Monfardini sore, but unbowed.

Despite becoming the third GP2 Series driver - or fourth if you count Tristan Gommendy - to miss a race at Silverstone due to injury over the weekend, Ferdinando Monfardini expects to be back in action at the mid-season test at Paul Ricard later this month.

While Nicolas Lapierre is already ruled out of the two-day session in the south of France, and Olivier Pla has to be rated as doubtful following the discovery that he broke his wrist in Monaco, Monfardini's shunt in Saturday's feature race at Silverstone was not a serious as first feared. Although the Italian took him time getting out of the wrecked DAMS entry, and spent time in the circuit's medical centre, he was not diagnosed with any major injury.

However, after complaining of feeling unwell later on Saturday evening, he was later taken to Northampton hospital as a precaution where doctors reported that a high temperature, which the Italian had been running all weekend, coupled with the shock of the accident, was the cause. It was suggested that Monfardini withdraw from Sunday's sprint event in case of any further slow-developing side-effects, and he flew back to Italy on Sunday.

With two weeks to go before the Ricard test, however, DAMS expects its man to be back in action.

The remaining team entry, driven by Franck Perera, finished eleventh on Sunday, despite being involved in the incident that took both Arden entries out at Abbey.