Camilo bounces back from horror crash to claim million-reais prize

After losing last year’s race to ex-F1 star Rubens Barrichello by just 0.186s at the finish line, Camilo’s celebration this Sunday in Goiania was more than just about the money.

Despite spending a night in hospital and undergoing intensive physiotherapy sessions on his left ankle after the huge crash (video, below), he bounced back by winning the very next round from 12^th on the grid.

"It means much more than one million,” said Camilo, who has been wearing a protective boot on his ankle since the crash. “It was a special race for me. As a team we never stopped believing, and I want to thank God, my family, the doctors and my team.

“I could have been seriously hurt in that accident, and to step out of a completely destroyed car with just one swollen foot was a miracle.”

With a great start, jumping from 12th to fourth position in Turn 1, Camilo had a better pace then Daniel Serra, who was leading the race, and got ahead in the pitstop cycle.

"I knew I had a great car and in the pitstop I could jump ahead of Serra,” added Camilo.

Serra finished second. As only the winner takes all the money, the runner-up was sanguine.

"Of course I wanted this million – who wouldn’t possibly want to earn one million reais in just 45 minutes?” he said. "However, it was a great result for the championship. I jumped to second place in the standings and the gap to the leader is smaller now.”