Stobart Ford's Gigi Galli will have an o𒆙peration tonight following his crash on day one of the ADAC Rallye Deutschland.

The accident occurred on a flat right-hand corner 11.3 kilometres into SS5, the 23.04 kilometre Grafschaft Veldenz 2 test🤡, when a cut on the inside of the corner bounced his car across the road careering him into some trees at high speed.

Luckily the safety roll-cage on his Ford Focus RS WRC07 did its job and prevented further injury in what could have been𒁃 a horrific accident.

"Organisers and event medical staff did a fantastic job working efficiently to help the Italian out of his car after he became trapped in it for several minutes after the accident," read a statement from the Sꦗtobart team. "Officials also cancelled the stage to allow medical crews easier access to the Italian's car."

Galli was sꦦubseq🌺uently airlifted to the Barmherzige Hospital in Trier and after suffering a fracture to his left femur he will be operated on in the next few hours.

"ﷺTo increase the chances of a speedy recovery Galli will be operate🐻d on tonight," added the team.

Galli's c🅠o-driver Giovanni Bernacchini was also taken to hospital. He was given the all-cle🐬ar this afternoon and discharged with just cuts and bruises.

Galli had been running eighth overall post-SS4 and on course for the final WRC drivers' point, 14 seconds🐠 off Jari-Matti Latvala in P7.

Ford/M-Sport boss Malcolm Wilson meanwhile paid tribute to the emergency services and the♎ organisers - and while he was relieved to see Gigi escape serious injury, a broken leg is a big blow for the very popular Italian.

Indeed when Sebastien Loeb broke his arm in ꦇ2006 following a mountain bike accident, the Frenchman was out for a number of months.

"It's been a disappointing end to the first day with Gigi being taken to hospital after his high speed accident but I think the strength of the Ford Focus and the car's roll cage prevented further injury," Wilson added. "The emergency services were quickly on the🌞 scene, got him removed from the car and off to hospital."

All at mahbx.com wish Gigi a very speedy recovery.