Billy Monger, the teenage racer who had to have both legs amputated following a high-speed collision at Donnington Park earlier this year, is back behind the wheel – in a Fun Cup endurance racer ‘Beetle’…
Young talent Billy, 18, from Surrey hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons in April 2017 when his Formula 4 car smashed into the rear of a stationary vehicle on the track, causing his catastrophic injuries. But with the help of Team BRIT, an organisation which helps disabled drivers and injured servicemen compete in motorsport, he’s returned to the cockpit of a racing car at Brands Hatch, Kent.
The Fun Cup car, which has similar performance to a performance hatch, has been specially adapted with steering wheel mounted controls, the aim, according to Team BRIT founder, Dave Player, to get Billy back out on the track and regain his race licence.
Assuming he’s successful, the teenage racing driver’s ambition is to take part in the Le Mans 24 Hours, teaming up with Frenchman Fréderic Sausset who, through illness, lost both arms and legs. Said Billy: “The company that Fréderic set up to get to Le Mans in 2020 is a great project. Although the budget’s not fully there yet, it will be a great opportunity for me. It was inspirational meeting him, he’s a really nice guy and down to earth.”
Hoping to make his racing comeback in 2018, Billy admits he’s not 100% committed to anything and explains there’s still a lot going on with his own rehabilitation. During an interview with the BBC, Billy said he wanted to thank fans who had overwhelmed him with help: “People keep saying I am the inspiration, but I think people coming together to support someone who has gone through an accident like this, they’re the true inspiration.” No doubt, for such an exceptional young driver such as Billy, getting back on the track again will prove to be the best form of rehabiliation…
If you want to find out more about the Fun Cup, read our previous post here.
Ian
The opinions expressed here are the personal opinions of the author and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of VW Heritage
I first saw Billy when he was the guest of Lewis Hamilton at the British Grand Prix and was moved by his story. It is great to see him back in a race car. Well done Billy. There are many of us in Australia who have been moved by your story and your determination.