Donegan's American Dream Takes Shape

Almost four years out of racing hasn’t stopped the 20-year-old Irishman.

- Stefan Mackley

Three-and-a-half years is a long time in racing, even more so if during that period you are sidelined, not competing or forging a career up the motorsport ladder. For Ireland’s Keith Donegan, it seemed like the chance of a career in motorsport had passed him by.

In 2013 things were positive for the then 16-year-old. He had just finished second in the Ginetta Junior Championship and taken two wins from the last four races.

Momentum was with him, but then came a bombshell. His parents were keen for him to go to college and his racing career was put on hold...for almost four years.

Fast forward to the present day and Donegan is preparing to take part in this weekend’s opening round of the USF2000 Championship at St Petersburg in America. The 20-yearold will compete with ArmsUp Motorsports having won the Mazda Road to Indy Shootout in December last year, beating 17 other drivers to the $200,000 [£145,000] scholarship.

It’s a long way from where he was even just 12 months ago.

“It was coming good [in 2013] but I had to stop and I was a bit disheartened, but I never lost the buzz and the passion,” says Donegan. “I said to my parents ‘if I have a good grade [studying business at Trinity College in Dublin] could I buy a Formula Ford car?’

“If someone told me 12 months ago where I would be now I would probably have laughed at them and told them you’re crazy. This time last year it was still another month until I sat in the car.”

Donegan decided to follow in the footsteps of his dad and two uncles who had raced in Formula Fords and bought himself a Van Diemen JL13K.