Luc Alphand injures spine in rally

[Robbo]

Former Dakar Rally winner Luc Alphand has been seriously injured in a crash during a motorcycle rally in France.
The 43-year-old Frenchman sustained injuries to his spine while competing in the Rand'Auvergne rally in central France on Sunday.
He will need to undergo an operation in Clermont Ferrand on Monday

[Bentley boy]

Hope he's ok 

[mwbennett]

Autosport's report sounds optimistic:

Alphand injured in motorbike crash

By Matt Beer Monday, June 29th 2009, 13:56 GMT


Sportscar owner-driver, Dakar frontrunner, and former skiing star Luc Alphand has suffered severe back injuries in a motorcycle accident.

Alphand, whose Luc Alphand Aventures squad runs Chevrolets in the FIA GT Championship, the Le Mans Series and in the Le Mans 24 Hours, crashed during the Rand'Auvergne motorbike rally yesterday.

The 43-year-old's manager Philippe Poincioux said the recovery process would be slow but that there should not be permanent damage.

"From what I understand Luc did not lose consciousness," Poincioux told the AFP news agency.

"There is no danger of brain damage. We think that he fractured his spine.

"Mentally it's a big blow for him knowing that he will be unable to move for some time. He is really down even though he knows he has been lucky it was not worse. He is in great physical shape and that will help recovery."

Alphand switched to motorsport after the end of his skiing career. In addition to contesting full sportscar seasons with his own team, he is also part of Mitsubishi's Dakar Rally programme, and won the famous event outright in 2006.


I hope it all works out ok for him too.

[termietermite]

Today's paper says he is due to have an op' today.  It also reports that he expects to be out of hospital within a week to ten days but what happens after that it not mentioned.  We shall see.  Really lovely, friendly guy and so talented to boot.

[hgb]

Not a good story... I'm hoping for the best for him.

Agree, he's a very nice fellow and many thanks to him for putting two Corvettes on the grid despite the cancellation for financial reasons early this year.

Get well soon, Luc.

[hgb]

Quick update on Luc Alphand.

According to DSC the operation went well and there will be no abiding damages to his back. He will stay in hospital for another week to ten days.

[Lazy B'stard]

Quick update on Luc Alphand.

According to DSC the operation went well and there will be no abiding damages to his back. He will stay in hospital for another week to ten days.

Thats good news. Always comes across as a top bloke. wishing him a speedy recovery.

Si

[hgb]

An update from lemans-series.com:

News of Luc Alphand


The news is good, his back operation went well and « Lucho » was able to return home to Serre Chevalier 10 days ago to continue his convalescence. We are sure that his excellent physical condition will allow him to overcome this difficult phase with few after effects.

Whilst their leader is resting and building up his strength, all whole team continues working to reach the goal fixed by the ex-ski champion at the beginning of the season. Thus, Philippe Poincloux announced: “We are going to concentrate all our energy on the 1000 km of Portimao where our aim in this discipline is to win the GT1 title for the second consecutive year. This meeting, which will be held at night for the second time in the history of the Le Mans Series Championship, should offer a wonderful show”.