Bike star Slight injured as rally car smashes into tree

Aaron Slight's Honda Civic crashed down a bank after hitting a tree during the Cambridge-Matamata leg of the rally.

Former Superbike star Aaron Slight crashed out of the Targa Rally yesterday afternoon when his car hit a tree at 100km/h then rolled down a 15m bank.

The accident happened on the second and final day of the Targa Rotorua Rally between Cambridge and Matamata.

It is understood the Honda Civic driven by Masterton-based Slight was doing at least 100km/h when it lost control on a bend and left the road about 1.30pm.

Slight's wife said the car flew into the tree then rolled down the bank before coming to rest on its side.

"It was a very, very big accident. It would definitely be one of his worst," she said last night.

A Westpac Waikato Air Ambulance said Slight managed to walk back up the hill to where a road ambulance was waiting.

But his co-driver, 17-year-old Stan Dobson, was concussed.

The Auckland teenager was treated by St John paramedics then flown to Waikato Hospital.

Mrs Slight said she had spoken to her husband.

"Stan is absolutely fine. They checked him out and he is probably going home."

Slight would be staying in hospital for several days after surgery for cuts.

Targa course clerk Andrew Whitmore said Slight was extremely experienced in motorsport competitions.

This was believed to be his second Targa Rally.

Mr Whitmore said accident investigators had ruled out any mechanical fault. "It's just a standard, run-of-the-mill incident where it seems like he's just overdriven."

His exact speed was not known. Mr Whitmore said competitors were allowed to reach 200km/h, but it was unlikely Slight was travelling at that speed because he was going around a corner.

He estimated it would have been at least 100km/h.

This is the second incident at a Targa Rally this year.

In March three people were taken to hospital after a car spun off the road and rolled during the Dunlop Targa Bambina race in Waiuku.

Mr Whitmore ruled out any similarities between the accidents, saying they were "totally unrelated and a different set of circumstances".

There was no reason for concern at the safety of the rally. All the roads were closed to the public in yesterday's event and no spectators were injured.