Supercars 2023: Swiss star Simona de Silvestro’s Australian arrival delayed for Bathurst preparations after appendix surgery

A Supercars star has been forced to delay her return due to emergency surgery which has put her Bathurst 1000 build-up in jeopardy.

Swiss star Simona de Silvestro’s preparations for her Bathurst 1000 wildcard have suffered a setback after she was forced to undergo emergency appendix surgery.

De Silvestro was due to arrive in Australia later this week ahead of crucial test days on September 4 and 5 for her Dick Johnson Racing wildcard.

But De Silvestro’s plans have been pushed back after she required an emergency operation to remove her appendix at the weekend.

The former IndyCar racer will miss next week’s two test days in DJR’s Gen3 Mustang at Queensland Raceway and is now not expected to join the team in Australia until mid-September as she recovers in Switzerland.

Four years after her last appearance in Supercars, De Silvestro will team with Super 2 young gun Kai Allen for the DJR squad’s first wildcard at Mount Panorama.

The Ford team said it was now making alternative plans for wildcard testing ahead of the Bathurst 1000.

“Simona de Silvestro was due to land in Australia later this week ahead of wildcard testing at Queensland Raceway on the 4th and 5th of September,” DJR said in a statement.

“However, due to an emergency operation required to remove her appendix over the weekend, her arrival date in Australia has been pushed back.

“Simona is recovering well in Switzerland and at this stage is anticipated to join the team in Australia in mid-September. Alternative plans are being arranged for wildcard testing ahead of the Repco Bathurst 1000.

“The Shell V-Power Racing Team wishes Simona a speedy recovery and looks forward to seeing her soon.”

Simona de Silvestro will make her return to Supercars in a Dick Johnson Racing wildcard at the Bathurst 1000. Picture: Tim Hunter.

De Silvestro raced full-time in Supercars for three years from 2017 to 2019 with Nissan Motorsport/Kelly Racing, finishing 19th in the championship in her final year.

The DJR wildcard will be De Silvestro’s sixth crack at the Great Race, having earlier teamed with Renee Gracie twice in wildcards before her full-time entry into Supercars.

While De Silvestro will be missing, DJR will still have three cars on track for pre-endurance season testing at Queensland Raceway on September 5 with Allen to steer the No. 98 wildcard.

Originally published as Supercars 2023: Swiss star Simona de Silvestro’s Australian arrival delayed for Bathurst preparations after appendix surgery