Ana Beatriz ‘Bia’ Figueiredo will become the first female driver in TCR South America, as she has signed up to race an Audi RS3 LMS TCR run by Cobra Racing in this year’s series.
Bia Figueiredo is the daughter of experienced Brazilian tin-top driver Flávio ‘Noño’ Figueiredo, who previously raced in Super Touring series in the 1990s, including the regional South American series and a one-off outing in the 1998 British Touring Car Championship.
37-year-old Bia has previously raced in Brazilian Stock Car as well as the United States IndyCar series from 2010 to 2013.
Prior to IndyCar, Bia competed in the Indy Lights series in 2008 and 2009, finishing third overall in her first season.
Following her single-seaters career, in 2914 she switched to tin-tops and raced in the Brazilian Stock Car series for six years.
More recently she has taken part in selected races in the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship.
“I’m very happy to meet Nonô again and all the dedication he put into uniting us,” said Bia Figueiredo. “It’s my first full championship after two years.
“In that interval I did some specific races like the Porsche Cup and the 12h of Sebring. Shortly after I discovered my second pregnancy.
“TCR South America is my first opportunity since then. I am very grateful to Nonô and happy to drive an Audi, a brand to which I have always been very close throughout my life.
“It is time to adapt to front-wheel drive cars, which are new to me, and work to move quickly towards good results.”
Bia Figueiredo will race the car campaigned by Rodrigo Baptista in the 2021 season. She will be joined by fellow Brazilians Adalberto Baptista and Guilherme Reischl.
“I’m very happy with the arrival of Bia Figueiredo to the team,” said Team Manager Nonô Figueiredo. “In addition to being an important driver, her presence on the grid will attract more interest in the category.
“It will be her first participation in TCR cars, but I think that with her experience she will adapt quickly and soon she will fight for the top positions”.
The 2022 season gets underway this weekend, 2 – 3 April, at Velo Città in Brazil.