It is less and less common to see accidents that end up taking the life of a driver in any motor discipline, and less in Formula.
However, there are always times when protections or security measures cannot prevent a tragedy. This is what happened to the Ecuadorian Juan Manuel Correa, Formula 3 driver, when he had a accident very serious in the Spa circuit (Belgium), he almost lost his leg and came out with numerous injuries. But his friend, Anthoine Hubert, was killed instantly due to the heavy blow.
Even so, about to lose his leg and more than 15 operations later, Juan Manuel Correa will get back into a car in Formula 3: “I have had very hard times physically and mentally. It will be difficult to get back into a car,” says Correa.
His partner and friend died in the accident
The Ecuadorian pilot sets himself the objective of competing again, after the accident he had to have more than 15 operations to save your leg.
He still has a hard time remembering the moment of the tragic event on the Spa circuit, the fans were left in shock, like Lewis Hamilton, who was able to see it live.
Hubert collided with the protections and Correa could not avoid the impact. The Ecuadorian woke up but did not know that he had numerous operations ahead of him to regain mobility: “I was in a lot of pain“, says the pilot.
It took him 18 months to recover: “This is horrible,” claimed Correa while doing an exercise. “It’s true that I hardly spend time in my wheelchair so that’s positive,” he says. Thanks to an exoskeleton he was able to start walking again and be able to move the leg.
Correa is practically recovered but it will be difficult for him to return to the car: “I have hardly any mobility in my right ankle“, explains the Formula 3 driver. Although the important thing is that he has returned, there is no better tribute to his deceased teammate.