Photo: R-P-M
Irish-owned, Italian-based Formula Regional European Championship team Race Performance Motorsport has completed its ambition of running an Irish driver by signing Adam Fitzgerald for 2023.
R-P-M was established in 2021 by former USF2000 driver Keith Donegan, and consisted of former members of the defunct RP Motorsport team as well as inheriting its headquarters in Italy.
In its debut FREC season it ran two full-time cars, with a third entry joining for two events. Team principal Donegan ended up driving one of those himself for half the season, while the guesting Pierre-Louis Chovet claimed R-P-M’s first two podiums.
Donegan spoke to Formula Scout towards the end of the season about his desire to run a fellow Irishman in 2023, teasing: “It’s looking like we will have an Irish driver [in FREC]. Definitely one, maybe two.”
Fitzgerald is the team’s first signing for this season and hails from Ireland. He began racing in late 2019 in his home country, then moved to competing in British karting competitions in 2021.
Last year he graduated to single-seaters with Argenti Motorsport in British Formula 4, taking a best finish of fifth en route to 14th in the standings. He also did two Italian F4 rounds with R-ace GP, and his best result was an eighth place.
At the start of this year he stepped up to FRegional in the Oceania championship, which was previously known as the Toyota Racing Series, and in a part-time campaign came 17th in the standings with a best race result of fourth.
“I’m delighted to be a part of the R-P-M team this year, it’s always been a big goal of mine to race in this championship and now I have a great opportunity with a very good team,” Fitzgerald said of moving into FREC.
“My preparation for the season has been going well and I can’t wait to get back on track soon for the first round in Imola.”
At the end of last year he joined R-P-M for post-season tests at Mugello, the Red Bull Ring and Barcelona, all tracks that appear on the 2023 calendar.
Donegan commented: “I’m very happy to welcome Adam to R-P-M for the 2023 season. We started to work together at the end of 2022 and he has already made huge progress. He is really focused and dedicated to get to the top. I’m looking forward to seeing his development throughout this season.’’