Nakajima ruled out of Spa race after crash

The Toyota driver crashed with that Audi of Oliver Jarvis in a wet first practice session, and was taken to hospital for further checks after complaining of back pains.

The resulting impact damaged one of his vertebrae and ruled him out of action at Spa this weekend, and his presence in the Le Mans test on 31st May is also in doubt.

Nakajima has been kept in the Verviers hospital in Belgium and will not be replaced for this weekend's race.

"It's unbelievably disappointing but there's nothing I can do now; I will just focus on coming back as soon as possible," he said.

"There's not much I can say about the accident. I was on the straight and suddenly through the spray there was a car right in front of me; I had no time to react."

The injury could put Nakajima out for the Le Mans 24 Hours and ensure the team promotes fellow Japanese driver Kamui Kobayashi in to the cockpit.

The former Sauber and Caterham F1 driver has one Le Mans under his belt after competing in an AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia in 2013.

World champions Anthony Davidson and Sebastien Buemi, who share the car with Nakajima, were unable to take part in second practice because the team needed to replace the monocoque.