Photo: Glenn Dunbar / LAT Images / FIA F2 Championship
Juan Manuel Correa continues to work towards racing in Formula 2 again in 2021 after the injuries he sustained at Spa last year.
Correa suffered lung damage and serious leg injuries in the crash one year ago in which Anthoine Hubert lost his life.
He has been recovering at home in the United States, but is visiting Spa this weekend at the invitation of F2.
He already stated late last year that he was aiming for a racing return in the championship in 2021, and provided an update on his recovery in an interview on F2’s Instagram channel on Thursday.
“It’s going quite well,” he said. “I’ve been recovering quite quickly, pushing a lot with that racer mindset, always doing more than necessary, but it’s worked out well.
“I’m actually looking for a comeback next year, so earlier than we thought initially, but it’s looking good.
“I have still quite a few surgeries left to go but the whole metal thing around my leg should be gone by the end of this year, which means I can jump in a car maybe as early as December.”
Correa said he was already in talks with teams about a possible test before the end of 2020. F2 is set to hold its traditional post-season test in December following the double-header in Bahrain.
“My plan right now is in full motion. So we’re starting talks with teams, starting to plan a testing schedule – because I’m realistic, I’m not expecting to come back after a year off and jump straight into free practice in the first race, so definitely I need to get back to grips with the cars.
“I also have to see how the legs react to being in a car. I think they will be fine, they feel quite good already. If everything goes well, next season I’ll be back on the grid.”
F2 will pay respects to Hubert with a minute’s silence before Saturday’s feature race at Spa – with Formula 1 to do the same on Sunday – and Correa said that Hubert would be the focus of his return to the track.
“I felt it was a way for me to sort of close a chapter, but more importantly to pay my tribute to Anthoine, I haven’t been able to do so properly from Miami.
“I just felt like coming out here this weekend. I got the invitation from F2 and I took it in a heartbeat. I’m happy to see all the people from the paddock again but it’s also going to be a very sad and emotional weekend for me.
“It’s hard for me to talk about him. Already driving here today, looking at the track, it gives me chills, and everything I do just reminds me of him.
“It’s still unbelievable what happened, it doesn’t seem real in a way. It just makes me sad, also for his family, I think a lot about them as well.
“I’m here to make a tribute for him, I’m here mostly for him this weekend, to kind of close the chapter and start looking forward.”