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Rafanelli out of Mosport race

The Italian Rafanelli team has scratched from Sunday's sixth round of the American Le Mans Series at Mosport, Canada

Didier de Radigues has been declared unfit to drive after shunting the team's Lola-Judd during free practice on Saturday morning.

Tests at a local hospital in Oshawa have revealed a minor fracture of a lumbar vertebra. The team and the stewards of the meeting have decided it would be unwise for the Belgian to race.

A team spokesman said: "Rafanelli is a professional team and we don't go around looking for a replacement driver on Saturday evening. Didier wanted to race, but we and the doctors decided that it wouldn't be a good idea."

The Belgian lost control of his Rafanelli team Lola-Judd in the final corner of the Canadian track. De Radigues immediately complained of back pains and was taken to the circuit medical centre before being transferred to a nearby hospital.

British race car constructor Lola was happy with the way the car stood up in the impact. One of its designers, Pete Weston, said: "The impact was only 30 degrees from head-on, but the nosebox stood up well."

De Radigues' team-mate Mimmo Schiattarella blamed a lack of power steering, which had failed on Friday, for the crash. "I told Didier to be careful because without the power steering it is difficult to get the car back if you have a problem," explained the Italian.

It is unclear if de Radigues will be able to contest the next round of the ALMS in Texas at the beginning of next month.

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