Del Barrio makes return after Ypres crash

Navigator Carlos del Barrio says he is raring to resume his Intercontinental Rally Challenge bid alongside driver Daniel Oliveira after injury forced him to skip the last round of the series in the Azores.

Spaniard del Barrio suffered lung and rib injuries when he and Oliveira went off the road on the Geko Ypres Rally in Belgium in late June, which also left their Stohl Racing Peugeot 207 S2000 needing extensive repairs.

“I am in a little pain from my rib but it’s not really a problem,” said del Barrio. “I did a rally in Spain a few weeks ago and won that, which was important to get the feeling. After 23 years of rallying this was the first time I had to spend some nights in hospital but it was only four nights so it is not a problem.”