Stock Car
Goiânia
Mercado Livre Racing has announced its lineup for the upcoming Goiânia stage, with 18-year-old talent Caio Chaves stepping in as Helio Castroneves prepares for a historic fifth victory at the Indianapolis 500. Chaves, a rising star in Brazilian motorsport, will make his Stock Car debut on May 16-17, dates that clash with Castroneves’ qualifying sessions for the iconic American race.
Caio Chaves, currently in his third year of competitive racing, captured the Porsche Cup Challenge title in 2025 with an impressive eight consecutive wins out of 12 races. He now competes in the IMSA Michelin Pilot series in the United States. Mentored by veteran driver Thiago Camilo, Chaves began his career in track days before making a splash in the Porsche Cup in 2024, where he claimed victory in the Trophy class and scored ten wins in the Challenge Rookie division.
For Chaves, the opportunity to join Stock Car came as a complete surprise. He acknowledges the magnitude of the challenge but is thrilled to race with the Mercado Livre Racing team, which operates alongside A.Mattheis. “Making my Stock Car debut with a team like Mercado Livre Racing is a dream for many drivers,” Chaves said. “It’s one of the most competitive categories in the world, and racing alongside Thiago, who is both my manager and coach, is very special. We compete together in the U.S., and being here in Brazil with a team he knows so well will help me maximize my performance.”
The announcement was made on Monday night when Camilo presented Chaves with a miniature replica of the Mercado Livre Racing Stock Car, featuring the number 54 and Chaves’ name. “Caio has grown immensely over the past two years. He has the potential to debut in Stock Car with a structured team like Mercado Livre Racing,” Camilo noted. “He’s young and has only three years of experience in motorsport, but his focus will be on learning and adapting to the category’s high level of competition.”
Helio Castroneves, a key driver for the team, praised the decision. “Living this season with Mercado Livre Racing has been incredible, and receiving this support as I chase a fifth win at Indianapolis makes it even more special,” Castroneves said. “It’s the biggest challenge of my life, and knowing the team is with me on this journey gives me extra motivation.” A victory on May 24 would make him the all-time winningest driver in the Indianapolis 500 history.
Despite being absent from Goiânia due to qualifying commitments in the U.S., Castroneves plans to keep a close eye on his teammates. “It’s great to see the team supporting a young and talented driver. I’ll miss racing in Goiânia alongside Thiago and Cesar, but I wish Caio the best debut—and I hope he takes good care of my car!” he said with a smile.
Caio Chaves is set to drive the No. 54 car in Goiânia, carrying the hopes of a team that balances its pursuit of glory in both Brazilian and international motorsport.