A year and a half after the drama of Spa, Correa will find the track

The American Juan Manuel Correa, injured in the Formula 2 accident which claimed the life of Frenchman Anthoine Hubert on August 31, 2019 at Spa-Francorchamps, will take the wheel in F3 in 2021, it was announced in a press release on Monday.

The 21-year-old driver, recovering since then, will compete in his first race on May 9 in Barcelona (Spain), at the opening of the Formula 1 GP, with the prestigious French team ART Grand Prix.

“First of all, I'm extremely happy to be back after what I've been through,” comments Correa, who is back in a lower category than he was in 2019. I am super grateful to ART Grand Prix, that they believe in me and my return means a lot to me. ”

Transition year

“F3 is a year of transition, my dream is still to reach F1 and this is the first step in my return,” continues the man who was development driver for the Alfa Romeo team before his accident.

My goals are still a long way off, I still have a lot to do, I haven't driven a car for a year and a half and there is a lot of room for improvement.

I start this season with an open mind, I will not put myself under pressure, I will do my best, I will do what I love and it is already a victory. "

“Juan Manuel is a model of bravery and tenacity and ART Grand Prix is ​​proud to give him the opportunity to return to competition,” adds team leader Sébastien Philippe.

Juan Manuel is extremely strong mentally, he is still struggling to be in great shape and he is hungry.

(...) We want to support him to resume his career and help him climb the ladder again. "

Correa, whose single-seater crashed into Hubert's, suffered twenty fractures to both legs and feet, two vertebrae, as well as lung damage.

The American of Ecuadorian descent has spent two weeks in an induced coma and has been operated on 25 times, after risking the amputation of his right leg.

After months in a wheelchair, he is now able to cover short distances by walking without assistance and longer distances using crutches.

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