Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL) revealed on Monday the addition to the team of Haas F1 Team reserve and test driver Pietro Fittipaldi, running his first full season at IndyCar in 2024.
Pietro Fittipaldi, 27, will join Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL) in 2024 to contest his maiden full season of the NTT IndyCar Series at the wheel of the No. 30 entry, powered by Honda.
“It’s an honor to join a team of the caliber of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. With the experience I’ve gained over the last few years in F1 and other racing series, I am looking forward to the challenge of racing in INDYCAR, one of the most competitive and versatile racing series in the world,” he asserted.
“I want to thank Mr. Rahal, Mr. Lanigan, and Mr. Letterman for the opportunity and their trust and confidence in me. I can’t wait to get started.”
The grandson of legendary racer Emerson Fittipaldi, who in 2017 achieved the points needed to have his Formula One Superlicense issued by the FIA, went a long way ever since, becoming an eclectic and accomplished driver who is always up for a new challenge.
Fittipaldi is a multiple open-wheel champion and race-winning world endurance championship driver, currently and for the fifth consecutive season, acting as the official reserve and test driver of Haas F1 Team, helping to develop the American squad machinery at the pinnacle of motorsport.
Over the years, the Brazilian born in Miami, Florida, who began his career in 2011 driving in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series built a solid career competing in different racing series, from Formula 1, IndyCar, Formula E, WEC, DTM or the Japanese Super Formula.
His previous experience in North America’s premier open-wheel series consists of two chapters written between 2018 and 2021 driving for Dale Coyne Racing.
In 2018, he made six starts with the squad, three on oval tracks and three on road courses, as his part-time driver program with the outfit got compromised midseason after sustaining injuries from a heavy crash competing in the FIA World Endurance Championship.
During the qualifying session for the 6 Hours of Spa Francorchamps in Belgium, he suffered fractures to both legs, which required surgery.
In 2020, he added two Grand Prix starts to his name (Sakhir and Abu Dhabi), subbing in for injured Romain Grosjean in December, rounding up his first racing weekend as a Formula One driver.
In 2021, he was back to IndyCar behind the wheel of the No. 51 Dale Coyne Racing with Rick Ware entry, sharing the season with former Formula 1 driver Grosjean, running three of the four oval races.
BOBBY RAHAL, Co-Owner of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, commented: “I’m very pleased we’ve been able to have Pietro join RLL as the driver of the No. 30 car. He has had previous experience in INDYCAR in doing partial seasons with Dale Coyne Racing and impressively qualifying 13th at Indianapolis in 2021.
“I got to meet him then, and since that time, he has worked hard to become the reserve driver for Haas F1’s team. And from our discussions, I have been impressed with the maturity and experience that he will now bring to our program. I look forward to seeing what he can do over a full season of INDYCAR competition in 2024.”
Last July, he won the 6 Hours of Monza race in the LMP2 class of the FIA World Endurance Championship, competing with Team Jota alongside David Heinemeier Hansson and Oliver Rasmussen.
A week later, he stepped into the cockpit of the VF-23, making his first outing with Haas machinery this season, completing almost 700 kilometers in the post-British Grand Prix Pirelli tire test in Silverstone.
“We are proud and excited to welcome Pietro to our team,” outlined Mike Lanigan, Co-Owner of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.
“The Fittipaldi family name has always been associated with winning and competitiveness in our sport. The legacy lives on with Pietro, and we welcome the challenges in keeping the tradition alive.”
The 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season launches on March 10, celebrating the 20th Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in Florida.
