Billy Monger has woken from a medically induced coma after a horror crash that resulted in the amputation of both his lower legs, and is reportedly readying himself for a return to racing.
The 17-year-old Englishman ran into the back of an unsighted, stationary car at high speed on the outside of the Shwantz Curve during a British F4 race at Donington Park last weekend.
Monger was airlifted to hospital after medical staff took nearly two hours to extract him from his wrecked car.
Mongers F4 JHR Development team boss, Steven Hunter, has been with the young driver and his family throughout this difficult week and told Autosport Monger is aware of his situation but is also in high spirits.
“We’ve had some real positives,” said Hunter. “Billy was breathing on his own and talking, to a degree.”
“He’s aware of his injuries. He’s exceptionally positive about the situation – he’s sat there working out how to use a clutch on the steering wheel with his hands.”
“That’s Billy. There’s a long, long road ahead, he’s going to go through some hard times, but I’m sure with the character he has he’ll come through it.”
Monger's in his second season of F4 racing and currently sits sixth in the championship standings after finishing on the podium twice in the first five races.
Motorsport stars rally behind Billy Monger
A JustGiving crowdfunding page was set up by JHR Development and the Monger family to help Billy overcome his life changing injuries.
Since going live the page has received a flood of donations and messages of support, including some of the sport’s biggest starts.
Former Formula 1 world champion Jenson Button and Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen both donated £15,000. Devlin DeFrancesco, a former on-track rival of Monger and 2016 Toyota Racing Series competitor also donated £26,000.
As of this morning, the JustGiving page had reached £594,000 (NZ$1.08 million) in donations, far and way exceeding the original target of £260,000 set on Wednesday morning.
"Struggling for budget Billy has fought his way into top-flight motorsport, however, we now need your kindness and support to help give Billy and his family the best chance to fight these injuries that will affect Billy's life so massively," the family said on the fundraising website.
“Donations will be used to fund the care, treatments and therapies required by Billy in the immediate future and going forward, helping him to return to a full and active life.”