# Billy Monger
**Billy Monger** (nicknamed "Billy Whizz") is a British racing driver from Charlwood, Surrey, who became a double leg amputee after a 2017 [Formula 4](https://www.edgepedia.org/formula-4) crash and returned to single-seater competition in specially adapted cars, later becoming a broadcaster and endurance athlete.[1](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/motorsport/39615361) • [2](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/apr/23/billy-monger-euroformula-open-carlin) • [3](https://www.the-independent.com/sport/winter-olympics/billy-monger-racing-driver-winter-paralympics-b2027482.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Crash | 16 April 2017, Donington Park, British F4; hit the back of Patrik Pasma's stopped car at about 120 mph[1](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/motorsport/39615361) • [4](https://electronicsandbooks.com/edt/manual/Magazine/R/Radio%20Times%20UK/2018/2018-11-17_Radio_Times.pdf) |
| Amputations | Left leg above the knee, right leg below the knee[5](https://www.davidbutler.co.uk/billy-monger) |
| Return | British F3 debut podium at Oulton Park, 31 March 2018, in a specially adapted Tatuus Cosworth car[6](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/motorsport/43606264) |
| Rule change | Petitioned the FIA, which altered its rules to allow a disabled driver in single-seaters; he became the first amputee to compete in a single-seater since Alan Stacey, who raced in Formula One from 1958[2](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/apr/23/billy-monger-euroformula-open-carlin) • [12](https://forix.autosport.com/8w/bristow-stacey.html) |
| Adapted controls | Finger-operated throttle lever behind the steering wheel, braking with a prosthetic leg or stump, hand clutch[7](https://www.crash.net/f1/feature/927455/1/how-monger-wants-be-known-racing-and-not-his-accident) • [5](https://www.davidbutler.co.uk/billy-monger) |
| Broadcasting | Channel 4's Formula 1 presentation team and on-screen reporter at the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics[2](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/apr/23/billy-monger-euroformula-open-carlin) • [3](https://www.the-independent.com/sport/winter-olympics/billy-monger-racing-driver-winter-paralympics-b2027482.html) |
| Endurance sport | IRONMAN World Championship Kona, October 2024: fastest double leg amputee, 14:23:36; aiming for paratriathlon at the LA 2028 Paralympics[8](https://tri247.com/billy-monger-brutally-honest-assessment-t100-london-2025/) • [9](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/mar/23/i-was-taking-on-a-monumental-challenge-racing-driver-billy-monger-on-why-being-a-double-amputee-hasnt-slowed-him-down) |
## Early career
Monger started go-karting at the age of six, raced competitively by six, and moved to the Ginetta Junior sports car series in 2014 before stepping up to single-seaters in the F4 British Championship in 2016.[2](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/apr/23/billy-monger-euroformula-open-carlin) • [3](https://www.the-independent.com/sport/winter-olympics/billy-monger-racing-driver-winter-paralympics-b2027482.html) The championship is designed as a low-cost entry point to car racing for young drivers moving up from karting.[1](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/motorsport/39615361) He took podium finishes in his first season, and had been on the podium twice in 2017 when the series reached [Donington Park](https://www.edgepedia.org/donington-park) in April.[1](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/motorsport/39615361) • [2](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/apr/23/billy-monger-euroformula-open-carlin)
## The 2017 crash
On 16 April 2017, at Donington Park in [Leicestershire](https://www.edgepedia.org/leicestershire), the 17-year-old Monger ran into the back of the car of Finnish driver Patrik Pasma, which had stopped on the track; he was unsighted by cars in front and had no time to react.[1](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/motorsport/39615361) • [2](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/apr/23/billy-monger-euroformula-open-carlin) The Radio Times account gives the impact speed as 120 miles per hour.[4](https://electronicsandbooks.com/edt/manual/Magazine/R/Radio%20Times%20UK/2018/2018-11-17_Radio_Times.pdf) He remained in the car for over 90 minutes before being extracted and airlifted to the Queen's Medical Centre in [Nottingham](https://www.edgepedia.org/nottingham); Pasma was also taken there for assessment.[1](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/motorsport/39615361) Both legs were amputated to save his life, the left above the knee and the right below the knee.[3](https://www.the-independent.com/sport/winter-olympics/billy-monger-racing-driver-winter-paralympics-b2027482.html) • [5](https://www.davidbutler.co.uk/billy-monger) His team, JHR Developments, raised over £500,000 through a JustGiving page within 24 hours, and the total later exceeded £840,000 to cover aspects of his rehabilitation, including learning to walk on prosthetic legs.[3](https://www.the-independent.com/sport/winter-olympics/billy-monger-racing-driver-winter-paralympics-b2027482.html) • [2](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/apr/23/billy-monger-euroformula-open-carlin)
## Return to racing
While still in hospital, Monger resolved to return to motorsport, and he was required to appeal to the FIA for permission for a driver with a disability to take part in single-seat competition, a category that safety rules had previously excluded them from; the FIA changed its regulations, and he thereby became the first amputee to compete in a single-seater.[2](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/apr/23/billy-monger-euroformula-open-carlin) • [3](https://www.the-independent.com/sport/winter-olympics/billy-monger-racing-driver-winter-paralympics-b2027482.html)
**Adapted controls.** The Carlin team, with project manager Sam Waple, modified a Tatuus F3 chassis around him. Because his prosthetic ankle joints are fixed at 90 degrees, he drives without his artificial legs: braking is done with his below-knee stump through a custom hard socket onto a brake pedal moved forward in the cockpit, while throttle and gear changes sit on the steering wheel, with a hand clutch for maneuvering.[5](https://www.davidbutler.co.uk/billy-monger) The throttle paddle uses two calibrated sensors as a fail-safe against a full-throttle fault, and the car retained the standard ECU and throttle body so it matched the rest of the grid; ballast compensated for the weight of his missing limbs.[5](https://www.davidbutler.co.uk/billy-monger) He later described the arrangement as a finger-operated throttle lever behind the wheel and a prosthetic leg on the brake pedal, a first at Formula 3 specification level.[7](https://www.crash.net/f1/feature/927455/1/how-monger-wants-be-known-racing-and-not-his-accident)
**Licensing and evacuation.** To regain his race license he had to meet the MSA's cockpit exit requirement of seven seconds; in the January 2018 assessment by David Butler of the MSA Medical Advisory Committee he extricated himself in 4.7 seconds, and his National A license was reinstated after track testing at [Brands Hatch](https://www.edgepedia.org/brands-hatch).[10](https://www.racefans.net/2018/03/31/billy-monger-exclusive-racing-driver-again/) • [5](https://www.davidbutler.co.uk/billy-monger)
**Competition.** In February 2018 he tested the modified F3 car for Carlin and was signed by the team.[3](https://www.the-independent.com/sport/winter-olympics/billy-monger-racing-driver-winter-paralympics-b2027482.html) On his British F3 debut at Oulton Park on 31 March 2018 he started fifth and finished third, calling the podium "surreal".[6](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/motorsport/43606264) That season he took two poles, four podium places, and finished sixth in the championship.[2](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/apr/23/billy-monger-euroformula-open-carlin) In 2019 he moved up to the Euroformula Open Championship with Carlin, the most powerful car he had driven, stating his aim to reach Formula 1 on his own results.[2](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/apr/23/billy-monger-euroformula-open-carlin) He won at the Pau Grand Prix in the Euroformula Open.[7](https://www.crash.net/f1/feature/927455/1/how-monger-wants-be-known-racing-and-not-his-accident)
## F1 test and recognition
In 2018, surprised by Sky F1's Johnny Herbert, Monger drove a 2011 Sauber Formula 1 car for the first time at [Rockingham](https://www.edgepedia.org/rockingham), completing 10 laps with the same control layout of throttle and gears on the wheel and a single brake pedal operated by a shorter right prosthetic leg.[11](https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/11420606/sky-f1-special-billy-monger-drives-an-f1-car-for-the-first-time) His comeback earned the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Helen Rollason Award for outstanding achievement in the face of adversity in 2018, and the [Royal Automobile Club](https://www.edgepedia.org/royal-automobile-club)'s Segrave Trophy, of which he became the youngest recipient.[3](https://www.the-independent.com/sport/winter-olympics/billy-monger-racing-driver-winter-paralympics-b2027482.html) • [7](https://www.crash.net/f1/feature/927455/1/how-monger-wants-be-known-racing-and-not-his-accident) His recovery was told in the BBC documentary *Driven: The Billy Monger Story*, which was Bafta-nominated.[9](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/mar/23/i-was-taking-on-a-monumental-challenge-racing-driver-billy-monger-on-why-being-a-double-amputee-hasnt-slowed-him-down)
## Broadcasting and later life
Monger joined [Channel 4](https://www.edgepedia.org/channel-4)'s Formula 1 presentation team and was part of the broadcaster's on-screen reporting team, alongside swimmer Ellie Robinson, at the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics.[2](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/apr/23/billy-monger-euroformula-open-carlin) • [3](https://www.the-independent.com/sport/winter-olympics/billy-monger-racing-driver-winter-paralympics-b2027482.html) In March 2021 he completed "Billy's Big Challenge", covering 140 miles by walking, kayaking, and cycling and raising over £3 million for [Comic Relief](https://www.edgepedia.org/comic-relief).[3](https://www.the-independent.com/sport/winter-olympics/billy-monger-racing-driver-winter-paralympics-b2027482.html) At Christmas 2024 he became the first double amputee to appear on *Strictly Come Dancing*, performing an American Smooth on prosthetic legs.[9](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/mar/23/i-was-taking-on-a-monumental-challenge-racing-driver-billy-monger-on-why-being-a-double-amputee-hasnt-slowed-him-down)
## Endurance sport
In October 2024 Monger set an IRONMAN World Championship record at Kona, becoming the fastest double leg amputee to complete the Hawaii course in 14:23:36, more than two hours under the previous best.[8](https://tri247.com/billy-monger-brutally-honest-assessment-t100-london-2025/) He then turned to the sprint end of triathlon, racing his first Paralympic-distance event at T100 London in 2025, and has set his sights on paratriathlon, a 750 m swim, 20 km cycle, and 5 km run, at the LA 2028 Paralympics.[8](https://tri247.com/billy-monger-brutally-honest-assessment-t100-london-2025/) • [9](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/mar/23/i-was-taking-on-a-monumental-challenge-racing-driver-billy-monger-on-why-being-a-double-amputee-hasnt-slowed-him-down)
## References
1. [Formula 4: British driver Billy Monger suffers leg injuries in crash, BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/motorsport/39615361)
2. [Billy Monger: 'I want to make it to Formula One off my own back', The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/apr/23/billy-monger-euroformula-open-carlin)
3. [Billy Monger: Who is racing driver and Winter Paralympics presenter?, The Independent](https://www.the-independent.com/sport/winter-olympics/billy-monger-racing-driver-winter-paralympics-b2027482.html)
4. [Driven: the Billy Monger Story, Radio Times (17 November 2018)](https://electronicsandbooks.com/edt/manual/Magazine/R/Radio%20Times%20UK/2018/2018-11-17_Radio_Times.pdf)
5. [David Butler – Billy Monger assessment document](https://www.davidbutler.co.uk/billy-monger)
6. [Billy Monger: Double amputee hails 'surreal' podium finish on British F3 debut, BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/motorsport/43606264)
7. [How Monger wants to be known for his racing and not his accident, Crash.net](https://www.crash.net/f1/feature/927455/1/how-monger-wants-be-known-racing-and-not-his-accident)
8. [Billy Monger's brutally honest assessment of first sprint race, TRI247](https://tri247.com/billy-monger-brutally-honest-assessment-t100-london-2025/)
9. ['I was taking on a monumental challenge': Billy Monger interview, The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/mar/23/i-was-taking-on-a-monumental-challenge-racing-driver-billy-monger-on-why-being-a-double-amputee-hasnt-slowed-him-down)
10. [Billy Monger exclusive: 'I just want to be a racing driver again', RaceFans](https://www.racefans.net/2018/03/31/billy-monger-exclusive-racing-driver-again/)
11. [Sky F1 special: Billy Monger drives an F1 car for the first time, Sky Sports](https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/11420606/sky-f1-special-billy-monger-drives-an-f1-car-for-the-first-time)
12. [8W - Who? - Chris Bristow, Alan Stacey](https://forix.autosport.com/8w/bristow-stacey.html)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Individual sports and outdoor recreation › Cycling and motor sport*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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