Photo: Adam Fitzgerald
Adam Fitzgerald has reached another key landmark in his injury recovery after his Formula Regional European Championship crash in July, as he has tested a single-seater car.
The Irish racer broke three vertebrae in his back after launching over a sausage kerb in the opening race of the season at Imola, which meant he had to miss a race, then just over two months later he was involved in the crash at a wet Spa-Francorchamps that took the life of Dilano van’t Hoff.
That incident broke four vertebrae in his lower back, caused a break where the sternum and collarbone meet, a broken elbow as well as bruising to his other elbow and one of his heels.
Two weeks after the crash he had surgery on his broken elbow, and a few days after that exited hospital for the first time but with a back brace fitted for “the next few months”.
After eight weeks of not being able to exercise he returned to physical training at the end of August, and now he is finally able to drive again.
Fitzgerald is currently participating in a two-day private test at American track Autobahn Country Club in a USF Pro 2000 car, which is being run by Pabst Racing.
“First time back in the car since the accident, I only got back in the gym two weeks ago,” Fitzgerald said to Formula Scout as he made his return to the cockpit.
He is hoping to race in USFP2000 next year, and will be driving again in the series’ official post-season test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend. For that test he will be run by TJ Speed.