The Confederação Brasileira of The red flag was raised during the ninth lap, after an accident involving Daniel Serra, Hélio Castroneves and Marcos Regadas at the entrance to the pits, and the restart grid was formed based on the positions of the previous lap.
Felipe Fraga started on pole position thanks to the reversed grid and maintained the initial lead, while Gaetano Di Mauro, his teammate and title rival, opted for an early pit stop when the rain intensified. At the time of the interruption, Di Mauro was leading the race, followed by drivers who had also switched to wet tires.
The stoppage lasted around an hour and 50 minutes for repairs to the protective barrier. With the application of the regulations, which consider the positions at the end of the lap before the red flag, Di Mauro was repositioned at the back of the field, which compromised his chances in competing for the championship.
Fraga crossed the finish line first, guaranteeing his second title for the 2025 season in advance. The victory marked the Tocantins driver’s second title in the category, nine years after winning in 2016.
Sprint race development
The race started on a dry track, but rain arrived suddenly on the seventh lap, completely changing the teams’ strategies. Vários drivers chose to remain on the track with slick tires, while others, such as Di Mauro and Rubens Barrichello, entered the pits immediately to switch to wet compounds.
The triple accident at the entrance to the pits forced the race management to raise the red flag, interrupting the competition with just over 12 minutes left on the clock. The decision to form the grid based on lap 8 benefited those who delayed the stop, including Fraga, who restarted at the front.
After the restart, the race had few laps remaining and ended under safety car conditions at times, consolidating Fraga’s victory.
Official CBA statement
The entity responsible for Brazilian motorsport clarified that the drivers involved in the accident completed lap 8 in specific positions. Daniel Serra was in third, Hélio Castroneves in ninth and Marcos Regadas in 17th before they collided into the tire barrier.
The red flag was immediately displayed for cars that had already started lap 9, making this the official stoppage lap. Pelo regulations, the restart grid uses the positions at the end of the previous lap, in this case the eighth.
This strict application of the rule avoided subjective interpretations and followed the standard protocol for interruptions in Stock Car Pro Series.
Reactions from the pilots involved
Gaetano Di Mauro expressed frustration with the repositioning, highlighting that he was leading at the time of the red flag and that the early stop strategy had been correct. The driver lost significant positions and finished the race outside the high points zone, ending his mathematical chances for the title.
Rubens Barrichello, also harmed by the decision, chose to abandon the race in protest shortly after the restart. The veteran criticized the application of the criterion, arguing that it punished those who made correct strategic decisions in the rain.
Other competitors, such as César Ramos and Guilherme Salas, indirectly benefited, completed the podium alongside Fraga in the final sprint classification.
- Felipe Fraga: winner and two-time champion
- Lucas Foresti: second place
- César Ramos: third place
- Guilherme Salas: fourth place
- Julio Campos: fifth in the race
Context of the decision by title
Felipe Fraga reached the final stage with a comfortable advantage in the general classification, needing just a few points to confirm his second title. The victory in the sprint, added to the result of Di Mauro, sealed the title with one stage to spare.
The 2025 season marked the debut of SUV cars in the Stock Car, with models such as the Toyota Corolla Cross, Chevrolet Tracker and Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross on the grid. Fraga competed for Eurofarma RC, a team that also won the team title.
The main race of the stage, scheduled for this Sunday, December 14th, at 12:10 pm, will serve to define final positions in the championship, without changing the driver champion.
Application of the regulation in rain
Variable weather conditions are common in Interlagos at the end of the year, requiring quick decisions from teams and drivers. The change to rain tires became mandatory as the precipitation intensified, but the timing of the stops divided the field.
Accidents on a wet track highlight the importance of adequate signage and quick intervention by race management. The red flag protected the competitors, allowing safe repairs to the damaged area.
Similar procedures were adopted in previous stages of the season when interruptions occurred due to weather or incidents.
Performance of other teams
Teams like A.Mattheis Vogel, with Lucas Foresti on the podium, and Ipiranga Racing, with César Ramos in third, showed competitiveness in the final restart. Pilotos as Nelson Piquet Jr. and Ricardo Maurício also scored well in the sprint.
CAR Racing, in its debut season, had drivers recovering positions after the initial confusion. Gabriel Casagrande, recent three-time champion, closed in the top ten despite initial touches.
Toyota Gazoo Racing celebrated Ramos’s podium, ending the partnership with Ipiranga on a positive note.
Preparation for the main race
The main race grid was defined in Saturday morning’s qualifying, with Guilherme Salas in pole position. Fraga will start in an intermediate position, focused on completing the stage without additional risks.
The weather forecast indicates the possibility of rain again this Sunday, which could repeat similar strategic scenarios. Equipes adjust setups for mixed conditions in Autódromo José Carlos Pace.
Stock Car Pro Series ends 2025 with a record attendance expected at Interlagos for the super final.