Hyundai driver Tänak successfully navigated the challenges of the tarmac rally and was eventually crowned the winner. This victory kept Tänak’s chances alive to still fight for the drivers’ championship this season, although his teammate Thierry Neuville holds a 25-point lead in the standings.
Tänak has now revealed, after the race weekend, that Kuldar Sikk, who was serving as the co-driver in his gravel crew, was seriously injured in an accident on Friday while on the road section to the third stage of the rally.
“Kuldar got a serious back injury and was taken to the hospital,” Tänak shared in an Instagram post.
Sikk was treated at a local hospital in Plzen, but he has now been able to return to his home country of Estonia.
“Our team has been working hard on the background to get Kuldar back home as fast and as safe as possible to continue his treatment at his home country,” Tänak said.
“I am glad that he is safely home now and handed over to Estonian doctors who will provide him the best possible care and Kuldar can stay close to his family.”
The task of gravel crews in tarmac rallies is to drive the stages ahead of the competitors and report on changing conditions to the teams.
Sikk served as Tänak’s co-driver from 2010 to 2012, when the Estonian driver was beginning to build his career in the WRC. Prior to that, he co-drove for Urmo Aava in the WRC.
Sikk, 45, currently works as the sporting director for the Estonian Autosport Union.
