Every day, efforts are being made to ensure the safety standards in motorsport gets better. But as long as there is motor racing, the phrase ‘motorsport is dangerous’ will be made clear even if one were just going to the track to see the race.
In April of last year, the then 17-year old British teenaged racer, Billy Monger found out how dangerous the sport could be when he was involved in a high-speed crash in the British Formula 4 championship at Donington Park, U.K.
While he survived, the Briton had both his legs amputated a few days later.
Twelve months later on Saturday, in what is one the most remarkable stories of the year in the sport, the teenager entered the BRDC F3 (British Racing Drivers Club) championship and finished on podium (third) driving for Carlin Racing in the first race of the season in Oulton Park.
In his return to single-seater racing, Monger uses a pedal on the steering wheel to work the throttle while using a prosthetic leg to use the brake pedal.
Monger has had tremendous support from the motorsport community with many F1 drivers chipping in with personal donations to fund his rehabilitation.
The teenager is affectionately called “Billy The Whizz” and on Saturday he lived up to the moniker.
