Anthony Davidson has sustained a broken back in his airborne accident at the end of the Mulsanne straight earlier in the Le Mans 24 Hours.

The Toyota driver suffered breaks to his T11 and T12 vertebrae after the #81 AF Corse collided with the hybrid prototype, causing it to flip into the air before crashing heavily into the barriers.

Initially it seemed that Davidson had emerged unscathed from the crash, but was diagnosed with his injuries after he was transferred to a local hospital from the circuit’s medical centre.

Davidson confirmed details of the injury to AUTOSPORT, following a tweet which read: “Well that was a big one! Lying in a French hospital with a broken back wasn’t what I had in mind at this stage in the race…”

The 33-year-old Briton will remain in hospital until at least Monday.

Both Toyota TS030 machines retired from the team’s debut with the second car withdrawing through engine-related problems in the 11th hour.

Broken back for Davidson in scary Le Mans shunt [VIDEO]