THE parents of Suffolk racing car driver Pippa Mann have told how they are supporting her decision to get behind the wheel again – despite being involved in a 220mph horror crash that killed her colleague and left her needing surgery.

Clive and Anna Mann said they would never ask their daughter, who was the first British woman to qualify for the world-famous Indianpolis 500 race, to give up her career despite the high-risks involved.

Pippa, 28, who grew up near Leiston and has a home in Ipswich, is due to undergo surgery in Indianapolis tomorrow to reconstruct the side of her right hand, including the little finger.

She suffered the injury in the 15-car pile-up at the IZOD IndyCar Series season finale in Las Vegas last Sunday, which claimed the life of British driver Dan Wheldon and raised safety concerns over the sport.

But the racing driver has expressed her wish to compete again next year – and her parents said they would support whatever decision she took.

Mrs Mann said: “I would never try and influence her and whatever she does gets our full support. That has always been the way and it always will.

“Any mother will know what it’s like but it’s her chosen career and I have every confidence she will drive again next year and be very successful.”

Mrs Mann is due to fly to Indianapolis this week to be with her daughter after the operation and she is confident Pippa has the strength to put the ordeal behind her. She has also been overwhelmed by the messages of support to the family from wellwishers, which she will be passing on to Pippa.

“She’s fine – she’s more upset about the death of Dan. The drivers have known each other for a long time and it is a bit traumatic for them, they are not used to having death in their lives.

“She is not worried about herself, she is thinking of Dan and her family.

“It’s so tragic and very difficult. But Pippa is not one of those to sit back and feel sorry for herself. Her partner Robert is looking after her too.”

Mrs Mann was told about the accident – which saw Pippa’s car somersault through the air and land on its roof – by her husband, who was watching the race from the grandstand.

“Fortunately, I knew straight away she was fine. I think like everyone else I was just so shocked about Dan – that was a real heartstopper,” she said.

Mr Mann said: “I was quite high up and when the cars crashed it was complete choas, I couldn’t see who was involved or what had happened.

“You had to wait until the dust had settled to see the cars that weren’t involved coming back and only then I realised Pippa had been involved.

“I went across to the medical centre and went with her to the hospital. She was actually very chirpy in the ambulance.”

He added: “We absolutely support her decision to carry on. All the drivers in IndyCars are aware of what happens, they accept it’s part of what they do.”

Speaking to a national newspaper, Pippa confirmed she wanted to carry on racing and spoke of her concern at what her family’s reaction would be. “If they’d said they wanted me to stop, it would have been very difficult because people (potential sponsors) want to talk to us and I hope to take part in a lot of races next season,” she said.

“Mum was my biggest concern, but almost the first thing she said was that if I wanted to keep racing, she’d support me.”

Pippa, who went to St Felix School in Southwold, built a growing reputation in British motorsport before moving to the US in 2009 and she moved up to IndyCar level this year. She finished 20th in the iconic Indy500 in May.