Wilson to miss race

Wilson, 27, clipped a tyre barrier on the apex of one of the corners at the street circuit midway through the morning session.

The slight impact caused no damage to his RuSport Lola, but did violently wrench the steering wheel out of his hand, causing the injury to his wrist.

Although the British driver – who was still in with a chance of the championship coming into the weekend – refused to throw in the towel immediately, he was unable to complete a full lap in qualifying.

Afterwards he was taken to a local hospital where X-rays revealed a broken scaphoid bone in his wrist.

Wilson said: “I'm very disappointed not to be able to race this weekend.

“It is a track and a race that I enjoy a lot and was looking forward to. I thought we had a very good chance of finishing on the podium.

“It seems hard to believe that such a small incident can put me out for the weekend. What makes this more difficult is that, from a racetrack configuration standpoint, this was totally avoidable.”

Wilson's withdrawal means that series debutant Ryan Briscoe, from Australia, will be RuSport's only representative in his home race.

The team hope that Wilson will be fit to race in the season finale in Mexico in November.