When young Billy Monger suffered amputations to both of his legs following a horrific crash in a British F4 race at Donington Park last year, the 18-year-old fighter became household news.
Monger was racing in the final race of the weekend when he ran into the back of Patrick Pasma and his subsequent fight back to health inspired a nation and raised support from the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button.
Since his accident, Monger has proved an inspiration to many and been honored with awards including the Pride of Sport as well as talking at the acclaimed Autosport International Awards.
Despite his newfound hero status, it has always been Monger’s ambition to continue where he left off and make a return to single-seat racing. And he got closer to his ambition after completing his first day behind the wheel of a Carlin Motorsport F3 car at Oulton Park.
Guess who’s back in a single-seater!
??You’re an inspiration @BillyMonger! ?
Vote for #BillyWhizz as your Best Sporting Moment of the Year on https://t.co/ogvHicu0DJ pic.twitter.com/miJ4ELJbl8— Laureus (@LaureusSport) February 7, 2018
Monger has worked hard since his accident to realize his ambition of racing again and worked closely with the FIA and Motor Sports Association over the winter to successfully overturn a rule that prevented disabled drivers from racing in single seaters.
Since that successful ruling and before his latest F3 test, Monger tested in Fun Cup machinery in July to get his license back and has also tested in Carlin’s race simulator.
It’s all part of what Monger hopes to be a long journey to the pinnacle of motorsport, possibly one day in Formula E or following the path of Button and Hamilton to Formula 1. Now that really would be the fairy-tale ending.
Image: Instagram/@billymongerracing