New Zealand rally driver Mark Tapper, who is competing in selected events of the 2009 FIA World Rally Championship as one of the five inaugural Pirelli Star Drivers, has suffered a fracture to his right arm, but expects to be fit enough to compete in the next event on his schedule, Rally Finland, starting on 30 July.
“It was just one of those unfortunate things,” said Tapper from his family’s home in Brookby, Auckland. “I simply slipped and fell awkwardly which left me with a fractured arm.”
The incident took place on 24 June; Tapper has already undergone surgery and is now recuperating at home.
“I have had and will continue to have fantastic medical care; my doctors and physiotherapists are providing the best help possible to get me fit and healthy for Rally Finland at the end of next month.
“The biggest disappointment is that I was really looking forward to competing in Rally Wairarapa on 18 and 19 July before Jeff [Judd, Tapper’s co-driver] and I left for Finland. Now I won’t be able to show my current speed to New Zealand’s top two drivers, Richard Mason and Hayden Paddon, so that’s a huge disappointment.”
Tapper and Judd’s Pirelli Star Driver programme sees them head to Rally Finland, 30 July to 2 August, then on to Rally Spain, 1-4 October, and Rally Great Britain from 22 to 25 October. They also plan to compete in Repco Rally Australia (4-6 September) outside the Pirelli-funded schedule.
