Billy Monger Back Behind the Wheel in Beetle Fun Cup Car

Some of you may remember a few months ago hearing about a young driver who lost his legs after hitting a stationary car during a Formula 4 event at Donnington Park. Billy Monger was 17 at the time and hoped to someday drive at Le Mans when that accident took the lower half of both his legs.

It seems now, though, that Monger’s dream may still come true. That’s thanks to Team BRIT, a race team that aims to put people with disabilities (such as lost limbs or PTSD) behind the wheels of race cars.

One of Team BRIT’s cars, a Beetle Fun Cup car, is set up with its specially designed hand controls. The team recently invited Monger to a track day at Brands Hatch to let him test it out.

“It’s been really good just to get back behind the wheel,” said Monger. “Team BRIT had two steering wheels for me to try today, I’ve decided which one I prefer.”

Now that he’s chosen which wheel he prefers, all that’s left to do is to perfect a new driving technique. He wasn’t quite ready to go out racing, it only having been a scant few months since the April accident, but wants to perfect his technique until he’s winning races again.

During his time at the legendary track, Monger met Team BRIT’s founder, Dave Player.

“I hope today has been useful in helping him back on his journey, getting him back on the track, and helping him re-gain his race license,” said Player.

Player says that the point of Team BRIT is to normalize disability, by showing that so-called disabled racers can compete on an even playing field with anyone.

To that end, Player ultimately wants Team Brit to compete at Le Mans with a team of disabled drivers, a team that could someday include Monger.

That’s for later, though. For now, the young racer just needs to get back on track, something he has vowed to do after turning 18.

“People keep saying I’m the inspiration but I think all these people coming together to support someone who has gone through an accident like this, they’re the true inspiration,” he told the BBC.

The post Billy Monger Back Behind the Wheel in Beetle Fun Cup Car appeared first on VWVortex.

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