Australia

Wallaby Ben Tune has been taken to hospital after crashing his car in a motor race at Perth's Barbagallo Raceway.

The formers Reds wing was driving in the Mini Challenge - one of the support categories to the V8 Supercar championship - and flipped his car after losing control during a race.

It took a rescue team 20 minutes to extract Tune from his car before he was placed in a neck brace and on a spinal board, then taken to the on-track medical centre.

Tune was conscious but complaining of back pain, and has been taken to a local hospital for what a spokesman called "precautionary checks".

The 31-year-old retired from rugby at the end of last season after a decorated career with both his home state Queensland and Australia.

He played 46 Tests for his country and scored 24 tries, and was part of the Australian side that won the 1999 Rugby World Cup.

Tune is a keen motor racing fan and has started driving in the Mini Challenge after his retirement from rugby.

He recently drove in the celebrity challenge at the Australian Formula One Grand Prix.

That led to an invitation to take part in the Mini Challenge - an eight-race support program to the V8s in which all participants drive identical Minis.

AAP