Helio Castroneves to Compete in Brazilian Stock Car Pro Series 2025
Four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves will make a significant return to Brazilian motorsports by joining the Brazilian Stock Car Pro Series in 2025. This announcement aligns with the league’s season opener at Interlagos this weekend, marking an exciting chapter for Castroneves as he balances his commitments between Brazil and his pursuit of a historic fifth Indy 500 title.
Castroneves will drive the Chevrolet Tracker for RTR Sport, a newcomer to the Pro Series. This season introduces SUVs into the championship, replacing the traditional sedans, with competitors including the Toyota Corolla Cross and Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross. Castroneves expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “I am very happy with the invitation from Lincoln Oliveira 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."
RTR Sport owner Maique Papareli noted the significance of having a driver of Castroneves’ caliber, saying, “It is an honor to announce Helio as our driver for the 2025 season. His experience and dedication will bring exceptional results and further boost the growth of our team in the main category of Brazilian motorsports."
Castroneves last competed full-time in Brazil in 1994, finishing second in the national F3 championship, before embarking on his illustrious international career. He has since secured four Indy 500 victories, three Daytona 24 Hours titles, and the 2020 IMSA championship.
His full-time Stock Car debut follows a brief appearance in the series in 2012, where he finished 14th at the Interlagos Million Race. Though he intended to participate in a 2013 round in Ribeirão Preto, a practice crash sidelined him.
Castroneves will join a competitive grid that features Brazilian motorsport legends, including Rubens Barrichello, Felipe Massa, Nelson Piquet Jr., and Ricardo Zonta, along with veterans like Daniel Serra and Gabriel Casagrande.
2025 Stock Car Pro Series Team and Driver Lineup
| TEAM | CAR | DRIVERS |
|---|---|---|
| RTR Sport Team | Chevrolet Tracker | Helio Castroneves #TBC |
| Chiarelli | Tracker | Caca Bueno #0, Lucas Kohl #95 |
| Crown Racing | Corolla Cross | Julio Campos #4, Arthur Leist #81 |
| TMG | Tracker | Rafael Suzuki #8, Felipe Massa #19 |
| Eurofarma-RC | Eclipse Cross | Gaetano di Mauro #11, Felipe Fraga #88 |
| RCM | Eclipse Cross | Ricardo Zonta #10, Bruno Baptista #44 |
| A. Mattheis Vogel | Tracker | Lucas Foresti #12, Gabriel Casagrande #83 |
| Blau | Eclipse Cross | Allam Khodair #18, Daniel Serra #29 |
| Cavaleiro | Tracker | Guilherme Salas #85, Ricardo Mauricio #90 |
| Full Time | Corolla Cross | Joao Paulo de Oliveira #7, Arthur Gama #9 |
| Full Time Cavaleiro | Corolla Cross | Denis Navarro #5, Rubens Barrichello #111 |
| Ipiranga | Corolla Cross | Thiago Camilo #21, Cesar Ramos #30 |
| Car Racing | Corolla Cross | Zezinho Muggiati #38, Rafa Reis #301 |
| Car Racing KTF | Eclipse Cross | Gianluca Petecof #101, Felipe Baptista #121 |
As the series progresses, Castroneves’ performance will be closely watched, setting the stage for a compelling year in Brazilian motorsports.
