Co-driver Chevaillier to make full recovery

Injured navigator Eddy Chevaillier is expected to fly home to his native Belgium early next week following the incident on stage three of the Acropolis Rally that left him with a cracked vertebra.

Chevaillier and driver Peter van Merksteijn Jr were approximately half way through the 18.10-kilometre Eleftherohori test on day one when the underside of their Citroen DS3 WRC made heavy contact with a large rock in the road braking for a corner.

After complaining of a severe back pain, Chevaillier was taken to hospital in Lamia for tests before being flown by helicopter to a larger hospital in Athens where his injury was diagnosed by medical staff.

“It is a enormous scare when a situation occurs like what happened to Peter Jr and Eddy, but at the moment the consequences seem to be limited,” said Van Merksteijn Motorsport team manager Gerard Grouve. “Eddy will have to take a complete rest for some time and will remain at the moment in hospital for observation. Fortunately the information we receive from the hospital is positive and we are hopeful for a complete and speedy recovery for Eddy.”

Chevaillier will have to undergo a period of complete rest for at least 10 days and has received medication to counter the pain of his injury.

There was more disappointment for the Van Merksteijn Motorsport squad when Peter Jr’s father Peter van Merksteijn Sr crashed on stage five. Despite hoping to restart on the second day of the rally, an inspection of his DS3 WRC, which he was using in competition for the second time, revealed it was beyond immediate repair and would have to be withdrawn.