Calderón and Tomaselli forced to sit out Curvelo round as SG28 Racing’s all-female Stock Car debut hits trouble

Tatiana Calderón and Bruna Tomaselli were unable to start their 2026 Stock Car Pro Series campaign at Curvelo after their SG28 Racing new cars were delivered without crucial components, forcing the team to withdraw from the season opener.

Photo credits: SG28 Racing

The debut of the all-female lineup at SG28 Racing did not quite go according to plan, as both Tatiana Calderón and Bruna Tomaselli were forced to sit out the opening round of the 2026 Stock Car Pro Series at Circuito dos Cristais after their newly delivered cars arrived to the track without key components.

The event was set to mark the first competitive appearance for the team’s all-female team in Brazil’s top touring car championship. Instead, the weekend turned into a setback when the two new cars intended for Calderón and Tomaselli were delivered only shortly before the event and without essential parts required for their operation.

One of the female drivers with the most extensive résumés in motorsport, Calderón has competed across a wide range of top-level international categories, including the FIA F3 and FIA F2, and also served as a test and development driver in Formula 1. Her career has also taken her to IndyCar, Super Formula in Japan, as well as endurance racing in the European Le Mans Series, FIA WEC and the IMSA SportsCar Championship. Calderón signing with SG28 Racing in Sto Car Pro Series therefore represented another major step for her career.

Bruna Tomaselli, meanwhile, was preparing for her first full-time season in the main Stock Car Pro Series after progressing through the Stock Light, where she had been competing since 2023. The Brazilian had previously made one appearance in the top category in 2024 with KTF Sports and was set to step up full-time in 2026 as part of the SG28 Racing all-female project.

The opening round at Curvelo was intended to mark the start of the team’s journey in the championship, but the delivery of the two new cars quickly created major complications. Despite intense work by the team’s personnel at the circuit in an effort to assemble the vehicles in time, the lack of key components prevented the cars from being fully operational.

As a result, the team missed the collective test sessions, all practice running, and qualifying, ultimately leaving both drivers unable to take part in the race weekend.

"SG28 Racing announces that it will not participate in the races of the first round of the 2026 Stock Car Pro Series season, in Curvelo. The decision is limited to the cars of the all female team, formed by Bruna Tomaselli (BRA) and Tatiana Calderón (COL).", said the team's statement.

"The final decision was made after the qualifying session, after all attempts to put the cars on the track were exhausted."

"The two cars of the women's team were new and were delivered in the early hours of Thursday to Friday, in Curvelo. Even though it was not possible to participate in the collective test sessions held this week, no effort was spared to ensure that it was possible to participate, at least, in the official practice on Friday", the team explained. "However, both cars delivered were lacking essential components for their full operation."

"Tatiana Calderón's car, for example, lacked the ECU, essential for its operation. The part would only be delivered after qualifying, making participation in the event impossible."

"Bruna Tomaselli's car, number 97, went to the track during the second free practice session and did not complete any laps. Another attempt was made during qualifying, without any possibility of full operation and, much less, competitiveness."

"Therefore, aiming at the safety not only of Tomaselli but also of the other competitors, considering the impossibility of guaranteeing the minimum operation of the car, we opted not to compete in the first event."

"We are immensely grateful for all the efforts of the RTR Sports Team, which worked hard to get the cars onto the track. We also thank the support of competitor drivers and teams, who did everything possible to help. And to the Audace Tech team, who did everything possible to ensure the operation of the cars."

"We will be at the track on Saturday and Sunday conducting pit and sponsor visits."

With the unfortunate start now behind them, SG28 Racing will turn its attention to the second round of the season, scheduled for March 27-29 at Autódromo Internacional de Cascavel, where Calderón and Tomaselli will aim to finally begin their 2026 campaign on track.