Colin McRae is to have surgery on the cheekbone he broke in a crash during the Corsica Rally at the weekend, but is determined to resume his quest for a second world championship at San Remo later this month.
The Scot will undergo surgery in Edinburgh when the swelling has gone down.
He also sustained severe bruising to his lungs and chest when his Ford Focus rolled down a ravine. He was unconscious for 15 minutes and had to be cut from the wreckage. His co-driver, Nicky Grist, was virtually unscathed.
McRae was bolstered by news that his rivals for the title had been unable to take full advantage of his enforced retirement.
The event was dominated by Peugeot's French pair, Gilles Panizzi and Francois Delecour, who were followed by Carlos Sainz (Ford), Richard Burns (Subaru) and Marcus Gronholm (Peugeot).
The championship standings, with three rallies remaining, have Gronholm on 46 points followed by Burns on 44 and McRae two points behind.
"When Colin heard the result he felt a lot better and was eager to drive at San Remo," McRae's father and manager, Jimmy, said. 'He's still right up there, thanks to the two Peugeots. If everything goes all right with the operation I think he'll be there.
"He looks as if he's been 10 rounds with Mike Tyson, but he's more annoyed that he doesn't know why it happened. He shouldn't have any discomfort in the car from the cheek and his vision is OK. There may be slight damage to the eye socket."
Ford have urged FIA, the sport's governing body, to improve safety measures.
"I think the world rally championship should have its own team of paramedics on each event," said Sainz. "The same team of medical staff should be at every round and have a doctor in a helicopter on every single stage."
Ford's European director Martin Whitaker confirmed that the team would approach the FIA in an effort to safeguard the future of the sport.
- INDEPENDENT
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