Words of wisdom and love of racing: Getting to know the real Rafael Villagómez

Rafael Villagómez is busy gearing up for the final stages of the Formula 2 campaign, but before the Van Amersfoort Racing driver returns to the cockpit, we put some important questions to him.
From his home in Mexico to life lessons, favourite racing memories and travelling around the world, it’s time to get to know the Mexican driver a little better.
WHERE DID YOU CONSIDER HOME?
“It will always be Mexico. That’s where I was born and even now, I live in Europe in France, and it’s getting to the point where it’s 50/50 living there and being back in Mexico, it still doesn’t feel like home. So, Mexico is properly home for me. I have to wait to go in August in the break for a couple of days. We still have prep to do in F2 and some races left. Then I go over Christmas and it’s quite big in Mexico and we try and bring the whole family together.”
WHICH ATHLETE DO YOU ADMIRE THE MOST OUTSIDE OF MOTORSPORT?
“Ronaldo. Football is big in Mexico and when I was a kid, I always used to watch football, and he was my favourite player. What he’s doing at the moment is still quite impressive. What he’s doing at that age and to be at that level is still impressive.”
WHO DO YOU KNOW BEST ON THE GRID?
“I get along quite well with Enzo. We’ve been having a great year. And then also Franco Colapinto, because we were teammates in F3.”
IF YOU COULD GO BACK TO A MOMENT IN YOUR LIFE TO RELIVE, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
“My first race in F4 or the first time I went to an F1 race when I was six years old. That’s where my excitement for racing was born. It was in Montreal back when the cars were still super loud. I had to wear headphones but didn’t want to.”
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE MOVIE OR TV SHOW?
“My favourite movie is Borat and TV show – it always changes but I recently started to watch Suits. That gets me thinking. We spend so much time in racing you wonder if the world is actually like that.”
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WHAT WAS THE LAST SONG THAT YOU LISTENED TO?
“Let me check my phone… Move by Adam Port. It’s a super trending song on Tik Tok.”
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE RACING MEMORY?
“The first race in F4. It’s always the first race that’s quite special. The first race in F2 this year was special because it was super exciting to start the year.”
WHAT IS YOUR MOST TREASURED POSSESSION?
“This necklace I’m wearing, it’s a cross. It was a gift from my parents, and I wear it every day, and it reminds me of them.”
WHAT’S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN?
“There’s a lot but it can change a lot. The most recent one I think of most often is to just enjoy what we do. Good or bad moments. It’s important to take everything seriously, but not too seriously. We’re all human at the end of the day and lucky to be doing what we’re doing.”
WHERE IS YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE YOU’VE BEEN TO AND ONE YOU’VE NEVER BEEN TO BUT WANT TO VISIT?
“Place I want to go – Brazil. This year, with Enzo being from Brazil and last year Caio Collet being from Brazil, people seem super nice and from what they’ve told me it’s a nice country.
“Favourite place at the moment, Japan. The culture, food, people, it’s really cool. It’s so different from everywhere else. That’s what makes it a little bit special, because it’s so far away. Same as Melbourne because it’s so far away.
“If you’re travelling to Germany, it’s only a two-hour trip and it’ll be similar to where you are, but Japan and Melbourne, it’s 24 hours so you expect big things.”