Rafael Villagómez

Rafael Villagómez Jr.
Villagómez driving the Dallara F2 2024 during the 2024 Spielberg Formula 2 round
NationalityMexico Mexican
Born (2001-11-10) 10 November 2001 (age 23)
León, Guanajuato, Mexico
FIA Formula 2 Championship career
Debut season2024
Current teamVan Amersfoort Racing
Car number15
Starts28 (28 entries)
Wins0
Podiums0
Poles0
Fastest laps0
Best finish24th in 2024
Previous series
2023
2021–2023
2021
2020–2021
2020
2020		FR Middle East Championship
FIA Formula 3 Championship
F3 Asian Championship
Euroformula Open Championship
French F4 Championship
F4 British Championship

Rafael Villagómez Jr. (Spanish pronunciation: [rafaˈel βiʝaˈɣomes]; born 10 November 2001) is a Mexican race car driver who is currently competing in the 2024 FIA Formula 2 Championship with Van Amersfoort Racing, having previously competed in the FIA Formula 3 Championship for three seasons. He won the Richard Mille Young Talent Academy competition in 2019.[1]

Career summary

Lower formulae

In 2020 Villagómez made his car racing debut in the French F4 Championship, whilst also competing part-time with Fortec Motorsport in the F4 British Championship.[2] He achieved a second-place finish at Le Castellet and, with 121 points, finished sixth in the championship.

In the British series he scored a maiden podium finish with third in only his second race. However, in the following races the Mexican was unable to replicate this result and finished eleventh in the standings, only ahead of four other drivers.[3]

Euroformula Open Championship

2020

Villagómez participated in the final round of the 2020 Euroformula Open Championship at the Circuit de Catalunya with Drivex as a guest driver.[4]

2021

Villagómez at the 2021 Euroformula Open

He joined Van Amersfoort Racing for the 2021 season.

FIA Formula 3 Championship

2021

Villagómez driving for HWA Racelab during the 2021 Spielberg Formula 3 round

In 2021 the Mexican made his debut in the FIA Formula 3 Championship for HWA Racelab, racing alongside Matteo Nannini and Oliver Rasmussen, becoming the first driver from Mexico to compete in FIA F3. Unfortunately for Villagómez, he was unable to score any points throughout the campaign, finishing 29th in the standings with a best race result of 13th. He drove for Van Amersfoort Racing in the post-season test.

2022

Villagómez driving for Van Amersfoort Racing during the 2022 Spielberg Formula 3 round

The following year, Villagómez returned to Formula 3, partnering Franco Colapinto and Reece Ushijima at Van Amersfoort Racing. In Imola, he achieved his first ever points finish. At the end of the season, he partook in the post-season test remaining with Van Amersfoort Racing in September.[5][6][7]

2023

Villagómez driving during the 2023 Spielberg Formula 3 round

Having competed in the Formula Regional Middle East Championship during the winter, the Mexican returned to Formula 3 in 2023, once again driving for Van Amersfoort Racing.[8][9] The campaign proved lacklustre, as it only yielded a pair of tenth-placed finishes at the season finale in Monza, leading Villagómez to finish 25th overall for the second successive season.[10][11]

FIA Formula 2 Championship

Villagómez was invited to partake in the 2022 F2 post-season testing with Van Amersfoort Racing.[12] He returned to the test in 2023, once again driving for VAR at Yas Island.[13]

2024

In January 2024, Villagómez was announced that he would step up to the 2024 FIA Formula 2 Championship, remaining with Van Amersfoort Racing for a fourth consecutive year, partnering up with Enzo Fittipaldi.[14]

Karting record

Karting career summary

Season Series Team Position
2010 SKUSA SuperNationals — S4 60th
2017 WSK Final Cup — OK Parolin Racing Kart 24th
2018 IAME Euro Series — X30 Senior 1st
IAME International Open — X30 Senior 24th
IAME International Final — X30 Senior 116th
2019 South Garda Winter Cup — KZ2 Birel ART Racing 94th
WSK Super Master Series — KZ2 65th
Trofeo delle Industrie — KZ2 21st
Trofeo Andrea Margutti — KZ2 32nd
WSK Euro Series — KZ2 42nd
CIK-FIA International Super Cup — KZ2 117th

Racing record

Racing career summary

Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
2020 F4 British Championship Fortec Motorsport 17 0 0 0 1 47 11th
French F4 Championship FFSA Academy 18 0 0 0 1 121 6th
Euroformula Open Championship Drivex School 4 0 0 0 0 0 NC†
2021 FIA Formula 3 Championship HWA Racelab 20 0 0 0 0 0 29th
Euroformula Open Championship Van Amersfoort Racing 18 0 0 0 5 135 8th
F3 Asian Championship BlackArts Racing Team 15 0 0 0 0 6 17th
2022 FIA Formula 3 Championship Van Amersfoort Racing 18 0 0 0 0 2 25th
2023 Formula Regional Middle East Championship Pinnacle VAR 12 0 0 0 1 44 13th
FIA Formula 3 Championship Van Amersfoort Racing 18 0 0 0 0 2 25th
2024 FIA Formula 2 Championship Van Amersfoort Racing 28 0 0 0 0 13 24th

† As Villagómez was a guest driver, he was ineligible to score points.
* Season still in progress.

Complete F4 British Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 DC Points
2020 Fortec Motorsport DON
1
6 		DON
2
3 		DON
3
9 		BHGP
1
Ret 		BHGP
2
14 		BHGP
3
13 		OUL
1 		OUL
2 		OUL
3 		KNO
1
8 		KNO
2
7 		KNO
3
8 		THR
1
11 		THR
2
8 		THR
3
9 		SIL
1 		SIL
2 		SIL
3 		CRO
1
9 		CRO
2
Ret 		SNE
1
11 		SNE
2
Ret 		SNE
3
Ret 		BHI
1 		BHI
2 		BHI
3 		11th 47

Complete French F4 Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Pos Points
2020 NOG
1
6 		NOG
2
4 		NOG
3
5 		MAG
1
14† 		MAG
2
10 		MAG
3
5 		ZAN
1
5 		ZAN
2
6 		ZAN
3
7 		LEC1
1
6 		LEC1
2
6 		LEC1
3
4 		SPA
1
5 		SPA
2
4 		SPA
3
9 		LEC2
1 		LEC2
2 		LEC2
3 		LEC3
1
7 		LEC3
2
2 		LEC3
3
5 		6th 121

Complete Euroformula Open Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate points for the fastest lap of top ten finishers)

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 DC Points
2020 Drivex School HUN
1 		HUN
2 		LEC
1 		LEC
2 		RBR
1 		RBR
2 		MNZ
1 		MNZ
2 		MNZ
3 		MUG
1 		MUG
2 		SPA
1 		SPA
2 		SPA
3 		CAT
1
12 		CAT
2
13 		CAT
3
12 		CAT
4
Ret 		NC† 0
2021 Van Amersfoort Racing POR
1
3 		POR
2
5 		POR
3
8 		LEC
1
4 		LEC
2
6 		LEC
3
3 		SPA
1 		SPA
2 		SPA
3 		HUN
1
2 		HUN
2
Ret 		HUN
3
2 		IMO
1
6 		IMO
2
3 		IMO
3
Ret 		RBR
1
7 		RBR
2
8 		RBR
3
12 		MNZ
1 		MNZ
2 		MNZ
3 		CAT
1
13 		CAT
2
11 		CAT
3
11 		8th 135

Complete F3 Asian Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate the fastest lap of top ten finishers)

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 DC Points
2021 BlackArts Racing Team DUB
1
Ret 		DUB
2
Ret 		DUB
3
12 		ABU
1
20 		ABU
2
19 		ABU
3
14 		ABU
1
Ret 		ABU
2
12 		ABU
3
12 		DUB
1
12 		DUB
2
9 		DUB
3
8 		ABU
1
11 		ABU
2
14 		ABU
3
14 		17th 6

Complete FIA Formula 3 Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate points for the fastest lap of top ten finishers)

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 DC Points
2021 HWA Racelab CAT
1
19 		CAT
2
18 		CAT
3
28 		LEC
1
25 		LEC
2
27 		LEC
3
23 		RBR
1
21 		RBR
2
18 		RBR
3
19 		HUN
1
23 		HUN
2
21 		HUN
3
24 		SPA
1
27 		SPA
2
23 		SPA
3
Ret 		ZAN
1
22 		ZAN
2
13 		ZAN
3
25 		SOC
1
20 		SOC
2
C 		SOC
3
Ret 		29th 0
2022 Van Amersfoort Racing BHR
SPR
17 		BHR
FEA
12 		IMO
SPR
9 		IMO
FEA
20 		CAT
SPR
14 		CAT
FEA
Ret 		SIL
SPR
26 		SIL
FEA
Ret 		RBR
SPR
Ret 		RBR
FEA
15 		HUN
SPR
17 		HUN
FEA
21 		SPA
SPR
23 		SPA
FEA
19 		ZAN
SPR
28 		ZAN
FEA
Ret 		MNZ
SPR
26 		MNZ
FEA
Ret 		25th 2
2023 Van Amersfoort Racing BHR
SPR
Ret 		BHR
FEA
19 		MEL
SPR
14 		MEL
FEA
19 		MON
SPR
16 		MON
FEA
16 		CAT
SPR
27 		CAT
FEA
25 		RBR
SPR
Ret 		RBR
FEA
15 		SIL
SPR
20 		SIL
FEA
16 		HUN
SPR
17 		HUN
FEA
17 		SPA
SPR
23 		SPA
FEA
21 		MNZ
SPR
10 		MNZ
FEA
10 		25th 2

* Season still in progress.

Complete Formula Regional Middle East Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 DC Points
2023 Van Amersfoort Racing DUB1
1
17 		DUB1
2
11 		DUB1
3
20 		KUW1
1
6 		KUW1
2
5 		KUW1
3
Ret 		KUW2
1
6 		KUW2
2
2 		KUW2
3
14 		DUB2
1
Ret 		DUB2
2
20 		DUB2
3
13 		ABU
1 		ABU
2 		ABU
3 		13th 44

Complete FIA Formula 2 Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 DC Points
2024 Van Amersfoort Racing BHR
SPR
19 		BHR
FEA
12 		JED
SPR
14 		JED
FEA
9 		MEL
SPR
15 		MEL
FEA
7 		IMO
SPR
11 		IMO
FEA
16 		MON
SPR
15 		MON
FEA
Ret 		CAT
SPR
17 		CAT
FEA
16 		RBR
SPR
19 		RBR
FEA
16 		SIL
SPR
14 		SIL
FEA
16 		HUN
SPR
11 		HUN
FEA
10 		SPA
SPR
21 		SPA
FEA
Ret 		MNZ
SPR
16 		MNZ
FEA
8 		BAK
SPR
16 		BAK
FEA
Ret 		LSL
SPR
17 		LSL
FEA
Ret 		YMC
SPR
12 		YMC
FEA
Ret 		24th 13

* Season still in progress.

References

  1. ^ "#RMYTA19 Rafael Villagomez wins the Richard Mille Young Talent Academy 2019". Facebook. 5 December 2019. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  2. ^ "Mexican rising star Rafael Villagomez signs with Fortec Motorsport for 2020". 14 February 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  3. ^ "Rafael Villagomez delighted with early progress after maiden podium". 3 August 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  4. ^ "F4 racer Rafael Villagomez steps up to Euroformula for Barcelona". 29 September 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  5. ^ "Formula 3 returns to action with post-season testing in Jerez". FIA_Formula 3® - The Official F3® Website. 20 September 2022. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  6. ^ "Jerez post-season testing Day 2 entry list". FIA_Formula 3® - The Official F3® Website. 21 September 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  7. ^ "Jerez post-season testing Day 3 entry list". FIA_Formula 3® - The Official F3® Website. 22 September 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  8. ^ Wood, Ida (5 January 2023). "VAR and Pinnacle Motorsport reveal line-ups for FRMEC and F4 tie-up". Formula Scout. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  9. ^ "Rafael Villagómez re-signs with Van Amersfoort Racing for 2023". FIAFormula3® - The Official F3® Website. 6 January 2023. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  10. ^ "Standings Formula 3 2023". fiaformula3.com. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  11. ^ "Villagómez: Back-to-back points finishes at Monza 'deserved' 2023 reward for Van Amersfoort Racing". FIAFormula3® - The Official F3® Website. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  12. ^ "Formula 2 prepares for post-season testing at Yas Marina". FIA_F2® - The Official F2® Website. 22 November 2022. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  13. ^ "Formula 2 Post-Season Testing set to get underway at Yas Marina". FIA_F2® - The Official F2® Website. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  14. ^ "Rafael Villagómez steps up to Formula 2 for 2024 season with Van Amersfoort Racing". FIA_F2® - The Official F2® Website. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 20 January 2024.