Trident engineer recovering in hospital.

Trident Racing's Spa-Francorchamps weekend was largely overshadowed by a pit-lane incident before Saturday's feature race that left one of its chief engineers needing urgent medical attention, but the team has since been able to report encouraging news from hospital in Belgium.

During routine pre-race preparations, Ricardo Teixeira's car collected a wheel gun with one of its front wing endplates, pulling a large toolbox forward as he pulled away. More seriously, however, an air hose used during the team's pit-stops hit Vasco Rossi hard on the head, injuring him seriously.

Rossi was treated on the spot - notably with the assistance of the McLaren F1 team's medical staff - before being admitted to Li?ge hospital, where he continues to receive care. The news of his recovery, however, is positive, despite the potentially life-threatening consequences of the incident. The Italian made it through both Saturday and Sunday night without further complications, although a swift return home has been delayed by a hairline ear fracture that will prevent him flying back to Italy until next weekend.

The team was cheered by Davide Rigon's points for fifth place in Sunday's sprint event, a result made sweeter by the fact that the Italian had been on course for a to eight finish before being unavoidably involved in Karun Chandhok's accident at Les Combes

"It's been a weekend with mixed emotions, starting with the fears for Vasco and the disappointment of how race one ended up, to the satisfaction of the points finish in race two," Rigon admitted, "Sunday was definitely the best part of the weekend as, on Saturday, I was hit by Chandhok after showing impressive pace. I would have been able to end up in the top five despite having to start from the second half of the field.

"The only scary moment [in the sprint event] came on lap one, when Michael Herck tapped me from behind. I feared for my rear wing, but everything seemed fine right after and through the whole race. This is my best result of the season, and it's all for Vasco - we wait you back!"