FILE PHOTO: Scotland’s Dario Franchitti of Target Chip Ganassi Racing waits for his car to arrive during the Indy Car Series practice in Edmonton, Alberta, July 20, 2012. REUTERS/Todd Korol
LONDON (Reuters) – Three times Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti will be getting back behind the wheel at next month’s Goodwood Revival meeting for his first race since injury-enforced retirement in 2013.
The Scot suffered spinal fractures, concussion and a broken ankle in a career-ending crash at the Houston Grand Prix that October.
Now 46, the four times IndyCar champion will drive a classic 1960s Ferrari 250GT in the Kinrara Trophy, billed as the world’s most valuable race with a field of cars valued at more than 200 million pounds ($242.42 million).
He will also drive an ex-Le Mans AC Cobra in a Tourist Trophy race against the likes of Denmark’s retired nine times Le Mans 24 Hours winner Tom Kristensen and Italian ex-F1 racer Emmanuele Pirro.
“I really thought my racing days were behind me but it is tough to give up something that has been a part of my life for so long and that I love so much,” said Franchitti in a statement.
“Of course this won’t mean a return to front line competition — so no Indy 500 — simply enjoying the sport I love as an amateur.”
Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Tony Lawrence