Crash driver devoted Bourne fan

The other driver badly injured in the Possum Bourne collision is a devoted fan of the rally ace, says his fiancee.

Mike Barltrop, 38, suffered serious leg injuries in the crash, which left Bourne with serious head and leg injuries.

Both men are being treated at Dunedin Hospital after the crash near Cardrona on Friday.

Bourne, 47, was in a serious but stable condition in intensive care last night.

Mr Barltrop and his fiancee, Rebecca Greer, 23, were due to marry in five weeks but now could only concentrate on the aftermath of the crash, Miss Greer said.

Mr Barltrop, a self-employed locksmith and aerial technician, had recovered enough on Sunday to be able to talk to police.

He could remember details of the crash, which happened when he was travelling in convoy with several vehicles preparing for the Race to the Sky hillclimb.

Miss Greer declined to comment on what Mr Barltrop remembered.

"That's what the police are doing. That's up to them to go through what happened," she said.

Wanaka police have said the investigation could take more than five weeks.

Mr Barltrop, who would be on crutches for up to five months after surgery on his left leg, and Miss Greer had offered support to Bourne's family.

"Mike has been a devoted Possum fan for more than 18 years," Miss Greer said. "Our thoughts and wishes are with Possum and wife Peggy and we hope we all get through this ordeal safely."

Mr Barltrop had been a long-time rally fan and amateur driver and there was seldom a weekend when he did not follow rallying on the television, Miss Greer said. He had competed in the Race to the Sky five times.

"We especially hope this does not leave a black dot on the sport we love and live for," she said.

The couple had not begun to decide whether they would go ahead with their wedding.

Miss Greer said they wanted to thank many people, including family, friends, hospital staff and other race competitors who had offered support.

A spokesman for the Bourne family and Bourne's Subaru team, Ian Chesterman, said the family had been overwhelmed with the support from around the country and world.

Mrs Bourne said she was reading the messages and was "truly touched" by the support. "I know Possum would be overwhelmed by the response."

Bourne's co-driver, Mark Stacey, who has been with Bourne at Dunedin Hospital, is due to fly back to Australia today to join their team-mates at the Rally of Canberra, where Australian driver Cody Crocker and Dean Herridge will represent Subaru.

- NZPA