PERTH, Australia -- Frenchman Daniel Grataloup, co-driver to Mitsubishi's Francois Delecour, suffered a broken ankle and pelvis after crashing in the Rally of Australia.

"He was admitted to hospital for observation and will spend the first night in intensive care as a precaution," the team said in a statement after Grataloup was airlifted to Perth following the crash on stage seven.

"Daniel was conscious and talking throughout the incident and although in pain, his injuries are not considered critical."

Delecour ploughed off the road during the 11.98-km 'Murray Pines South' test on the first leg of the rally.

The team said the driver had been passed fit but Grataloup, who also suffered bruising to his right lung, was flown to hospital in the organisers' medical helicopter.

The stage was stopped after the incident and all competitors were given the same time as Finn Jani Paasonen, the last driver to complete the test before Delecour's accident.