Ex-racing star banned from driving after smashing into three parked vehicles in horror crash in high-speed sports car
EX-RACING star Billy Monger has been banned from driving after crashing into three parked cars.
Monger, 25, whose nickname is Billy Whizz after the Beano comic character, was convicted of driving without due care and attention at Guildford Magistrates’ Court in connection with the incident in Limpsfield, Surrey, on January 19.
The former Celebrity Race Across The World contestant had smashed into three parked cars and damaged a lamp post and a wall in a front garden, said Surrey Police.
Pictures showed the smashed-up black Toyota Supra he was driving in a front garden.
Monger was disqualified from driving for 49 days and ordered to pay fines and costs totalling £2,694, the force said.
His trail of destruction also saw him knock over the homeowner’s wheelie bin and smash into a lamppost – which can be seen bent out of shape and later had to be replaced by Highways England.
A silver VW Golf and a red Citroen can also be seen covered in dust from the smash, with the red vehicle’s bumper caved in and almost falling off.
A spokesperson said: “Billy Monger was driving a black Toyota Supra when he was involved in the collision in Snatts Hill around 11.55pm on January 19, 2024.
“Monger was driving along the 30mph road when he collided with a Volkswagen Lupo, a Volkswagen Golf, and a Citroen, causing damage to all three cars.
“Damage was also caused to a lamp post and a hedge and a wall in the front garden of a nearby property.”
Rick Scholey, supervisor for the road traffic collision team, who investigated the case, said: “Monger was not paying attention when he lost control of his car which resulted in him colliding with three parked cars, causing significant damage to the vehicles before then colliding with a hedge and wall belonging to a nearby house.
“Thankfully, no one was in the road at the time otherwise this could have had far more serious consequences.”
A court heard last week how Monger left the scene of the 11.55pm crash with his female passenger before police arrived, but later returned to provide his insurance details and reported he had been driving the car.
Appearing via videolink at Guildford magistrates court last Friday, Monger pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention after losing control of the black Toyota Supra when he went too fast round a bend.
A witness who was sat in his parked car at the time said the ex-racing star tried to “oversteer” and lost control of his car again, catapulting it into a lamppost and a hedge, before it flattened a brick wall and hit two more cars – a silver VW Golf and a red Citroen – on the front driveway of one home.
The witness estimated Monger was driving at between 40mph and 50mph at the time, because it caused his own car to “shake” as he zoomed past, with another witness describing hearing a “loud raging engine”.
The court heard Monger reported the accident to police the next morning but gave no explanation of how the crash happened.
Representing Monger, of Horley, Surrey, lawyer Duncan Jones petitioned the court to spare the youngster a driving ban owing to his restricted mobility.
In mitigation, Mr Jones cited the near-fatal smash Monger was involved in 2017 when he crashed at high speed in to the rear of Finnish driver Patrik Pasma while competing in the British F4 Championship at Donnington Park on April 17.
Monger had both legs amputated after a high-speed crash during a Formula 4 race at Donington Park when he was 17.
‘EXCESSIVE SPEED’
Mr Jones added: “This is an unusual case, given Mr Monger’s personal background.
“This accident was caused by excessive speed and Mr Monger accepts that he drove without due care and attention and his lapse was driving too fast around the bend.
“He accepts that he was driving too quickly and this accident would not have happened otherwise.
“Mr Monger wants to make it clear that he does not want to get special treatment, but the impact of a disqualification for a young man with his disability is a relevant consideration for the court.
“He has no previous convictions and has shown remorse by his guilty plea and you will see the impact and feelings of guilt this has had on him and he takes full responsibility for it.”
Mr Jones added: “The accident has also brought back distressing memories from the racing accident that changed his life, causing anxiety, effected sleep, guilt and uncertainty as to what was going to happen today.
“I would ask you to take an exceptional course and impose five points or less. Perhaps there is no alternative, but a disqualification would have a serious impact on him.”
But at the time of the crash, Monger already had six penalty points for speeding on March 7, 2021 and October 28 2023 which resulted in him becoming a disqualified driver after the latest incident.
Monger is a commentator on Formula 1 for Channel 4 and is training for the annual Ironman World Championship.
Monger was a part of the presenting team for this summer‘s Paris Paralympics and provides expert analysis for Channel 4’s F1 coverage.
Last year, he and sister Bonny were on track to win the BBC’s Race Across the World programme as they attempted to make the journey from Morocco to Norway, but were forced to withdraw due to a family emergency back in the UK.