Tatiana Calderón secured a landmark victory at the Curvelo circuit, becoming the first woman to win an overall race in NASCAR Brasil, according to race reports. The Colombian driver navigated a chaotic weekend that began with a mechanical issue and a 15th-place qualifying result before culminating in a historic triumph in Race 2.
Overcoming Adversity at the Curvelo Circuit
Calderón’s weekend looked far from historic at the start. According to race reports, a mechanical issue hampered her initial outing, forcing her to start 15th on the grid. Despite the setback, she steadily climbed through the field during the opening race.
The contest proved chaotic, featuring repeated crashes and incidents that bunched the field together. Calderón used the frequent restarts to her advantage, picking off rival drivers to bring the SG28 Racing car home fourth overall and second in the Challenger class, as reported by EssentiallySports.
Capitalizing on the Reverse-Grid Format in Race 2
NASCAR Brasil utilizes a reverse-grid system for its second race, requiring the top six finishers from Race 1 to invert their starting slots. This rule moved Calderón from fourth to third on the grid for the 30-minute contest, placing her directly behind the leading pair.
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Did you know? Tatiana Calderón became the first woman to reach the podium in the British Formula 3 International Series and the first woman to lead a lap in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship before her NASCAR Brasil breakthrough.
The race took a decisive turn when the two front-runners made contact ahead of Calderón. She avoided the ensuing wreck and inherited first place. Unlike the first race, this contest featured uninterrupted running, allowing her to manage the race from the front and withstand pressure from behind until the checkered flag.
Reflecting on a Career Built on Firsts
“I’m so proud of the whole team and what we’ve achieved together after the difficulties at the start of the season. Making history as the first woman to win a NASCAR Brazil race is something I’ll remember forever,” Calderón said in a post-race interview published by EssentiallySports.
This triumph marks another milestone in a career defined by groundbreaking achievements. Calderón began karting at age nine and became the first woman to win national karting championships in both Colombia and the United States. Her resume also includes competing in GP3 from 2016 to 2018, a 2019 Formula 2 campaign, and serving as a development and test driver for Sauber (later Alfa Romeo Racing) in Formula 1 from 2018 through 2021.
The Curvelo victory follows an earlier win this year at the BGT Challenge of the Americas in Guyana. Her schedule continues on October 3 and 4, when she competes at the Puebla circuit with Nacent Racing in the GT Challenge of the Americas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What historic milestone did Tatiana Calderón achieve in NASCAR Brasil?
Calderón became the first woman in NASCAR Brasil history to win an overall race, securing victory during the second race at Curvelo.
How did Calderón qualify for the front of the grid in Race 2?
She finished fourth overall in the opening race, which placed her third on the grid for Race 2 under NASCAR Brasil’s reverse-grid system for the top six finishers.
What are Calderón’s upcoming racing commitments?
She is scheduled to race at the Puebla circuit in Mexico on October 3 and 4 with Nacent Racing in the GT Challenge of the Americas.
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