IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge newcomer Stallion Motorsports is a Brazilian-American team that will debut in the TCR class with the #77 Cupra Leon VZ TCR, featuring 2025/26 IMSA Diverse Driver Development (D3) Scholarship winner Celso Neto as part of its driver line-up.
Two weeks ago, Stallion unveiled the livery of its #77 Cupra that will be run in partnership with Gou Racing, the team that introduced the Cupra to IMSA competition last year.
Victor Gonzalez Racing Team (VGRT) then switched to the Cupra mid-season and got the Leon VZ TCR’s first IMSA victories at Indianapolis and Road Atlanta.
“The Cupra Leon VZ TCR has already shown front-running pace and remarkable reliability in IMSA,” said a Stallion Motorsports representative about the car. “We’re excited to build on that foundation and bring our own experience and data with this platform into the championship.”
Stallion Motorsports will also work closely with NGP Racing, the official brand technical partner for Cupra in the Americas – who also took over customer support for all Audi TCR customers last season, ensuring teams with the RS3 LMS would have ample backing.
NGP owner John Martin said: “NGP Motorsports, the official partner for Cupra Racing in North America, Mexico & Central America, is pleased to welcome Stallion Motorsports to the Cupra brand with their brand new Cupra Leon VZ TCR. We are excited for their entry and are really looking forward to a great season starting at Daytona.”
Today the team announced its first driver, Neto, who had a fine first season in Michelin Pilot Challenge. In 2025 with Precision Racing LA and veteran co-driver Ryan Eversley, Neto took three podiums and qualified in the top five in his class eight times, en route to fourth in the TCR Championship.
“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.”
The team is led by Pedro Moises, an entrepeneur and engineer who already has experience operating teams in his native Brazil.
“It’s rare to see a rookie adapt so quickly to a completely new platform and (series). 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,” Moises said.
“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.”
Neto’s co-driver will be announced at a later date.
Images courtesy of Stallion Motorsports
