Brazilian Rodrigo Baptista is to return to TCR South America for a full season in 2024, racing a Honda Civic Type-R FK7 TCR for reigning champions Squadra Martino.
Baptista, 27, was one of only five drivers to contest the inaugural season of the championship back in 2021, finishing as the runner-up to Pepe Oriola after a campaign in which he scored three victories with Cobra Racing.
In the same year, Baptista also took part in the first all-electric touring car season, when he raced an Alfa Romeo Giulia for Romeo Ferraris in PURE ETCR, finishing fifth overall out of 14 drivers.
He switched to the Brazilian Stock Car Pro Series in 2022, where his results were modest, with only one top ten finish in two seasons, ranking 29th in 2022 and 27th last year.
Baptista also took part in a TCR South America race in 2023, pairing up with father Adalberto at the Termas de Río Hondo endurance race.
“I am very happy to be back in TCR South America,” said Baptista. “I participated in the first year of the history of the championship on our continent and finished that season as runner-up.
“The championship has grown a lot and still has a lot to grow and that motivates me.
“This year I’m in a new team for me, plus the completely new car in my career and some tracks I’ve never raced on. We will work and fight hard to achieve our goal of fighting for the championship in 2024.”
Sebastián Martino, General Director of Squadra Martino, welcomed Baptista to the team.
“Adding Rodrigo to our roster of drivers does nothing more than establish the team’s hierarchy,” said Martino. “His experience in other categories and his time at TCR South America where he already had the chance to win gives us enormous expectations for 2024.
“We are confident that we are going to do a good job and the goal is to reach the end of the season fighting for important things.”