Helio Castroneves will drive in the Brazilian Stock Car Pro Series in 2025, having been confirmed in the grid of the category ahead of this weekend's season opener at Interlagos.
Four-time Indianapolis 500 winner and one of the greatest Brazilian drivers in history, Castroneves will combine his new activities on home soil with his United States duties, where he is chasing his 5th Indy 500 title, which would make him the most winningest driver ever in the history of the Indiana race.
He will drive the Chevrolet Tracker of RTR Sport, a Stock Light team that is making its debut in the Pro Series. Castroneves is the biggest addition to the grid in 2025, a year thar marks the introduction of the SUVs in the championship, replacing the sedans. Joining Chevrolet Tracker and Toyota Corolla Cross, Mitsubishi returns to the category with the Eclipse Cross.
“I am very happy with the invitation from Lincoln Oliveira [Brazilian Stock Car's CEO and father of F1 driver Gabriel Bortoleto] and I didn't think twice about accepting, because I am a big fan of the category, especially now that the challenge is doubled with the entry of the new SUV concept", said Castroneves.
RTR Sport owner Maique Papareli also celebrated: “It is an honor to announce Helio Castroneves as the RTR Sport Team driver for the 2025 Stock Car season. Having a name with Helio’s history and talent in our project is the realization of a great dream and a milestone in the team’s trajectory. We are very confident that his experience and dedication will bring exceptional results, in addition to further boosting the growth of our team in the main category of Brazilian motorsports".
Helio's last full season in Brazil was back in 1994, when he was runner-up in the national F3 championship. After that, Castroneves started his international career, first in Europe then in the US, where he got four Indy 500 wins, three Daytona 24 Hours triumphs and the 2020 IMSA title.
Castroneves' full time Stock Car debut this weekend won't be his first experience in the series: his first race in the Brazilian Stock Car was back in 2012, when he competed in the Interlagos Million Race, finishing 14th. Then he was set to compete in his home town Riberao Preto 2013 round but a crash in practice meant he wasn't able to take part in the race.
Helio will join other Brazilian motorsport idols in the Stock Car Pro Series' 2025 grid, such as two-time champion Rubens Barrichello, 2024 runner-up Felipe Massa, first ever Formula E champion Nelson Piquet Jr and former F1 driver Ricardo Zonta, apart from veterans of the category like three-time champions Daniel Serra and Gabriel Casagrande.
Joao Paulo de Oliveira #7
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