Celso Neto delivers epic comeback at Laguna Seca after penalty

Monterey, CA – May 10, 2025

Brazilian driver Celso Neto (AMED / Dipromed / LS Interbank / SODI USA by Velocity Racing / Team: Precision Racing LA) hit the track this weekend for Round 3 of the 2025 Michelin Pilot Challenge, held at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California. Representing Precision Racing LA, the driver from Brazil was once again behind the wheel of the No. 7 Audi RS3 LMS TCR, sharing driving duties with American teammate Ryan Eversley.

After showing consistent pace during practice sessions, Celso’s confidence carried into Friday’s (May 9) qualifying, where he posted an impressive lap time of 1:30.333 — just 0.05 seconds off pole position. The result would have placed the No. 7 machine on the front row, but a technical infraction relegated the duo to start from the back of the 16-car TCR class grid.

“We qualified second, just half a tenth from pole. The car felt great — we really put in a lot of effort for this round. But unfortunately, we received a technical penalty and now I’ll have to start from the back, in P16. Now it's about staying focused. The car is strong, and we have a great race ahead,” said Celso before the green flag.

Saturday’s race start marked the beginning of a remarkable performance by the Brazilian. With a lightning-fast opening stint, Celso demonstrated the strength of the Audi RS3’s setup, pulling off a series of clean and strategic overtakes to gain 13 positions in just his first hour behind the wheel — an impressive display of skill and consistency.

During the pit window, Celso handed the car over to Eversley while running in third place, capping off a flawless stint. “Yeah, it was definitely tough. We know this is a track that’s really hard on tires, so when you’re overtaking, you have to brake later or push harder. I really tried to make every move smart — navigating traffic while saving tires for the end. We were just hanging on at the finish — I think everyone was. But that’s part of the challenge here, part of TCR racing, and luckily it’s something we’ve trained for,” Celso explained.

In the second half of the race, Eversley took over and managed to move up to second, keeping hopes of a podium finish alive. However, with just four minutes remaining and following one of several safety car restarts, race control penalized the No. 7 car with a drive-through for allegedly jumping the restart — dropping the Audi to eighth.

Despite efforts to recover in the closing minutes, the duo crossed the finish line in P8. Even though the final result didn’t reflect their full potential, Celso remained upbeat: “Ryan had nowhere to go — a car almost stopped in front of him, and he had to move left to avoid contact. He actually avoided a crash and another yellow flag. But despite all that, I’m really proud of the team. We had a fast car. We proved today that it wasn’t a technical advantage that put us on the front row. Hopefully, that was clear. I’m just very thankful for the team’s work during the pit stop and with the car. I can’t thank everyone enough.”

The weekend at Laguna Seca showcased the talent and maturity of the Brazilian driver, who once again proved his ability to overcome setbacks and remain competitive even in the face of controversial decisions. With strong qualifying pace, racecraft, and tire management, Celso continues to establish himself in the competitive landscape of North American motorsport.

The Michelin Pilot Challenge, part of the IMSA (International Motor Sports Association) calendar, returns to action June 6–8 for the 4 Hours of Mid-Ohio, at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Ohio. It will be another opportunity for Celso Neto and Ryan Eversley to show their potential and aim for a result that reflects their strong performance this season.


Written by Natally Domingos / KMCom Press Office

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