TMG Racing has been on the Brazilian F4 grid since its initial season in 2022. The team also competes in other prominent national championships, including Império Endurance Brasil and – most notably – Stock Car, where they are the home to former F1 driver Felipe Massa. After finishing third in the team standings in 2022 and second in 2023, they have now secured the team championship for 2024. Here’s what the drivers and team principal had to say to Feeder Series as they reflected on their dominant year.

By Laura Anequini

When we asked Filippe Forti – TMG team principal – if there had been any changes in approach that impacted the team’s performance compared to 2023, he said, “The main change was listening to and identifying the differences between the drivers and working individually with each of them.” The team also reworked their mechanics and engineers team, which Forti affirms was one of the decisions that contributed to their success this year.

The learnings of the past year also shaped the mindset for the returning drivers. Álvaro Cho, who contended for the drivers title until the very end, explained that the previous year’s challenges were seen more as a learning moment.

“The challenges of 2023, which in our case were many, helped me deal with the challenges of this year in the best possible way,” Cho said. “And even with difficulties, regardless of what they are, we always managed to overcome the problem in the best way and with our heads held high”

The new approach has proven to be successful, as at least one driver from the team secured a podium finish in every weekend of the championship. Cho, Rafaela Ferreira and Arthur Pavie, most experienced drivers on the team, fought for wins all season long. All three drivers told Feeder Series that teamwork was essential for the results they had this season: “The organisation and coordination of the entire team have been crucial to the positive results,” Pavie said.

This season was a season of many firsts for the team. Ferreira and Pavie had their first wins in the category this season, which they describe as their most memorable moments from the year. 

“We were always so close, always on the podium, so when first place finally came, it was really special. Seeing the whole team happy and cheering made it, without a doubt, the most significant moment of the season so far,” Ferreira said. 

Cho, who had already won in the category in the previous seasons, told us that winning the race in the F1 support round was a moment he will always remember. 

“There couldn’t have been a better way to win a race for the first time at Interlagos, in heavy rain, alongside the Formula 1 event. I remember getting off the podium and heading back to the pits when I saw Hamilton driving Senna’s McLaren in the rain, taking the ‘Laranjinha’ corner.”

Among so many firsts, this year also marked the debut of Ciro Sobral, Celo Hahn and Filippo Fiorentino in Brazilian F4. Sobral raced the full season, while Hahn and Fiorentino joined the team for the last three rounds.

Sobral, who described his first season on the championship as a “a season for learning, getting to know the F4 car, understanding single-seaters, and building a solid foundation for the next steps in my career,” started the year strong. Already in the first round at Velocitta, he finished second in race one. 

“It was somewhat unexpected, but I was very happy and gained a lot of confidence after that podium,” Sobral told Feeder Series. “It was definitely a great starting point for the season.” 

Fiorentino also had a similar situation, having joined the team for round two in Interlagos and took victory in race one. 

“We came here to Interlagos in April at the last minute, and we managed to win race one. We did a great job with the team and established a really good relationship. So, we came well-prepared and highly motivated for the next stages. That was the most memorable moment so far. I hope there will be more to come,” Fiorentino recalls.

Although it was Fiorentino’s first time competing in Brazilian F4, it was not his first experience in F4 championships, as he also participated in Spanish F4 this year. When asked about the differences he noticed between competing abroad and in Brazil, he explained: 

“The difference between the cars in Europe and here is quite small (…) It’s the same tires, almost the same setup, depending on the track. And now that they’ve adjusted the brakes, the brakes are the same in Brazil as in Europe, so it’s even more similar now. The tracks vary a little, with some tracks here having slightly more rubber, but apart from that, everything is very, very similar.”

Fiorentino wasn’t the only new face in the team’s line-up for the remainder of the season. In the final three rounds, TMG also welcomed Celo Hahn to their line-up. Hahn, whose family has deep roots in various national motorsport championships, shared his thoughts on the experience. 

“The team has been helping me a lot with my development this year (…) I’ve been gaining a lot of experience and staying strong throughout.” 

“I’m very happy with how things are going, and I’m looking forward to next year with great anticipation. This year has been more about preparation, but next year, I see a big opportunity to maybe fight for some victories,” he affirms.

If Brazilian F4’s goal was to better prepare the drivers between the transition from karting to international racing, this is definitely working for TMG drivers. Cho already went racing abroad this year for rounds five and six of FRECA, while Ferreira is confirmed as a VCARB-backed driver in F1 Academy. Additionally, Fiorentino will continue in Spanish F4 next year. Reflecting on the value of the championship, Fiorentino emphasizes that it “serves as a very efficient training ground for competing abroad next year.” 

Similarly from their performance in other national championships, this season reinforced TMG’s position as a dominant team in Brazilian F4. Reflecting on the team’s achievements, Forti shares his enthusiasm for what lies ahead. 

“The growth of the category and the interest shown by new talents in joining it are remarkable. In particular, our team has been highly sought after for 2025 due to the excellent work we’ve done this year, and this excites me to further develop and nurture future champions.”

Header photo credit: Rafa Catelan