Vitor Genz took a dominant victory in the 2025 NASCAR Brasil Series opener at Campo Grande after a late retirement for closest rival Cayan Chianca.
A new dawn for the NASCAR Brasil Series began on 22 March, when R.Mattheis Motorsport driver Vitor Genz took victory in the first race of the 2025 season at the Autódromo Internacional Orlando Moura.
2025 is a year where NASCAR Brasil takes a major leap forward. The series welcomes the arrival of professional teams, bringing them in line with all of their worldwide counterparts.
The arrival of professional teams also brings a more elite cast of drivers. Famous names such as Rubens Barrichello will mix up with series veterans like Genz and reigning champions Gabriel Casagrande and Alex Seid.
NASCAR Brasil also unified their championship for the first time since 2013. The separation between NASCAR Brasil and Challenge divisions are still in place, but everyone will contest for the same overall championship regardless of their division.
As the race in Campo Grande showed, the changes to the championship meant that the battles will be fiercer than ever. Everyone is giving their best because they know that they’re fighting for the same ultimate prize: The 2025 NASCAR Brasil Series championship title.
Race 1 was held under the bright skies of the Campo Grande circuit. It took place several hours after an intense Qualification that saw Genz take pole position by nearly half a second.
Genz led a full field of 24 cars to the start, which actually took place at the back straight. He, teammate Cayan Chianca and Barrichello led the field for the next few laps until a quick yellow was brought out on lap 5.
The incident involved former FRECA champion Gianluca Petecof, who substituted for Luciane Klai at R.Mattheis. His debut race ended when his No. 3 Shell Camaro died after just four laps.
Thanks to the position of Campo Grande’s start zone, the Chevrolet Camaro pace car was only out for just half a lap. Genz and Chianca shot away during the restart, putting Barrichello in the fringes of a charging Casagrande.
Chianca tried his best to find a way past Genz’s No. 46 FRUM Camaro, but found little luck. An opportunity finally arrived on lap 11, when Chianca side drafted Genz at the back straight.
Chianca completed the pass nicely at Turn 6, but sadly this lead would not last long. Just half a lap later, his No. 4 Karter Camaro suddenly slowed to a halt at Turn 1.
The luckless Brazilian revealed post-race that gravel had punctured his radiator. This resulted in his retirement after his engine overheated.
During this kerfuffle, Genz got caught out and made contact with Chianca’s stricken machine. This damaged the front bumper of Genz’s Camaro, but he had a 3-second buffer to both Barrichello and Casagrande.
Genz therefore was able to cruise to the victory in dominant fashion, having led all but one lap of the 14-lap event.
“Well, there’s no better thing than starting with a race victory!” said Genz in Victory Lane. “I want to thank everyone who trusted me during this pre-season.”
“It was hard work to make this happen. From my sponsors and everyone at R.Mattheis, they gave me a car that was a blast to drive!”
Casagrande eventually took second, having passed “Rubinho” on lap 12 to complete his charge. Barrichello still takes his maiden podium in third, the best finisher amongst the debutants.
Barrichello is happy with how things turned out in the No. 91 Fini Ford. The 52-year old is also pleased with NASCAR Brasil cars’ ability to get a major slipstream on the straights.
Top Challenge driver Jorge Martelli was an impressive fourth, having fought Casagrande and Barrichello for the majority of the race.
2023 champion Leo Torres completes the top-5 ahead of Guilherme Backes and Alfredinho Ibiapina. Seid, part of 2025’s only two-driver team, climbed eight places to finish eighth.
Tito Giaffone and Felipinho Tozzo completed the top-10. Antonio Junqueira and Nick Monteiro grabbed the final points paying positions in 11th and 12th respectively.
Monteiro in particular had an eventful day in Campo Grande. The American had to make a recovery drive after Galid Osman spun him around on lap 7.
Osman’s contact with Monteiro caps off a terrible day for the driver of the No. 99 Shell Camaro. Osman had previously made an unforced spin on lap 3.
Marcel Jorand also made an unforced spin on that same lap, but Jorand managed to keep his No. 39 Verde Gas Camaro running. He eventually finished in 16th place, well out of the points.
Disclaimer: Credits for all photos are listed underneath each image.