Brazilian Celso Neto has been a fan of IMSA racing since his early teen years. As the newest IMSA Diverse Driver Development Scholarship recipient, he’ll now get the chance to compete in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge in the TCR class.
Neto, a native of Salvador, Brazil, and now living in Orlando, was awarded the IMSA Diverse Driver Development Scholarship for the 2025-’26 seasons. The program includes benefits of more than $250,000 to assist the recipient in competing in a full season in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge or IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge, with additional benefits extending to a second year of racing.
Neto was selected from a talented pool of nine finalists. The 20-year-old has already secured a ride with Precision Racing LA for the 2025 Michelin Pilot Challenge season in the Touring Car (TCR) class.
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“Racing in IMSA was a dream since I was a kid, living in Orlando for a lot of my life and going to the 24 Hours of Daytona or something every year with my karting team and all my friends, just seeing those cars there,” said Neto.
“I have pictures of Pilot Challenge cars when I was 13 or 14. Being able to have the opportunity to race in this series that you’ve always looked up to is really special. It brought back a lot of emotions of all the steps that it takes to get to this point, all the hard work that sometimes isn’t seen.”
After moving to the United States as a youngster, Neto began karting at age 5, which fueled his passion for racing. He started racing cars in Brazil at age 14, moving up through the touring car ranks and eventually into stock cars.
He returned to the U.S. in 2022 to race in the TC America powered by Skip Barber Racing School series. Last year, he finished third in the TC class with one win and nine podium finishes. This year, Neto wound up second in the TCX class, concluding the season by sweeping the weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with two pole positions, two race wins and two fastest race laps.
Neto made his Michelin Pilot Challenge debut earlier this season at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, driving the Skip Barber-entered Aston Martin Vantage GT4 for nearly half of the four-hour race.
In addition to succeeding on track, Neto believes his Brazilian heritage will help draw more IMSA fans and competitors in the motorsports-crazed South American nation.
“Being Brazilian and having two very big fan bases [American and Brazilian], I thought that was something that IMSA could be interested in,” he explained. “As well as the [scholarship] prize money, I believe the marketing aspect is something very valuable that a lot of people haven’t explored; to bring more Brazilian drivers to the field, bring more Brazilian audience and show IMSA the value of the scholarship and how it can really, truly help both sides of the sport – the series and the driver.”
With Precision Racing LA next year, Neto will drive for team owner Mario Biundo, who got a first-hand look at his new hire as a fellow competitor the past two seasons in TC America. Biundo likes what he’s seen.
“He has a very good approach to racing,” Biundo stated. “He’s calculated, he’s not overly arrogant, he puts a car where he knows he can put it safely, and he’s a strong competitor that has race intelligence. Not everybody at this young age has it. He has a lot of room to grow and he’s got a good basis.”
The IMSA Diverse Driver Development Scholarship promotes and empowers drivers from a variety of backgrounds and experiences to participate in an IMSA series. The scholarship includes financial assistance from IMSA and is supported by several of its corporate partners: Michelin, VP Racing Fuels, OMP, Bell, Recaro, Skip Barber Racing School, RAFA Racing Club and LAT Images.
“Celso is a very deserving recipient of the IMSA Diverse Driver Development Scholarship,” said Brandon Huddleston, vice president, IMSA Partnership Marketing and Business Development. “He has already shown his talents on track as he has climbed the racing ranks. He also impressed the scholarship committee with his vision to engage and draw in audiences from both the U.S. and Brazil. IMSA is proud to name him as the newest recipient of this important initiative.”
The application process for the 2026-27 IMSA Diverse Driver Development Scholarship will open in early 2026.