Juan Manuel Correa, who was severely injured in the horror crash that claimed the life of Anthoine Hubert at Spa in 2019, will return to racing this season with ART Grand Prix in the FIA F3 championship.
The Ecuadorian-American suffered massive leg injuries in the dramatic F2 accident that marred the Belgian GP weekend, but in the wake of 26 surgeries the 21-year-old has worked hard in the past 12 months to regain his mobility and strength.
Correa won't exactly pick up where he left off as his return will involve taking a step back to F3 in order to resume his progression.
"First of all, I’m extremely happy to be back after what I’ve been through," he said.
"I am super thankful to ART Grand Prix; it means a lot to me that they’re believing in me and my comeback.
"F3 is a transition year, my dream is still to reach F1 and this is the first step in my comeback.
"My targets are a bit ahead of myself, because I still have to do a lot, I have not driven a car for a year and a half and there is a big learning curve ahead. I’m entering this season with an open mind, I won’t put pressure on myself, I will do my best, I will do what I love and that’s already a victory."
ART Grand Prix managing director Sébastien Philippe says the French outfit is proud to help its new driver resume his motorsport career.
"Since his horrendous accident in Spa, on August 30th 2019, Juan Manuel has been through a lot of phases, always fighting while keeping in mind that he did not want to give up on his dream to keep racing at the highest possible level," said Philippe.
"Juan Manuel is an example of bravery and tenacity and ART Grand Prix is proud to give him the opportunity to return to racing.
"Juan Manual is extremely strong mentally, he is still fighting to be as fit as possible and he is hungry.
"Behind the wheel, his talent is immense, as shown by his achievements in go-karts and then his first few years in motorsport.
"We are keen to accompany Juan Manuel to resume his career and to help him climb the ladder once again. He will give the team the benefit of his talent and experience."
The FIA Formula 3 Championship is set to kick off in Barcelona on May 8 as a support event during the F1 Spanish Grand Prix.
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