Motor Racing: Prost hurt in crash

ALAIN PROST escaped serious injury after his Williams-Renault crashed and burst into flames at a private practice session at Estoril yesterday. Prost suffered slight concussion and bruising, according to Brian Lambert, the Williams test chief. He immediately returned to his Swiss home for physiotherapy.

A track official who saw the spectacular accident said: 'Prost was complaining afterwards about his left shoulder. But his condition gave no cause for concern.' Prost apparently lost control on a bend, slammed into the safety barriers, rebounded and then hit the barriers a second time. 'The rear wheel and suspension were completely destroyed. The driver managed to climb out of the car, just before it caught fire,' the official said.

Earlier, Prost's team-mate, Damon Hill, had produced faster lap times than the Frenchman.