Billy Monger facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Billy Monger
Monger in 2018
Nationality	British
Born	(1999-05-05) 5 May 1999 (age 26) Charlwood, Surrey, England
Euroformula Open Championship career
Debut season	2019
Current team	Carlin
Car no.	31
Starts	20 (20 entries)
Wins	1
Podiums	2
Poles	1
Fastest laps	0
Best finish	9th in 2019
Previous series
2018 2016-2017 2017	BRDC Formula 3 F4 British Championship Ginetta Junior Championship

Billy Monger (born 5 May 1999) is a British racing driver. He used to race in championships like British F4. Today, he is a well-known commentator and TV personality. People sometimes call him Billy Whizz, like the character from The Beano comic.

In April 2017, Billy had a very serious racing accident. He was critically injured and lost both of his legs. Before this, he was a successful kart racer and also competed in the Ginetta Junior series. He then moved into single-seater racing cars.

After a lot of treatment and therapy, Billy returned to racing in November 2017. In 2018, he received the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Helen Rollason Award. This award celebrates amazing achievements when facing tough challenges. Since 2019, he has shared his thoughts on Channel 4 F1 races. He also raced in the Euroformula Open championship, where he won his first single-seater race at the 2019 Pau Grand Prix.

Career

Billy Monger started driving at just six years old. His dad, who used to race go-karts, bought him his first one. This is how Billy's exciting journey in motorsport began.

Monger racing at Silverstone with JHR Developments in 2016.

In 2016, Billy joined the F4 British Championship with a team called JHR Developments. He achieved three podium finishes that year. A podium finish means he placed in the top three in a race. He ended the championship in 12th place. He stayed with the same team for the 2017 season.

On 16 April 2017, Billy was involved in a serious crash at the Donington Park race. He crashed at high speed into another car. As a result of the accident, doctors had to amputate both of his legs. One leg was removed above the knee, and the other below the knee. The longer part of his right leg helps him to drive special modified cars. The other driver in the crash was not seriously hurt.

After his Donington Park crash, many cars showed support for Billy. Stickers like this one were seen on cars in the British Touring Car Championship.

After his accident, Billy's team set up a fundraising page. They raised over £500,000 in just 24 hours to help him. Many famous F1 drivers also showed their support. These included Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton, and Max Verstappen.

In June 2017, Billy announced he would return to racing in November. He planned to share a special Ligier JS53 Evo 2-Honda car. He would race with Frédéric Sausset, who also has a disability. Their goal was to eventually race a team of three disabled drivers at the 2020 Le Mans 24 Hours. In July 2017, Billy drove a race car again at Brands Hatch. This car was adapted with hand controls by Team BRIT. This test helped him get his racing licence back.

Billy Monger's Carlin car from the 2018 BRDC British Formula 3 Championship.

In February 2018, Billy drove a single seater racing car for the first time since his crash. He tested a BRDC British Formula 3 car for the Carlin team. This test happened at Oulton Park. The next month, Billy confirmed he would race for Carlin in the 2018 BRDC Formula 3 series.

To race in F3, Billy and his family had to ask the sport's main governing body, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), to change their rules. The FIA had rules that stopped disabled drivers from racing single-seater cars for safety reasons. In December 2017, the FIA changed their rules. This allowed disabled drivers to race modified single-seaters if they passed safety checks. Billy finished third at Oulton Park in his specially adapted car. The car had a brake pedal moved higher up for him to use with his leg, and a throttle lever on the steering wheel.

In June 2018, Billy got to drive a Formula 1 racing car for the very first time. He tested a Sauber C30 car at the Rockingham Motor Speedway. This F1 car was specially changed to have the same hand controls as his Carlin F3 car.

In March 2021, Billy completed "Billy's Big Challenge." He traveled about 140 miles (225 km) by walking, kayaking, and cycling. He raised over £3 million for Comic Relief, a charity that helps people in need.

Broadcasting Career

Since 2019, Billy has been a commentator for Channel 4 F1. He also worked as a co-commentator for the W Series, a racing series for women. He has also been part of Channel 4's coverage of the Paralympic Games. He works as a commentator and reporter for Parasports.

A short film about Billy's first Formula 1 drive was shown on Sky F1. Another documentary about his journey, called Driven: The Billy Monger Story, was released by the BBC in November 2018. In July 2021, it was announced that Billy would present Billy Monger: Changing Gear as part of the Paralympics coverage.

He is also set to be part of Channel 4's presenting team for the 2024 Summer Paralympics.

In September 2023, Billy and his sister, Bonny, were contestants on the TV show Celebrity Race Across the World. They had to leave the race early due to a family emergency. In October 2024, Billy took part in the 2024 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship triathlon in Kona. He raised money for Comic Relief and set a new world record for a double amputee. He finished in 14 hours, 23 minutes, and 56 seconds, beating the old record by over two hours. He also became the youngest double amputee to complete an Ironman event.

Personal life

Billy Monger driving a golf buggy in July 2018.

Billy is a big fan of the football team Tottenham Hotspur F.C..

Karting record

Karting career summary

Racing record

Racing career summary

See also

• Alex Zanardi, another open-wheel racing driver who lost both legs in a racing crash