Category:
IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge
Author:
KM Advisory
Read:
10 mins
Location:
Daytona (USA)
Date:
Jan 21, 2026
Pernambucano returns to the endurance temple after positive tests and aims for a good start to the season in the preliminaries of the 24 Hours of Daytona.
Daytona (USA), January 21, 2026 Brazilian motorsport will be well represented this weekend at one of the most iconic venues for endurance racing. After the completion of the official IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge tests held in Daytona, Pernambuco native Kiko Porto (Banco Daycoval / Toyota Gazoo Racing / Team: Rafa Racing) is back on the North American circuit to compete in the first stage of the event, in the GS category, which serves as one of the preliminary races of the traditional 24 Hours of Daytona. This challenge marks an important step in the driver's career, now placed in an even more strategic and competitive environment. The season opener also represents Kiko Porto's debut in the Michelin Pilot Challenge, a championship known for its longer races and high technical level. The Brazilian drives the number 12 Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO, representing the colors of the Rafa Racing team, in a context that requires quick adaptation, race reading, and teamwork both on and off the track. Sharing the wheel with American Varun Choksey, Kiko will have the dynamics of a duo, with driver swaps, equipment management, and strategic decisions throughout the four hours of racing, which increases the level of complexity of the weekend but also brings new emotions throughout the race. During the collective tests held the week before, the duo demonstrated consistent progress throughout the sessions. In a grid consisting of 34 cars in the GS category, the number 12 Toyota was able to gain positions progressively, reflecting the good synergy between drivers, team, and car setup to meet the specific demands of Daytona. The performance in the final sessions drew attention and reinforced the team's optimism. In the last on-track activities, Porto concluded with a fifth and a sixth place in the last two sessions of the GS category, results that placed Rafa Racing in the front pack and confirmed that the project is heading in the right direction for the official debut. "A new category, longer races, with a teammate, driver swaps, tire strategy, fuel... we were able to assess all of this in the tests. It will be my first time in longer races like this, but I am very happy with this opportunity," highlighted the Brazilian.
Sharing the wheel with American Varun Choksey, Kiko will have the dynamics of a duo, with driver swaps, equipment management, and strategic decisions throughout the four-hour race, which increases the complexity of the weekend, but also brings new emotions during the event. During the collective tests held the week before, the duo showed consistent improvement throughout the sessions. In a grid consisting of 34 cars in the GS category, the number 12 Toyota managed to gain positions progressively, reflecting the good synergy between drivers, team, and the car's setup for the specific demands of Daytona.
With the collected data and the good performance presented, the focus is now entirely on the race. The team's objective is to maintain the evolution curve, execute the strategy well, and seek a solid performance during the four-hour race, seizing every opportunity the race offers on a track known for rewarding consistency and intelligence. Daytona, by the way, is a setting that commands respect from any driver. The grandeur of the complex, the imposing grandstands, and the history associated with major endurance races make the environment even more special. "Daytona is a place that has the largest endurance race in the United States, in addition to the Daytona 500 as well. You look at the grandstands, see the vastness of this place, it's impressive. I believe the best part is yet to come," said Kiko. According to the official schedule of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, Kiko Porto and Varun Choksey will enter the track this Wednesday (21st) for a practice session at 3 PM, Brasília time. On Thursday (22nd), the duo will participate in another practice session in the morning, followed by the qualifying session for the GS category, scheduled for 3:35 PM. The start of the four-hour race, which is valid for the first stage of the Michelin Pilot Challenge in 2026, will take place on Friday (23rd) at 3:45 PM (Brasília time) at the Daytona International Speedway. For those who wish to follow and cheer for the Brazilian, the race will be broadcast live on IMSA's official YouTube channel, bringing all the excitement of endurance racing directly to motorsport fans. Text by Kako Marques / KMCom Assessoria Kiko Porto on Instagram: @kikoporto_12 Kiko Porto on YouTube: @KikoPorto12 Kiko Porto's website: www.kikoporto.com.br
