Mark Winterbottom making rapid recovery from a broken tibia

Monday, 16 January 2012 20:08 Shaun Garrity

Winterbottom making a good recovery from a broken tibia| Photo Shaun Garrity

The end to the 2011 V8 Supercar season was one of promise and improved performances for Mark Winterbottom and Ford Performance Racing. The year 2011 however ended on a much lower note when Winterbottom broke his left tibia while water skiing two days before New Years Eve.

Whilst at first he thought he may have suffered ligament damage that proved incorrect on further testing.

“After we got back from America we went water skiing after Christmas as we always do,” Winterbottom explained.

“I was using a lock-in boot and unfortunately my ski went one way and I went the other and that’s when I heard the click. Initially I though it was ligament damage though that didn’t prove to be the case.

Winterbottom with the assistance of V8 Supercars Medical Delegate Dr Carl Le quickly had a operation booked to insert screws into the break “Dr Carl Le was a huge help and put me onto a great surgeon. My recovery is going really well. The cast is off, I can already put weight on it and I have been training at Essendon FC." he continued

“I’ve been using their facilities as my personal trainer also trains the Essendon players so I have been working with their rehabilitation team as they often see similar injuries in their players.

Despite the set back he is still targeting a return for the test at Sandown and certainly is confident he is on track to drive at the season opening Clipsal 500.

“As the break is on my left leg I am not really worried. I will easily be fit for Clipsal which is the main thing. I am seeing the surgeon a few days before the test day so he can evaluate my recovery but at this stage I plan to drive the car as scheduled.”

FPR Team Principal Tim Edwards was fairly relaxed and paid tribute to his drivers fitness levels, which were greatly assisting his recovery in rapid time “Given the incident was only a couple of weeks ago Mark is making a very rapid recovery,” Edwards said.

“He is arguably the fittest guy in the championship and that is paying dividends right not.

“We don’t wrap our drivers in cotton wool. This is a very rare occurrence and Mark will be fine for the start of the season so nothing changes for us.”