Celso Neto faces troubled race in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge round

Elkhart Lake (WI), August 4, 2025

Despite securing an excellent starting position on the front row for the seventh round of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, Brazilian driver Celso Neto (AMED / Dipromed / LS Interbank / SODI USA by Velocity Racing / Precision Racing LA) was unable to achieve the expected result in the TCR category. Neto, who qualified second on the starting grid, saw his podium chances slip away throughout the race held last Saturday (2nd) at Road America circuit in Wisconsin, USA.

The two-hour race began promisingly for the Brazilian representative. Celso managed to stay with the leading pack during the opening laps, showing the competitive pace he had demonstrated during qualifying. The driver of the number 7 Audi RS3 from Precision Racing LA team showed he had the conditions to fight for the top positions.

However, the race unfolding held several obstacles for the Brazilian. Multiple yellow flags interrupted the race rhythm, creating a chaotic scenario that ultimately hurt the team's strategy. A penalty applied early in the race was the first significant setback, causing Celso to lose important positions and drop to the back of the field.

Determined to recover on track, the Brazilian began an impressive charge through the field, managing to climb positions until reaching fifth place. However, when attempting to overtake the fourth-place runner, Celso suffered contact to the rear of his Audi RS3, causing significant damage to the car and severely compromising performance.

"The race was very chaotic. There were about four, five safety cars, I don't even know anymore. Lots of crashes. We ended up getting a penalty at the beginning of the race. We dropped to last, I came rowing and passing everyone. When I went to pass fourth place, they gave me a hell of a hit from behind. It bent the car a bit, became very difficult to drive. We lost pace and stopped in fifth at the pit stop," Celso Neto reported about the decisive moments of the race.

The mandatory driver change brought his teammate Ryan Eversley to command of the number 7 car. However, from that incident onwards, the race became a true battle of endurance. With the car misaligned and handling problems, Ryan had to use all his experience to keep the Audi RS3 on track and avoid further complications.

With Eversley behind the wheel, performance showed no significant improvement. The damage suffered in the first half of the race continued to limit the car's competitive potential, preventing the duo from advancing in the final positions. Precision Racing LA team finished the round in sixth place, a result that did not reflect the potential shown during the weekend.

"Ryan, my partner got in, fought well for fifth there, but we didn't have much we could do. Especially after the damage suffered. It was a bit frustrating, we were running well in second at the beginning. I thank the team for all the work this weekend. On to the next one," concluded the Brazilian driver.

Celso Neto returns to the track between August 22-24 for the eighth round of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge season, which will be held at VIRginia International Raceway, located in Alton, Virginia.


Text by Kako Marques / KMCom Press Relations

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