Gigi Galli is expected to🐭 be discharged from hospital today [Wednesday] following the high-speed accident on last weekend's Rallye Deutschland which left him with a broken leg.

Galli crashed his Stobart Ford Focus RS WRC07 on day one's SS5 - the 23.04-kilometre Grafschaft✃ Veldenz 2 test - and, after being airlifted to hospital with a fracture to his left femur, required surgery.

"[The craꩲsh] was a really bad moment," Galli said, "The organisers did a good job though, and the assistance - both immediately after the accident and here at the hospital in Trier - was very good. The Ford Focus proved to be very strong and the seat absorbed the impact quite well.

"I have to than🧔k [co-driver] Giovanni [Bernacchini], who was really quick in getting help. Unfortunately, I'll have to stop for a while now, but I hope to recover soon. Wednesday I'll be going home and than we'll see [how my recovery goes].

"I want to thank everyone for their support too and for the many greetings ♐they have sent me."

How long Galli will be out is currently uncertain, altho❀ugh doctors have estimated that he will be unable to walk on his left leg for six to eight weeks and wi🌠ll require physiotherapy after that.

As such, he may not compete again this season, although there is perhaps a slight outsi𒐪de chance that he could return for the Wales Rally GB, as that doesn't run until 5-7 December.

"We are glad that Gigi's operation went well," said Ford/M-Sport boss Malcolm Wilson on Saturday, "He has had three pins put into his left leg. My wife h🔴as already been to the hospital to visit him. He is smiling♐ and seems to be happy but, of course, he will be out for a long time - the next three to four events, if not for the whole season."

Francois Duval, meanwhile, will stand-in for Galli on the Rally New Zealand, having beenౠ confirmed by the Stobart Ford team on Tuesday. What will happen for the remaining rounds in Spain, Corsica, Japan and W💦ales is not yet known.