Amaury Cordeel has withdrawn from the remainder of the Toyota Racing Series season after being injured during free practice for the season opener last weekend.
The 17-year-old Belgian, driving for Kiwi Motorsport, span and hit the wall at the fast final corner of the narrow Highlands Motorsport Park track in FP3, and was then hit again by approaching team-mate Jose Blanco-Chock.
He was assessed for concussion after the crash at Christchurch Hospital, and missed the remainder of the on-track action over the weekend.
Doctors have since advised the Belgian, who was Spanish Formula 4 champion in 2018, to miss the remaining four rounds of the season which take place on successive weekends.
?It is a real shame to lose Amaury as he had gone well in testing and as a Formula 4 champion, would have been one of the likely front runners in the championship,? said TRS manager Nico Caillol.
?The most important thing for him now is recovery of course and not taking any risks of further concussion until he is completely recovered.
?We?ll miss him and everyone at the series wishes him a speedy recovery and we hope we will see him back again next year to show everyone how good he is.?
Cordeel spent 2019 racing in the Formula Renault Eurocup with MP Motorsport, and took a best finish of fifth on the way to 15th in the standings.
The second TRS round takes place at Teretonga Park this weekend, with Red Bull junior Liam Lawson leading Esports champion and M2 Competition team-mate Igor Fraga in the points.