Juan Manuel Correa returns to action 533 days after Spa crash

Correa returns to a Formula car — Photo: © LAT Images

Formula 2

Correa returns to action 533 days after Spa crash

Correa was involved in the crash that took the life of Anthoine Hubert

Sam Hall

Tuesday 16 February 2021 13:55

Juan Manuel Correa has taken a significant step in his comeback by returning to the track for the first time since his crash with Anthoine Hubert at Spa Francorchamps in 2019.

Following the incident at the start of the F2 feature race at the Belgian Grand Prix that killed Hubert, Correa initially spent two weeks in a coma and required 26 surgeries for injuries to his lungs, spine and legs.

At the beginning of February, the Ecuadorian-American announced he is to return to racing this year in Formula 3 with ART, the team that took George Russell to the title in 2017 when the series was then known as GP3.

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Stepping up preparations for his return, Correa took to the track in a single-seater car on Monday for the first time since his accident.

Via social media, he said: "February 15, 2021. 533 days after Spa, I have gotten back, for the first time, behind the wheel of a formula car.

"It’s hard to describe with words what this means to me. All I can say is thank you to all of you who have supported me up to this point.

"AH [Anthoine Hubert] was with me today."

•February 15, 2021• 533 days after Spa, I have gotten back, for the first time, behind the wheel of a formula car. It’s hard to describe with words what this means to me. All I can say is thank you to all of you who have supported me up to this point ❤️ AH was with me today pic.twitter.com/Uh1QRiJAe5
— Juan Manuel Correa (@JMCorrea__) February 15, 2021

The F3 pre-season test in Jerez, scheduled to take place across February 25-26 has been postponed due to the extension of a travel ban for UK travellers by the Spanish Health Ministry until March 2.

The opening F3 race of the season is currently scheduled for Barcelona in May across the weekend of the Spanish GP.