ROBERTO Merhi is a late scratching from the S5000 round in Adelaide after being hospitalised with ‘Bali belly’.
The ex-Formula 1 driver was set to vie for the Tasman Cup but has wound up in hospital in Bali, where he was on a stopover en route to Adelaide.
The Spaniard’s Team 88 seat has swiftly been taken by Kiwi young gun and S5000 race winner Kaleb Ngatoa.
“Roberto has been pretty unlucky and it’s such a shame that he is unable to be here,” said Team 88 owner Albert Callegher.
“However, it’s great that Kaleb – who has won in the category before – was available and able to hot-foot it to Adelaide by tonight.
“He of course ran with Team BRM throughout most of the 2022 season, so it shouldn’t take him long to get comfortable – though this will be his first visit to Adelaide.
“We all wish Roberto well for a speedy recovery and hope we can see him here during 2024.”
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The Australian Drivers’ Championship and associated Gold Star will also be decided in Adelaide, with Aaron Cameron in the box seat.
If Cameron is successful in his quest, he would become just the third driver to win both the Gold Star and Tasman Cup (the latter of which he won in 2021).
