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Juan Manuel Correa
Photo: Cal Sport Media / AP
Even after a year and a half, the American motorsport talent Juan Manuel Correa has to struggle with the consequences of his Formula 2 horror crash.
"I will have handicaps all my life because I sustained irreparable damage to my legs," said Correa, who is making his comeback in Formula 3 in Barcelona at the weekend, at Sport1.
The 21-year-old is worried about the "gas foot".
"Above all, my right ankle is destroyed, which is why my mobility is limited - and that won't get better, but probably even worse over time," said Correa: "Fortunately, I'm fit enough to accelerate again to be able to.
I can only move my right foot slightly, but it's enough for the accelerator. "
The accident in Spa-Francorchamps 2019
Photo: REMKO DE WAAL / EPA-EFE / REX
Correa was a development driver for the Formula 1 team Alfa Romeo until his accident on August 31, 2019 in Spa-Francorchamps, in which the Frenchman Anthoine Hubert was killed. His bolide hit Hubert's wrecked car at 270 km / h, Correa suffered around 20 fractures on both legs and feet, two fractures of the vertebrae and damage to the lungs in the collision.
The American of Ecuadorian origin spent two weeks in an artificial coma, had 25 operations and went through more than a year of rehab.
“It's great to be able to lead the life of a racing driver again,” said Correa. “A bit surreal, because for me it always seemed such a distant goal to get back into the racing car.
But my challenge doesn't end when I'm back in the racing car, but only when I've made it into Formula 1. «
aha / sid