Frederic Sausset isn't your typical endurance racing driver. He's only been involved in racing for about a year. And he's unlike any other driver who has ever competed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. When he takes the grid at this year's running of the famous endurance race, he will be the first quadruple-amputee to ever compete at the Circuit de la Sarthe.
After Sausset contracted a deadly bacterial infection in 2012, doctors had to amputate his forearms and his legs above the knees in order to save his life. The following weeks and months were an agonizing battle against psychological and physical pain.
But he never lost his spirit.
Less than four months after the surgery, Sausset and his friend, professional driver Christophe Tinseau, had the idea for Sausset to drive at Le Mans in an LMP2 prototype, with Tinseau acting as his driving coach.
Their team, SRT41, will compete at Le Mans from Garage 56, an experimental entry designed to include all kinds of unconventional ideas and cars. Past Garage 56 invitees have included a hydrogen-powered car and hybrids.
Sausset's SRT41 project Morgan-Nissan LMP2 race car has been specially customized for Sausset to drive: He will steer with one arm, using a prosthetic attachment bolted to a custom steering wheel, and accelerating and braking with controls under each thigh. Here he is, testing the car at Magny-Cours in France.
This season, Sausset will hopefully participate in two European Le Mans Series races in preparation for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The first will occur in April at the Silverstone ELMS event. According to Autosport, Sausset and this team would also like to race at Imola in May, but they may not have the budget to make it there.
You can read more about Sausset and his team here.
