AutoGP: Ricci to join Auto GP field with RP Motorsports

Giacomo Ricci will make his Auto GP debut in the championship’s upcoming round at the Circuito de Navarra (September 25-26).

The 25 year-old will join RP Motorsports alongside Stefano Bizzari for the Spanish race, replacing Celso Míguez. Ricci, who was champion in Auto GP forerunner Euroseries 3000 in 2006, says he's happy to be joining the rebranded category.

”I’m very happy of this agreement with RP Motorsport and also excited for debuting in a new series," he said of the deal.

“I have followed Auto GP closely in its maiden season and I have to say that the competitiveness is very high, so aiming for the big target won’t be easy in Navarra.

"But I feel fit and well prepared and I will do my best, so everything is in place for a good performance. I’ve never driven the Auto GP car but I loved the F3000, and this has over 100 bhp more, so it should be really staggering”.

“We are very happy that Giacomo will be with us this weekend,” said RP team boss Fabio Pampado. “He will be important not only for his quick pace on track, but also his experience: we expect him to give us a very detailed feedback on the car.

“Furthermore, his presence will be good also for Bizzarri: Stefano is a rookie and he’s very young, so he can learn a lot from Ricci,” added Pampado.

Ricci joins RP with a wealth of single-seater experience. Most recently, he contested the majority of this year's GP2 Series for the DPR team, only to be dropped after claiming his maiden win in the Hungarian sprint race.

The Italian was also a race winner for the team in the 2009-10 GP2 Asia campaign, and raced for them in the main series sporadically throughout 2008 and 2009. He has competed in World Series by Renault, Formula Master, and in 2007 contested a full season of the Champ Car Atlantic series.


James Weeks.