Jani recovering after meningitis scare

Team Switzerland star Jani was admitted to hospital this week with suspected meningitis, as his symptoms included a blinding headache, high body temperature and loss of balance.

After undergoing a series of tests, doctors have decided the virus is not meningitis, which can be life-threatening as it inflames the protective membranes around the brain and spine. He is now recovering with the aim of making next weekend's race.

"I'm still not at my best, and it's going to be pretty difficult to drive next weekend," Jani told autosport.com. "It started on Monday night while I was fitness training in Austria, and it got worse on Tuesday. By Wednesday morning I could barely walk and I was suffering muscle cramps. I had a temperature of over 40-degrees, and I had a lot of fever."

Doctors used a lumbar puncture procedure where they insert a long needle into Jani's spine to test his cerebrospinal fluid, which envelops the brain and spinal cord.

"The doctors were really worried because I had all the symptoms, and then they took the stuff out of my back, which, I tell you, hurt like ****!" said Jani. "That proved it was just a virus, not meningitis, but it seems to be immune from antibiotics. So I've just got to sit it out now."

Jani has changed his flight to New Zealand to next week to give him more time to recover before making the long haul journey.

When asked if he would race, he said: "We'll see. Now my back hurts too! I think I'll be okay (to race) - I hope so. I'm not too worried. It will be an adventure."