• 24 Hours of Le Mans

Anthony Davidson breaks back at Le Mans

Former Formula One driver and Sky Sports commentator Anthony Davidson has broken two vertebrae in his back after a spectacular accident five hours into the 24 Hours of Le Mans race.

Davidson, who raced for BAR, Honda and Super Aguri, had just taken over driving duties from Sebastien Buemi when his Toyota flipped into the air and crashed into a barrier after contact with the GTE Ferrari being driven by Piergiuseppe Perazzini, who walked away from the accident.

The 33-year-old was immediately treated at the scene before being rushed to hospital where he Tweeted: "Well that was a big one! Lying in a French hospital with a broken back wasn't what I had in mind at this stage in the race..."

He told GP Week: "Basically I have two broken vertebrae; T11 and T12. The doctors say the average recovery time is three months, but that's an average person not a professional sportsman or athlete. That estimate is to get back to an absolutely healed bone; as strong as it was before. It's more like three weeks until the pain subsides and I get my mobility back fully."

Audi went on to claim a historic first win for a hybrid car with Andre Lotterer, Benoit Treluyer and Marcel Fassler repeating their 2011 triumph. The trio led home the No. 2 and No. 4 Audis to complete a podium clean sweep in the 80th running of the famous event.

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