Still dreaming Correa has sights set on Formula One

Each step Juan Manuel Correa takes towards his goal of racing in Formula One is a painful one and a constant reminder that dreams can come at a very high price.

It cost Anthoine Hubert his life and nearly Correa's when four years ago in an F2 race in Spa-Francorchamps he rocketed through the infamous high-speed turn at Eau Rouge and at over 200kph rammed into his friend's car that had spun to a stop on the track.

Hubert died from his injuries while Correa sustained multiple fractures to his legs and spine and was put in an induced coma for two weeks to deal with acute respiratory failure.

After more than 25 surgeries and endless physiotherapy the Ecuador-born American has returned to the F2 grid with Van Amersfoort Racing and is in Spielberg this weekend for the Austria Grand Prix, chasing the same dream but with a far different perspective.

"Before the accident I sort of felt if I didn't make it to F1 my life would be ruined," Correa told Reuters in a phone interview. "I was a very immature 19-year-old kid who all he knows is to drive a race car, that has changed.

"I know now I will be fulfilled and happy doing many other things if I don't make it.

"That does give me a bit of freedom."

Motor racing is packed with death-defying, inspirational comeback stories.

Niki Lauda was given the last rites after a fiery crash in 1976 but returned to win the F1 drivers championship, while Robert Kubica, once rated a possible future world champion, nearly lost his arm in a rallying accident and came back to the Formula One starting grid.

Billy Monger, who lost both legs in an F4 British Championship race in 2017 and Canadian Robert Wickens, paralysed in an IndyCar crash, both returned to racing and helped motivate Correa through his