Amputee Monger aims to race at Le Mans

Double amputee Billy Monger aims to race at the 24 Hours of Le Mans as part of a project launched by quadruple amputee and Le Mans racer Frederic Sausset.

Sausset officially launched his academy, which will select and train several disabled driver line-ups for the 24 Hours, at Le Mans earlier today. The first car enrolled by the academy is set to race in the 2020 edition.The academy is officially backed by the FIA, the ACO and the FFSA (Fédération Française de Sport Automobile).

"I've been working on this project relentlessly since April last year," Sausset (pictured at right, with Monger, at Le Mans) told DSC's Mat Fernandez. "I really needed to undertake another significant challenge after racing in La Sarthe in 2016. I also wanted to change the general perception of disabled people. I believe that taking the checkered flag at Le Mans has given me the legitimacy to do so."

Every year the academy will choose 15 candidates from all over the world, test them, and select two to three laureates. Winners will then follow a three-year training program and race in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the final year.

Swiss watch-maker Richard Mille is one of Sausset's main sponsors for this program, which is said to require 3 million euros per year from 2020 onward. "We still need to secure more sponsors. I am confident that presenting our project at Le Mans will give it more exposure" says Sausset.

The Frenchman will put together a team of 20-25 members that will be based in Blois, in the Loire Valley. The academy will also have offices at the Le Mans Bugatti track. Sausset will not be racing in Le Mans again anytime soon. "My priority is to make sure that a first driver line-up reaches Le Mans in 2020. Once this is done, I will consider returning to Le Mans as a driver in 2021 or 2022."

Monger was at Le Mans alongside Sausset for the launch of the academy. The F4 driver had both of his lower legs amputated after an horrific accident at Donington Park. "I am recovering well from my injuries and I am looking forward to joining Frédéric in this academy," said the 18-year-old Briton.

15 candidates will be tested in November during two three-day test sessions at the Bugatti track. At the end of this series, the jury will announce a winning driver line-up.

"Of course, we need to make sure that all these candidates are individually qualified to undertake such a program. We also need to make sure that their disabilities are complementary and compatible with our cars," says Sausset. A car will be adapted in December and January.

The first round of tests are expected to be held at the end of Jan. 2018. Before that, though, Monger and Sausset will share a drive in Sausset's Ligier JS 53 CN car in the VdeV round at Estoril.