Dirt kart racer Adrian Haywood enjoying miraculous comeback from spinal injury

The former state and Australian title winner was flung from his kart when a crash at the front of a race caused a domino effect.

Haywood was thrown three metres into the air with nothing to break his fall after the front of his car was destroyed.

The aftermath of the crash put Haywood in a back brace for three months and sidelined him from racing action for six months.

But now, after a long road to recovery, he is back behind the wheel and is enjoying his return to racing.

“Everything has been great so far. I kind of just got back into the car and started racing as if nothing had happened,” he said.

“It’s definitely been a long process, but to just be back out there racing and having the support around me just makes you appreciate it so much more.”

Haywood was forced to overcome several physical and mental barriers on his road to recovery, but the life-long racer said returning to the track was always his primary goal.

“There was a period shortly after the accident where we were completely in the dark,” he said.

“One minute surgeons were telling us it was fine and then we were being directed into surgery.

“But as the weeks went on we knew more and more about it and the more it went on the clearer it became that I’d get back behind the wheel.

“I always knew I’d get back to it – I’ve been doing it for 24 years so it was only a matter of time.”

While sidelined Haywood did extensive research on safety procedures, and has put a number in place for his return.

“Even things like safer seats and just making sure everything is done right is making it easier,” he said.

“I’m so much more comfortable in the car now.”

The champion racer heaped praise on his family and friends for their support during his recovery.

“There’s no way I could have done it without the help I’ve gotten from all of my family and people in the racing community,” he said.

“I didn’t even watch any tv for the five straight days I was in hospital. I was just on my phone the entire time answering messages of support.

“At a hard time it really helped us get through it.”