Lapierre hopes for speedy return

Lapierre was taken to hospital with back pains and he is expected to undergo further medical examinations tomorrow.

The Frenchman said he did not remember the aftermath of his crash, which saw him launched airborne after his Arden car was hit from the back by iSport's Tristan Gommendy.

"I had a good start and I was looking to gain some places into Ste Devote, but I was hit from behind pretty hard and the car took off," Lapierre said this evening. "It came down very heavily, and to be honest I don't remember much after that.

"Crashing on your own is one thing, but to be involved in someone else's accident is something you can't do anything about."

Lapierre said he is hopeful of being able to compete at Silverstone in two weeks' time, but will have to wait for a medical all-clear before driving again.

"The main thing is that I have to recover as quickly as possible and get back into the championship," he said.

"But for now, I guess at least I get to stay in bed a bit longer than normal on a Sunday morning."