Perfect Weekend! Kiko Porto Triumphs in the Opening Round of the VP Racing Series at Daytona

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Daytona (FL), January 19, 2025


Brazil shined brightly this weekend at the 2025 VP Racing SportsCar Challenge opening round, held at Daytona International Speedway, Florida. Pernambuco native Kiko Porto (Banco Daycoval / MC Games / Team: Rafa Racing) displayed his skill and determination by dominating the GSX class, winning both races at the wheel of the No. 8 Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2.

“Thank God everything worked out! I’m so happy. Thanks to Rafa Racing, and Toyota for this opportunity, and now on to the next one,” Kiko Porto said after stepping onto the podium.

Kiko set the tone for the weekend as early as Friday (17th). He posted the fastest lap times during the two free practice sessions, making a strong statement for the new season. On Saturday, he went even further, clinching pole position with a lap time of 1:55.064—an impressive 1.5 seconds faster than the runner-up.

In the first race, on Saturday, Kiko faced challenges but benefited from a bit of champion’s luck. Despite starting on pole, he briefly dropped to second place. However, in a dramatic turn of events he overtook Steven Clemons in car No. 76, who encountered trouble on the final corner, securing his first victory of the year.

Sunday brought adverse weather conditions, with a wet track following a downpour at Daytona. Even so, Kiko remained focused and determined. Penalized with a 10-second time penalty for a starting grid incident and an additional 10 seconds for overtaking under yellow flags in one sector, he showcased his skill by recovering positions spectacularly. In the end, he crossed the finish line with enough to lead over second-place driver Jackson Lee to close the weekend with two wins and a perfect record.

“I think this was the craziest race of my life. Before the start, we were lining up with the GT3s, and I tried to get to my starting position, but the second-place driver took my spot and didn’t give it back. So, I started from the wrong position, managed to take the lead, and opened up the 10-second gap, but then got caught behind a very slow LMP3 car. I passed him, but unfortunately, it was under a yellow flag in that sector. That added another 10-second penalty, but I managed to build a gap of more than 20 seconds by the end and win. Now it’s on to the next round at COTA in about a month,” Kiko explained.

The Pernambuco driver now prepares for the next round of the season, scheduled from February 28 to March 1 at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. Another challenge awaits Porto, who is already establishing himself as one of Brazil’s standout talents in international motorsport.

With performances like those seen this weekend, Kiko Porto proves he has all the ingredients to represent Pernambuco and Brazil with skill and determination.


Text by Natally Domingos / KMCom Press Office

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