Rhianon Smyth injured in APRC crash

Motor Image Racing Team (MIRT) co-driver, Rhianon Smyth was rushed to the Royal Adelaide Hospital after her car hit a tree during the "High Eden" stage of the 2009 Australian Rally Championship (ARC) in Barossa Valley.

Smyth remains in hospital for the time being recovering from broken bones and will be unable to co-drive with MIRT driver, Emma Gilmour for the last three remaining legs of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship 2009 (APRC).

Smyth’s role as co-driver to Gilmour will be taken up by Claire Mole. Mole is no stranger to the rally scene, having dabbled in rallying since age 17. She went on to become a Great Britain (GB) Junior Rally Team Member in 1987.

Since then, she has rallied in several countries throughout the world including France, Germany, Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Monaco, Finland, USA, Malaysia, Ireland, Spain, New Zealand, Portugal, Sardinia and Corsica.

"I was very worried when I first heard of Rhianon's accident. She has multiple injuries but she is very fit and also very determined so I am sure we will see her back in the circuit soon. The whole team will miss her," said Emma Gilmour.

"Claire and I have worked together before so she will certainly be a good fit at this point of the APRC where we have three more legs to work hard at to remain at the top," Gilmour added.

Rhianon Smyth made her debut in May 2009 at the Rally of Queensland for the Motor Image Racing Team, where they picked up an impressive third place in the final stage. Their impressive performance continued in the following two legs of the APRC where the duo clinched second and third place in the Rally of Whangarei and the Hokkaido Rally, respectively.

"Rhianon has been a good co-driver for Emma, and has contributed to the exceptional performance of the team this season. I do hope she will recover soon and I wish her well. I am happy that we managed to find a suitable replacement in Claire Mole from the UK. I have full confidence that they will both maintain the strong and consistent performance in the remaining legs in the APRC," said Tan Keng Hock, Managing Director of Motor Image Racing Team.

Besides Emma Gilmour and Claire Mole, the Motor Image Racing Team also includes Cody Crocker, defending champion of the APRC title, and his co-driver Ben Atkinson.

All four drivers will be in Singapore for a meet-and-greet session on Saturday, 8th August and Sunday 9th August between 12pm and 2pm at the Subaru showroom in Toa Payoh, prior to leaving for the next leg of the APRC in Malaysia on the 15th and 16th of August, 2009.

Credits: JRC