Bourne remains in stable but serious condition

12.00pm

New Zealand rally driver Possum Bourne remained in a stable but serious condition in a drug-induced coma at Dunedin Hospital today.

Bourne was seriously injured when his Subaru Forrester collided head on with a fellow competitor's Grand Cherokee Jeep during a pre-race course inspection on Friday before the weekend's Silverstone Race To The Sky event near Wanaka.

Today Subaru spokesman Ian Chesterman told NZPA it was not known how long Bourne would be kept in a coma or what his chances of recovery were.

"There's no point looking into a crystal ball. At the moment he's in a coma. It's a day by day proposition."

Mr Chesterman said Bourne's wife Peggy wanted people to know she was grateful for public support and was buoyed by messages left on Possum Bourne's website.

Mrs Bourne spent last night with Bourne reading the messages to him.

"Family and friends are reading the messages and we're touched by the number of people who care and how heartfelt their wishes are," she said in a statement.

"So many people are expressing their absolute faith that he will overcome the challenge he currently faces. I know that Possum would be truly humbled by the response and I am saving each and every message for him."

Yesterday, Sergeant Aaron Nicholson, of Wanaka police, said an investigation into the crash could take up to a month.

Both drivers had to be spoken to and their vehicles examined before the possibility of charges could be weighed. He was unavailable for comment today.

Bourne is New Zealand's only professional rally driver, in 20 years of racing he won the Asia-Pacific title three times. He is the reigning Australian Rally champion, having won the title a record seven times.

Messages of support can be posted on the website www.possumpwrc.co.nz on the message board, or faxed to 09 238 5737.

- NZPA