Stallion Motorsports Announces TCR Debut with Celso Neto
Stallion Motorsports, a newly established Brazilian-American team, is set to make its IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge debut in the TCR class with the #77 Cupra Leon VZ TCR. The team has confirmed Celso Neto, the 2025/26 IMSA Diverse Driver Development (D3) Scholarship winner, as its first driver.
The #77 Cupra was unveiled two weeks ago in a livery partnership with Gou Racing, who successfully introduced the Cupra to IMSA competition last year. Following a mid-season switch to Cupra, Victor Gonzalez Racing Team (VGRT) secured the Leon VZ TCR’s first IMSA victories at Indianapolis and Road Atlanta.
A Stallion Motorsports representative commented, “The Cupra Leon VZ TCR has already shown front-running pace and remarkable reliability in IMSA. We’re excited to build on that foundation and bring our own experience and data into the championship.”
Stallion will collaborate with NGP Racing, the official technical partner for Cupra in the Americas. NGP owner John Martin expressed enthusiasm about the new partnership: “We are pleased to welcome Stallion Motorsports to the Cupra brand with their new Cupra Leon VZ TCR. We are really looking forward to a great season starting at Daytona.”
Neto, who had an impressive debut season with Precision Racing LA, achieved three podium finishes and qualified in the top five in his class eight times, ultimately placing fourth in the TCR Championship. “I’m very excited for this next step in my career with Stallion and Cupra,” Neto stated. “The new Cupra Leon VZ TCR is an evolution of the Audi platform I raced before.”
Team principal Pedro Moises praised Neto’s rapid adaptation to the new platform: “Celso showed incredible intelligence, racecraft, and consistency from day one.”
Stallion Motorsports’ marketing director Flavio Bergmann highlighted Neto’s potential as a key element in their strategy: “He represents the next generation of touring car talent.”
Further announcements regarding Neto’s co-driver will be made in due course.
