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Duval's co-driver taken to hospital

Francois Duval's co-driver Patrick Pivato has been taken to hospital after an accident in SS6 of the Rally Japan

Initial reports from the Ford team suggest that Pivato is conscious, and that Duval was unhurt in the crash.

The Stobart Ford crew had just moved up to second place behind Mikko Hirvonen when Duval hit a barrier five kilometres into the Yapuro stage.

"There's some armco on that particular stage that we believe he's gone into sideways," Ford team boss Malcolm Wilson told World Rally Radio.

"They've now managed to extract Patrick from the car and he's on his way to hospital. As far as we understand, he's conscious. The extent of his injuries we don't know.

"The good thing is at least he's conscious and he's in safe hands now. Really it's just a case now of getting him to hospital and waiting to find out exactly what the extent (of his injuries) is.

"Francois is fine. We believe it's gone in on the co-driver's side. There was obviously difficulty getting (Pivato) out of the car, but at least now he's out and he's on his way."

Duval is also reported to be heading for hospital for precautionary checks.

Stage six was stopped after Duval's accident, so those following him are set to be given nominal times. The rally should be able to continue on schedule because SS7 had already been cancelled due to snowfall affecting the stage earlier this week.

Works Ford drivers Mikko Hirvonen and Jari-Matti Latvala now lead the rally ahead of Sebastien Loeb, although the standings are provisional pending a decision on how times should be awarded for SS6.

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