Arianna Casoli will be the first woman to compete in the NASCAR Brasil Series
Arianna Casoli will be the first woman to compete in the NASCAR Brasil Series
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Arianna Casoli, EuroNASCAR driver, has confirmed her presence in the final leg of the 2024 season and will be the first woman to compete in a round of the NASCAR Brasil Series. The race weekend, to be held next Nov. 15-17 in Curvelo (MG), will also mark the’inauguration of the country’s first 100% oval track.
If the Special Edition #Ovaltrack already loomed as a milestone in Brazilian motorsports history with the first oval track race with banking, in full American NASCAR style, it is now further enriched by the unprecedented participation, unprecedented in NASCAR Brasil, of a female driver.
When asked how it feels to be a pioneer of the female universe in NASCAR Brasil, Arianna said, “É an honor! A dream come true; and I still can't believe it. The hope of living up to expectations maybe puts a little pressure on me. A mixture of elation, disbelief and pride, gratitude and maybe I will only realize it during the weekend of the event. I hope I can be an example for women in the future and, in a way, è a great responsibility.
Arianna, who will run in the #Ovaltrack stage in the #14 Chevrolet Cruze, her number also in the European series, says her dream was to also participate in races in the other NASCAR International series and in particular in the Brazilian series. Her connection to this country traces its origins to her father’s professional career, which took her often to visit Brazil as a child. In addition, in the 1980s, her father also carried out a second activity, related to motorsport, having been for a number of years Sporting Director of the Alfa Romeo Formula 1 team.
At the age of 50, Arianna has won five Lady Trophy titles and a Legend Trophy (Over 40) title in EuroNASCAR2 in her career and has a long history in European motorsport. At the age of 21, she made her track debut, competing in the Italian one-make series: Clio Cup, Saxo Cup, Smart Cup and similar trophies, until the early 2000s.
"With a master’s degree in Architecture, working mainly as a graphic designer, and, between work and family, I stopped racing for almost 14 years shortly after graduation. Then, in 2015, I participated in four Seat promotional series races and a series of coincidences led me to test a EuroNASCAR. From there to finding myself on the grid in Valencia the following year for the first round of the 2016 championship è it was a moment. It's been incredible!” he tells.
Arianna adds that entering the world of motor sports was not è the biggest challenge. "Learning and progressing – NASCAR is not è a simple type of racing– è has been the most complicated part. But the balance so far è very positive, despite the needè for quite demanding physical, mental and organizational preparation , since I am also a mother", she says. "I would like to be an example for the new generation, starting with the younger girls, but especially for women who, from the age of 40, often give up the chance to realize their dreams. Do not give up your dreams, always dream!”, she concludes.
