as a professional race car driver, bertaggia began his career in 1982 and continued for almost 25 years. he entered many prestigious and difficult championship races including formula 3 where he was the italian formula 3 champion in 1987, and in 1988, when he succeeded in the feat of winning both the formula 3 race in monte carlo and the macau grand prix with damon hill coming in second and jean alesi in third position. he made his debut in formula 3000 in 1988. in the 1988 international formula 3000 championship he was entered in four races, failed to qualify in the first three and then managed a "career-best" 19th position at jerez.