Deutschland blow for Panizzi

Team boss Corrado Provera said that when surgeons operated on Panizzi last Friday they found the Frenchman had also suffered ligament damage. He said it will take a "miracle" to get Panizzi in the car in time for Germany on August 23.

"Basically, Gilles was changing a lightbulb; he was standing on a stepladder and he fell over," explained Provera. "More seriously, they discovered ligament damage during the surgery and the time to recover from that is longer.

"Realistically we doubt he'll be able to drive in Germany, unless a miracle happens. So obviously we're hoping a miracle will happen, but we will take a decision early next week."

Panizzi spoke to the assembled media in Finland via a phone link from his Monaco home and was a little more upbeat about his Rallye Deutschland prospects.

"It's not so bad - I'm getting better everyday," he said. "It's very difficult for me not be in Finland but the team is behind me. My first priority is to be ready for Germany and I'm making good progress."

Provera also confirmed that if Panizzi didn't recover from his injury in time, Harri Rovanpera will drive the third works 206 WRC.