Kiko Porto Faces Unusual Situation at Lamborghini Super Trofeo in Watkins Glen

Watkins Glen (NY), June 23, 2025

Brazilian driver Kiko Porto (Toyota Gazoo Racing / Banco Daycoval / MC Games / Team: Rafa Racing) experienced a weekend of ups and downs at the third round of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America, held on Friday (20th) and Saturday (21st) at Watkins Glen International circuit in New York State. The Brazilian, who currently leads the VP Racing SportsCar Challenge, returned to competition in partnership with fellow Brazilian Werner Neugebauer, racing for Rafa Racing Team.

Teaming up with Neugebauer, Porto shared driving duties of car number 68 throughout the two races of the weekend. The Brazilian team's strategy was to distribute responsibilities between the two drivers, with each taking on different stints during the Pro category competition.

During the first qualifying session, Neugebauer was responsible for securing the best possible starting position for the opening race. The driver managed to set the ninth-fastest time among Pro category competitors and eighteenth overall, establishing the starting point for the weekend's first race.

In the second qualifying session, it was Kiko Porto's turn to showcase his talent on the American track. The Brazilian demonstrated great speed and precision, capturing the fourth-best lap time in both the Pro category and overall classification, securing a strong starting position for the second race.

The first race on Friday (20th) brought significant challenges for the Brazilian duo. Werner Neugebauer struggled to find the ideal rhythm amid heavy traffic from different categories, maintaining ninth position until the driver change window opened. Kiko Porto took over for the final 23 minutes of the race and, with his experience and determination, achieved an excellent recovery that brought car 68 to seventh place overall.

"In qualifying 1, done by Werner, he ended up being held up by a slower competitor during the good tire lap. We ended up starting 18th, but made a great recovery and managed to finish in 7th position. In qualifying for race 2, we secured a good starting position in 4th," explained Kiko.

On Saturday (21st), the second race held unexpected frustrations for the team. Starting from fourth place, Porto quickly gained a position and moved into third, positioning himself to fight for a podium finish in the Pro category. However, race officials imposed a drive-through penalty for an alleged jump start, a decision that dropped the Brazilian car to the back of the field.

When Werner Neugebauer took over the wheel after the penalty, there was little time and opportunity to recover the lost positions. The duo's frustration only increased when they discovered, after the race ended, that there had been a serious error by race officials: the penalty was intended for car number 86, not the number 68 of Porto and Neugebauer's team.

"It was a difficult weekend where we had good pace during practice. Race 2 was more frustrating. I was already in 3rd position, fighting for a podium in the Pro category. Then it was announced that I had received a drive-through for a jump start. In the end, we found out that the jump start had been by another car and not us. That ruined our race and it wasn't the way we wanted it to go. But we move on to the next one," declared Kiko Porto after the race, still in disbelief.

Now, the Brazilian driver turns his attention back to the IMSA - VP Racing SportsCar Challenge, the competition in which he leads the 2025 season in the GSX category. Between July 11-13, Porto will face the fourth round of the season at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Ontario, Canada, where he will look to maintain his championship lead.


Text by Kako Marques / KMCom Press Office

Kiko Porto on Instagram:
@kikoporto_12

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Kiko Porto's website:
www.kikoporto.com.br