More than a year and a half have passed since the severe accident that Juan Manuel Correa suffered during a valid championship of Formula 2, and after more than 20 operations and an intense recovery process, the Ecuadorian pilot is ready to return to competition.
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From Barcelona (Spain), where he is currently based, Correa told EXPRESS his experiences in rehabilitation and in the new adventure he is about to start in the Formula 3.
“Was a long, painful process, of a lot of patience. Sometimes I had to get motivated thinking about the best times to come, about getting back into a car. It was very important to set a goal for myself, which was to run again, to resume what I love so much, ”said the tricolor.
He stressed that for his recovery, which many describe as miraculous after the serious injuries he suffered, especially in his right leg, it was key to “take the process in my hands. In addition to doing what the doctors told me about surgeries, I did a lot more in rehab. I hired experts in food, bought one hyperbaric chamber where you get in and it pumps oxygen under pressure and regenerates your bones and soft tissue faster ”.
He also emphasized that maintaining a positive attitude was very important to which “the messages of support from an entire country that he was always aware of my health, my rehabilitation and very happy to know that I am back on the slopes ”.
Once it was clear that physically I was ready To get back into a race car, he began the process of finding a team that wants to bet on him.
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“In this sport, when you stop for a season, you are past history. I spoke with several teams, many doubted the plan I had. In ART I met with the team leader and seeing the progress he had made he decided to trust me. Reaching a team of that caliber after the difficult situation from which I come, is the best thing that could happen to me ”.
Correa’s bond with the French team is for a year but he is clear that “they have a team in Formula 2 as well, and if things go well this season, the possibility of promotion for 2022 may open. The dream of reaching Formula 1 remains intact”.
In two weeks he will meet a private test at the Paul Ricard circuit from France, “to get into the rhythm” and then he will complete the three official tests before starting the Formula 3 season, scheduled for May at the Barcelona circuit.
It will be his first experience in this category which he described as “the younger brother of Formula 2, it is a little less physically strong“And that although his objective is to fight for the title” we will see the results over time, the first thing is to get used to being on a car again “.
When consulting him about how he envisions his return to competition, Correa confessed that “from an emotional point of view I will be quite nervous“And stressed that” I am not worried about the physical issue, I prepared necks, arms, hands thinking about this moment. My focus is to go back to the state I was in before the accident, I was in the best moment of my career”.
