After recovering from a crash that left him seriously injured, the South Coast's Mitch Gatenby is steering himself to the top of the Formula Ford ranks.
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It was off the race track when a truck crashed into his ute at Batemans Bay, in 2012.
"I am not real keen on dirt roads after the accident," he said.
He suffered a broken foot, femur, hip, three ribs, arm, elbow and extensive muscle damage.
Gatenby was in hospital for two months before being restricted to a wheelchair for four months.
"It was another six months until I could comfortably walk after that; it took a bit of time to build up strength again," he said.
"I couldn't run or do I anything physical for two-three years."
As an 18-year-old and injured, he said the hardest thing was not being able to join in the fun with mates.
"I could get out and socialise but couldn't participate in things like a bike ride or paint balling," he said.
"It was pretty frustrating.
"I was never sitting still when I was growing up, being in a wheelchair was the hardest."
Gatenby said it was tough accepting the long-term consequences of his injuries: "knowing I am not going to be the same physical fitness I was before the accident."
"You can recover, build and grow and get back to doing similar things, but my body will never be the same as it was before," he said.
The crash didn't stop the 27-year-old's passion for cars.
He moved from Batemans Bay to Canberra to pursue a career as a car salesman before realising he wanted to invest more time into racing.
He is now an apprentice carpenter and was spending his spare time doing what he loves most.
For the past three years, he has been racing Formula Fords at speeds of 240km around the circuit.
In his first two years racing, he secured consecutive NSW Titles and now wants to bring home the Australian Formula Ford Championship next month.
"My passion for cars has grown, now I am more involved," he said.
Gatenby has big dreams to one day compete in the Porsche Carrera Cup or V8 Supercars.
"Formula Fords is like the Australian stepping stone to the top categories of motorsports," he said.
To get to the top is costly, but Gatenby was determined.
On Sunday, the Bayview Hotel at Batemans Bay hosted a raffle in support of Gatenby's race season which he has been paying for out of his own pocket.
"It's not cheap and it's hard to do," he said.
"Sponsorships are a necessary part of motor sport and I look forward to building relationships and to form some lasting partnerships."
To follow Gatenby's journey or to get in touch, visit his website, www.mitchgatenbymotorsport.com.au
