Juan Manuel Correa is to return to competitive race action after announcing a deal to join ART Grand Prix in the FIA Formula 3 Championship.
Correa, 21, sustained life-threatening injuries in the high-speed Formula 2 accident at Spa-Francorchamps that resulted in the death of Anthoine Hubert.
Correa spent several weeks in an induced coma after suffering an acute respiratory failure and also sustained fractures to both legs.
Doctors managed to avoid amputating his right leg after a lengthy surgery and he has since undergone several more operations, and had to wear a brace on his leg for over a year, as part of the recovery process.
Correa has been undergoing rehabilitation, initially at home in Miami, and then most recently in his European base in Barcelona, in a bid to return to racing competition.
On Monday the Ecuador-born American announced a full-time programme in Formula 3 with ART.
Correa previously competed in Formula 3’s predecessor, the GP3 Series, across 2017 and 2018 with Jenzer.
Correa, who was part of Alfa Romeo Sauber’s development programme, had taken two podium finishes with Charouz in Formula 2 prior to the accident.
“First of all, I’m extremely happy to be back after what I’ve been through,” he said.
“I am super thankful to ART Grand Prix; it means a lot to me that they’re believing in me and my comeback.
“F3 is a transition year, my dream is still to reach F1 and this is the first step in my comeback.
“My targets are a bit ahead of myself, because I still have to do a lot, I have not driven a car for a year and a half and there is a big learning curve ahead.
“I’m entering this season with an open mind, I won’t put pressure on myself, I will do my best, I will do what I love and that’s already a victory.
“I would also like to take a chance to honor the memory of Anthoine, as I will keep him very close to my heart in every race and try to carry his legacy as best as I can.”
Formula 3’s 2021 campaign is due to begin alongside Formula 1’s Spanish Grand Prix in May.
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