WTCR Zengő Team fulfils an injured marshal’s dream
WTCR team Zengo Motorsport has made Attila László’s dream come true, giving the injured marshal the drive of his life at the Hungaroring, FIA WTCR Race of Hungary venue.
After working as a volunteer marshal, Attila László’s life changed forever two years ago during a race meeting at the Hungaroring. During a DTM race weekend at the 4.3km Hungarian race course, the weather turned for the worse when heavy showered arrived. Standing in the pit lane, László had been inadvertently struck by a DTM car as it stopped for a tyre change in wet conditions.
Despite the quick and best efforts of medics, László’s left leg could not be saved and had to be amputated below the knee. The event changed László’s life forever, but his love for motorsport has not diminished. He wanted to drive a racing car which has been now realized by WTCR Zengő Team.
Despite his serious injuries, László returned to the tracks as a marshal in the Hungarian round of the 2019 WTCR season, just a year after the life-changing accident. The marshal got to know Zoltán Zengő, the boss of the Zengő Motorsport at the 2019 race who wanted to present his fellow countryman for his unbroken dedication and love to motorsport.
“The test was organised by the Zengő Motorsport team, led by Zoltán Zengő. They've heard about my dream, and after seeing me returning as a marshal in 2019 [at WTCR Race of Hungary] and, even after my accident, being dedicated to motorsports, they decided to realise this dream,” he added.
The Hungarian marshal completed two 30-minute sessions around the Formula One circuit, Hungaroring, clocking up a total of 17 laps. „The biggest challenge was overcoming my own thoughts, because before the test I was afraid of using the brakes, because according to my plans, as the pros do, I wanted to brake with my left foot, but I knew that to get the correct braking force I had to press the brake pedal very hard. I wasn’t sure I could achieve this with the prosthesis.”
The WTCR team needed to make special changes to the car including the brake pedals to make the driving experience complete and safe.
“The Zengő team widened the brake pedal and attached my prosthesis to it. So, if I couldn’t press the brake with the prosthesis or if something unexpected happened, there would be room to use my right foot as well. It was necessary to attach my prosthesis to the pedal to avoid involuntary movements because of the g-forces in the corners.”
“Despite all my preliminary fears, I was able to press the brake pedal with enough power with my left leg during the entire test and I kept my right foot only on the throttle,” László concluded.
