The 2026 TCR South America season began this weekend at the Circuito dos Cristais, with the presence of Brazilian Celso Neto. The driver will compete in the opening round for W2 Pro GP, joining a grid of 24 cars. Celso currently competes in the United States in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge and decided to include the Brazilian race in his schedule.
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The participation has a special meaning, as it was precisely at the Minas Gerais circuit that he began his career in motorsport. The return also marks the fulfillment of a wish expressed last year, when the driver competed in the seventh round of TCR South America and stated that he would like to return to the championship when the opportunity arose.
“We are here, prepared for the first practice. There are many new cars in the category this year. There are 24 cars, it’s going to be a great grid. But I am very excited, Curvelo is a race I have a lot of affection for, that I like very much,” commented Celso.
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For the round, the Brazilian will use a Cupra car, the same model he competes with in the United States, but with small adaptations to the category’s regulations. “That’s it, we’re going to race with our Cupra. The same one I race in the United States, but some small differences, like the tires, for example,” he explained.
On Saturday (7) there will be two free practice sessions and the qualifying that defines the grid. The races are scheduled for Sunday (8), at 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM.
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