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European Le Mans Series

Correa Ruled Out of Paul Ricard Opener With Foot Injury

Prema driver forced to postpone sports car debut at Paul Ricard after suffering stress fracture…

Photo: Prema

Juan Manuel Correa has been ruled out of next weekend’s European Le Mans Series season opener at Paul Ricard after suffering a foot injury.

Correa broke the news through a video post on social media on Friday, in which he explained that he suffered a stress fracture in his left foot.

He said the injury which first began plaguing him during the opening rounds of the FIA Formula 3 rounds in Bahrain before returning during a test at Jerez, after which it was diagnosed.

The American-Ecuadorian was due to make his sports car racing debut at the 4 Hours of Le Castellet as the designated Silver-rated driver aboard Prema’s Oreca 07 Gibson alongside Ferdinand Habsburg and Louis Deletraz.

“I have a metatarsal fracture in my left foot,” Correa explained. “A few weeks ago in Bahrain, during the race, I started getting this very sharp pain in my left foot.

“We got it checked out. It seemed like it was just some tendon inflammation and got some rest over the last few weeks.

“But a few days ago, in the Jerez test, the pain came back. So we did an MRI scan yesterday night, got the results today and there is indeed a stress fracture there.”

Correa returned to racing last year after recovering from severe leg injuries in a heavy crash during a Formula 2 race at Spa-Francorchamps in 2019.

The 22-year-old also confirmed that he will be sidelined for the ELMS opener.

“Pretty surprising, I am extremely disappointed,” Correa continued. “I thought I wouldn’t have to deal with any more injuries this year. I thought I had enough of it last year, but it continues. It is what it is.

“The doctors have recommended a couple of weeks of rest. Let’s see how it heals itself, how the pain improves.

“Obviously, this means that there will be no ELMS race next week.”

Prema has yet to respond to the news or state who will replace Correa for next week’s four-hour enduro.

Davey Euwema is Sportscar365's European Editor. Based in The Netherlands, Euwema covers the FIA World Endurance Championship, European Le Mans Series and Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS, among other series.

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