist his recovery. A decision on whether he will be fit enough to take part on the Geko Ypres Rally in Belgium from 24-26 June has yet to be taken.

"It's not a screaming pain, more a dull pain in the bottom of the back," Wilks said. "I want to be back sooner rather than later and everything is possible for Ypres but we have to see what the doctor says first."