Arianna Casoli took part in the NASCAR Brasil Series finale and the first oval race of the championship – The Italian became the first woman to compete in the series
- Arianna Casoli became the first female driver in the NASCAR Brasil Series
- The NASCAR Euro Series driver ended up 12th in the main race
- The Italian wrote history and set a milestone thanks to NASCAR’s international exchange
- The NASCAR Euro Series provides the best opportunities to build a NASCAR career
With 100 NASCAR Euro Series Open races in her luggage, Arianna Casoli traveled to Brazil to compete in the final race weekend of the 2024 NASCAR Brasil Series season. The race took place at the newly built ¾-mile oval test track – the Circuito dos Cristais – in Curvelo. The Italian from Reggio Emilia took the seat of the #14 Chevrolet to race against 21 Brazilian NASCAR drivers who are used to the car, the championship and the tracks. Thanks to her rich EuroNASCAR experience, Casoli matched the pace of her competitors to finish eighth in the heat race and 12th in Sunday’s main race. She also became the first female driver to compete in the NASCAR championship in South America.
“Being the first woman to compete in the NASCAR Brazil Series in this special event was an honor for me,” said Casoli after her strong showing in Curvelo. “I felt the pressure and responsibility to live up to my role. Brazilian motorsports and especially NASCAR are working hard to support female drivers and it seems that my race was a milestone for the future.” As the most successful woman in NASCAR Euro Series history, Casoli knows what it takes to be fast and connect with fans. She’s already a star in the EuroNASCAR paddock, but now she’s making a name for herself in the NASCAR Brazil Series.
But the weekend wasn’t easy for the 50-year-old five-time Lady Trophy winner. “The challenge at the beginning was to learn a new track. Of course I have raced ovals in Europe, but they all have different layouts and require a different driving style,” she said. “I also had to adapt to a brand new car. It was easier than I expected. The series and the team have welcomed me warmly and helped me get started.” As a result, Casoli was able to pick up her pace in the limited time she had to practice.
Paddle shifting was new to the Italian, who never had to think about her shoulder injury as she never had to let go of the wheel. “Lap by lap I gained confidence,” she explained. “I was able to get quite close to the lap times of the leaders. It was a moment I really enjoyed.” As a rookie, Casoli made small mistakes, but in the end she impressed with strong lap times, a smart race and a mature driving style on the oval. “The show was just amazing,” she recalls.
Casoli took a “conservative” approach to finishing each race “safely.” “My previous experience on ovals helped me read the race and situations,” said Casoli, who has raced at Raceway Venray and Tours Speedway in Europe. “I was able to avoid the big problems and the races were a lot of fun.” Finishing eighth out of ten in the heat race and 12th out of 22 in the main race was a huge achievement for the Italian.
Casoli is a role model for women in motorsports and hopes she has left a mark by racing in the NASCAR Brazil Series: “I’m so proud to achieve this goal in 2024. I also hope it is a milestone for women. They have to believe in their dreams and go for it. No matter what happens, just believe in yourself! Do your best and work hard.” Never stop dreaming at any age. I have to thank Thiago Marques of the NASCAR Brazil Series and Jason Simmons of NASCAR International and my partners for making this dream come true.”
“I want to thank Vonder Ferramentas and the Autodromo dos Cristais in Curvelo for the amazing work they have done to build an oval there. It will be a milestone for NASCAR in Brazil,” she said. “Also, a special thanks to Reviv Engineering for their great work on the track. Thanks to Sig Communications for the media work and a big shout out to all my family, friends and fans in Europe and Brazil for supporting me in this new challenge and adventure.”
Casoli is expected to return to the NASCAR Euro Series for the 2025 season, adding more races to her tally that will reach 100 OPEN races in 2024. Prior to the start of the season at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain, EuroNASCAR will host the Drivers Recruitment Tests on December 10-11 at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben in Germany, offering interested drivers and teams a unique opportunity to join NASCAR in Europe and pursue their dreams of becoming a successful race car driver – just like Arianna Casoli.
Featured image by NASCAR Brasil Series
