Orlando, Fla. – Stallion Motorsports has announced Celso Neto as its first full-season driver for the team’s debut season in the Touring Car (TCR) class of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge. Neto will co-pilot the No. 77 Cupra Leon VZ TCR, marking a major milestone for both the young Brazilian-American driver and the ambitious Brazilian-American team.
Neto joins Stallion as one of the most promising rising talents in North American Touring Car racing. The 2025-26 IMSA Diverse Driver Development Scholarship recipient was the first Brazilian driver ever to receive the award – an initiative that champions diversity, development, and discovery across IMSA’s professional ladder.
A Remarkable Rookie Year
Neto’s rookie IMSA season in 2025 was impressive. Racing the Audi RS3 LMS TCR on many tracks he had never seen before, and as one of the youngest drivers in the field, his talent was evident as he showed pace, maturity, and precision. Despite competing on a grid teeming with veteran drivers, Neto established himself as one of the fastest drivers in the field.
Neto earned a podium in his Michelin Pilot Challenge debut at Daytona International Speedway, led the opening hour of the Alan Jay Automotive Network 120 at Sebring International Raceway (winning the Michelin Pilot Challenge Moment of the Race) and went on to collect three podiums and eight top-five qualifying results out of 10 rounds – all with zero DNFs.
“It’s rare to see a rookie adapt so quickly to a completely new platform and (series),” said Pedro Moises, representing Stallion Motorsports. “Celso showed incredible intelligence, racecraft, and consistency from Day One. His technical feedback and composure stood out, exactly the qualities we value as we build this team’s foundation.”
From Audi to Cupra: An Evolution, Not a Change
For Neto, joining Stallion means stepping into familiar machinery. “I’m very excited for this next step in my career with Stallion and Cupra,” Neto said. “The new Cupra Leon VZ TCR is an evolution of the Audi platform I raced before — you could say it’s like driving the Audi Gen3. I already feel at home. This is the perfect combination to build on everything we learned last season.
“It’s also really special to join a Brazilian-led team like Stallion in such a competitive international (series),” he added. “There’s a huge sense of pride seeing our flag represented at this level. I’m incredibly thankful to my sponsors and partners for believing in me and making this opportunity possible. Together, we’re ready to make history.”
A New Era for Stallion Motorsports
Founded in Orlando, Florida with operational bases in Texas, Stallion Motorsports represents a fusion of Brazilian and American performance, working closely with Gou Racing & Logistics, the first U.S. team to bring Cupra to IMSA and deliver its first podium. Together, the two organizations form a powerful alliance of experience, innovation, and ambition.
“We’re thrilled to have Celso leading our 2026 effort,” said Flavio Bergmann, Stallion’s marketing director. “He represents the next generation of Touring Car talent. Disciplined, data-driven, and truly global. His arrival sets the tone for what Stallion is all about: Bold. Driven. Innovative.”
Stallion will launch their program at the 2026 season-opening BMW M Endurance Challenge At Daytona on Friday, Jan. 23, during the Rolex 24 event week. The four-hour race will kick off a full 10-round Michelin Pilot Challenge campaign across the United States and Canada for the No. 77 Cupra Leon VZ TCR.
Stallion Motorsports will soon unveil the driver who will share the car with Neto, in what promises to be one of the most dynamic lineups on the TCR grid.