From Brazil to Europe with winning ambitions
A 14-year-old Brazilian, Rafael Câmara has a passion for racing. He is currently competing at the highest level of world karting in FIA Karting competitions. After early beginnings in his native country, he moved to Europe to make progress alongside the top drivers. He is preparing to move into the top category of karting next year before thinking about his future in motorsport.
From a competitive family
Rafael discovered karting at the age of five after his older brother tried this sport without feeling enough motivation to continue. Too young to get behind the wheel, Rafael insisted that his family keep his brother's kart until he could start racing. This is how he completed his first laps at the wheel once he had reached the required age of six years. He then followed in the footsteps of the drivers of the family: his great-grandfather and his uncle, but perhaps even more so of his grandmother, a young woman passionate enough to become one of the first drivers in Brazil between the ages of 17 and 19.
Passion in the blood
Once he discovered driving a kart, Rafael never wanted to stop. From his first racing season in 2011, he became Vice-Champion in the north-east region of Brazil where he lives. He won several Brazilian Championships then participated in the Florida Winter Tour in Rotax Micro Max to increase his experience.
Focus on Europe
On the old continent, karting competitions are of the highest standard, especially in Italy, a true nursery of champions. This is where Rafael discovered, thanks to the encouragement of his parents, the famous 60 Mini category, the school of champions. He then met a man who would play an important role in his young career, Giorgio Pantano. A World Champion and double European Champion in karting, the Italian driver had managed to climb to Formula 1. He is now a team manager recognised for his talent in finding and training young hopefuls.
A real driver
With Pantano, Rafael really started to learn the driving profession on the Italian tracks. In his Birel ART, he quickly progressed at the age of 11 years. In 2017, he won his first victory at the Sarno circuit and finished 5th in the WSK Super Master Series. He was ready to take an important step and make his debut among the best Juniors in the world.
Overcoming challenges
Racing remains a very demanding environment. Rafael had to use all his strength of character to continue learning in OK-Junior. His natural combativity both behind the wheel and in everyday life gave him the strength to continue despite the inevitable disappointments. Particularly consistent, and able to quickly adapt to different situations, he constantly enriched his experience as the races continued while making it a point of honour to continue to obtain excellent educational results.
Towards new horizons
In 2019, he again joined his mentor Giorgio Pantano for an early season with the Birel ART team, again in the OK-Junior category, an important moment in his career. In search of more performance, Rafael then joined the British team Forza Racing, the World Champion in 2017, with the goal of continuing among the specialists of the OK category next season to the heights of the discipline.
In search of success
His grandmother can be proud of Rafael. The young Brazilian has already managed to stand out among the best hopefuls in international karting. He now dreams of developing all the elements necessary to be able to win. With his talent, will and experience, he now has all the cards in hand to achieve his goal, guided by the only role model that inspires him, the great Ayrton Senna.