Juan Manuel Correa (born August 9, 1999) is an Ecuadorean-American racing driver currently competing in the INDY NXT series for HMD Motorsports, and the IMSA SportsCar Championship for United Autosports USA. He is best known for his remarkable return to racing following life-threatening injuries sustained during a Formula 2 crash in 2019. Correa has participated in various racing categories including GP3 Series, FIA Formula 2 Championship, and FIA Formula 3. He has been affiliated with the Sauber Junior Team and Alpine F1 Team's development program.
Early Life[]
Juan Manuel Correa was born in Quito, Ecuador, and later moved with his family to Miami, Florida, USA. He began karting competitively at a young age, representing both Ecuador and the United States in international competitions. His promising performances in karting circuits across Europe earned him attention from top junior formula teams.
Junior Career[]
Karting[]
Correa started his karting career in 2008 and rapidly ascended through the ranks. He claimed multiple championships in the United States before making a successful transition to European karting circuits, where he competed against future Formula 1 drivers.
Lower Formulae[]
Correa made his single-seater debut in 2016, competing in the ADAC Formula 4 and Italian F4 Championships with Prema Powerteam. He secured multiple podiums and finished sixth in the ADAC standings. In 2017, he continued in F4 before stepping up to the GP3 Series in 2018 with Jenzer Motorsport, scoring his maiden podium in Le Castellet.
FIA Formula 2 and Sauber Junior Team[]
In 2019, Correa graduated to the FIA Formula 2 Championship with Charouz Racing System as part of the Sauber Junior Team. He impressed early on with two podium finishes at Baku and Paul Ricard. His season was tragically interrupted by a horrific accident at Spa-Francorchamps on August 31, 2019, in which fellow driver Anthoine Hubert was killed. Correa sustained multiple fractures and acute respiratory distress syndrome, requiring multiple surgeries and a lengthy recovery period.
Recovery and Return to Racing[]
Correa spent over a year in rehabilitation, undergoing more than 20 surgeries to repair his legs. Despite the severity of his injuries, he announced his intention to return to racing in 2021. He joined ART Grand Prix for the 2021 FIA Formula 3 Championship, scoring points and earning admiration for his determination.
In 2022, Correa continued with ART in FIA Formula 3 and also returned to FIA Formula 2 in 2023 with Van Amersfoort Racing. Though he faced challenges adapting to top-tier competition after his injuries, his persistence and improved pace over the season marked a successful comeback.
Alpine Academy[]
In 2024, Correa joined the Alpine Academy, signaling a renewed affiliation with a Formula 1 team development program. His role included simulator duties and participation in F1 testing programs, strengthening his links to a potential future in Formula 1.
Racing Record[]
| Year | Series | Team | Races | Wins | Podiums | Poles | Fastest Laps | Best Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | ADAC F4 / Italian F4 | Prema | Multiple | 0 | Multiple | 0 | — | 6th (ADAC) |
| 2018 | GP3 Series | Jenzer Motorsport | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12th |
| 2019 | FIA F2 Championship | Sauber Junior Team by Charouz | 17 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 10th |
| 2021 | FIA Formula 3 | ART Grand Prix | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13th |
| 2023 | FIA Formula 2 | Van Amersfoort Racing | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 18th |
| Year | Team |
|---|---|
| Youth Career | |
| 2014 - 2015 | Lotus F1 Junior Team |