At 53, Rubens Barrichello wins the Brazilian NASCAR series – and causes controversy after a collision with rival Thiago Camilo
Former Formula 1 driver Rubens Barrichello has won the national NASCAR championship in his home country of Brazil – after a controversial collision with his title rival Thiago Camilo.
The decision was made in the first race in Velo Citta: Barrichello and Camilo drove side by side into a corner. There was contact, damaging Camilo’s car. He lost several positions and only managed to finish eleventh. Barrichello, on the other hand, was able to continue the race without any problems and went on to win.
The sports commissioners of the Brazilian Automobile Federation investigated the incident but did not impose any penalties. Barrichello thus secured the title.
Barrichello wins title in his first year
Barrichello has already won several national titles in Brazil, namely in 2014 and 2022 in the local stock car series. In 2025, Barrichello competed in NASCAR Brazil for the first time – with great success.
He told Motorsport.com Brazil, a sister platform of Formel1.de, “It was easy for me to get used to the car. I fell in love with this racing series.”
This is also reflected in his individual results: Barrichello finished third in his first race in Campo Grande and scored his first victory on only his third race weekend in Sao Paulo – which he immediately followed up with a second. Although Barrichello did not start in Taruma, he went on to score three victories in four races in Cascavel and Velo Citta.
Rubens Barrichello in Formula 1
And he did so at the age of 53 – 14 years after the end of his Formula 1 career. This had begun in 1993 with Jordan and ended in 2011 with Williams – after a total of eleven victories for Ferrari and Brawn. Barrichello’s first victory in Hockenheim in 2000 was particularly memorable: He crossed the finish line on dry tires despite the onset of rain.
In 2002 and 2004, Barrichello finished second in the world championship behind his Ferrari teammate Michael Schumacher, and in 2001 and 2009 he finished third in the world championship.
Thanks to his latest success, Barrichello will be able to attend the traditional NASCAR Champions Gala in Charlotte, USA, in 2025. This is where all NASCAR title holders receive their official championship trophies at the end of the year.
Alongside Barrichello, another former Formula 1 driver from Brazil took to the track in 2025: Ricardo Zonta finished 18th overall, however, failing to achieve any top 10 results.
