Celso Neto Secures Top 10 Finish in Michelin Pilot Challenge Despite Setbacks at Mid-Ohio

Lexington (OH), June 9, 2025

The weekend brought another challenging round of the Michelin Pilot Challenge for Brazilian driver Celso Neto (AMED / Dipromed / LS Interbank / SODI USA by Velocity Racing / Precision Racing LA). The third round of the 2025 season took place at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, with a grueling four-hour endurance race that pushed drivers, cars, and teams to their limits.

One of the standout drivers of the season, Celso Neto and his team, Precision Racing LA, faced technical issues that prevented another podium finish in the TCR class. The Brazilian, who has been steadily establishing himself as a strong contender in the series, was unable to convert his pace into a top result due to mechanical problems.

Sharing the No. 7 Audi RS3 with American driver Ryan Eversley, Celso secured seventh place in Saturday’s (June 7) qualifying session, placing the duo on the fourth row of the TCR starting grid. The result showcased the competitive potential of the Precision Racing LA machine.

Race day on Sunday (June 8) began under adverse weather conditions in Lexington. Following heavy rain in the morning, the race started on a damp track, adding another layer of difficulty for the drivers. The slippery surface demanded full concentration and skill from all competitors.

In the opening stages of the race, Celso Neto displayed his racing prowess. Behind the wheel of the Audi RS3, he worked his way into the leading pack, climbing to fifth place and battling directly with the front-runners. The early performance pointed to yet another podium being within reach for the pairing.

Unfortunately, what had the makings of another strong showing from Celso Neto was cut short by a gearbox failure, which forced the team into a lengthy pit stop. The mechanical issue cost them 19 laps to the race leader as the crew worked to fix the problem, effectively ending their chances of a top result.

“Tough day. We had a gearbox issue while I was running in the top 5, fighting for the win. We lost 19 laps making repairs, but we showed our speed once again. We set the third-fastest lap of the race, just one tenth off the best lap and had a really fast car even on used tires. We’ll come back stronger in two weeks. Huge thanks to all our sponsors and our team for everything,” said Celso Neto after the race.

Despite the setbacks, Celso Neto and Ryan Eversley managed to complete the four-hour race within the Top 10, reaffirming the competitiveness of the team. The duo now sits seventh in the championship standings with 970 points.

The Michelin Pilot Challenge, sanctioned by IMSA (International Motor Sport Association), returns in two weeks at Watkins Glen International in New York, from June 19 to 22, where Celso Neto will be back on track looking to climb up the championship ladder.


Text by Kako Marques / KMCom Assessoria

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