Oconomowoc, Wisc.– Determined, savvy, and ambitious are some of the keywords to describe Bruna Tomaselli of Caibi, Brazil.
Hailing from the country that produced talents like Helio Castroneves, Emerson and Christian Fittipaldi, and the late Ayrton Senna, Tomaselli’s positive and driven personality will be prominent with Pabst Racing, her new Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship home for 2019.
The 21-year-old racer looks forward to the upcoming season as she’s ready to produce strong results with the two-time USF2000 Team Championship organization.
“I’m very excited for this season,” Tomaselli said. “This will be my third season, so I know the car, I know almost all the tracks, and with that experience and with a very competitive car, I hope to achieve great things.”
In this case, Tomaselli has the potential to accomplish great things with Pabst Racing. Making strides over the past two seasons, Tomaselli scored a career-best seventh in race one on the Streets of St. Petersburg, Florida last year.
“Bruna showed very well in recent testing with us at Sebring,” Team Owner Augie Pabst said. “We’re anticipating a very successful 2019 season with her and can’t wait to get started."
Tomaselli’s racing career kicked off in go-karts as she competed in Campeonato Sulbrasileiro de Kart races between 2007 through 2012. Graduating to Formula Junior Brazil in 2013, she placed seventh in the points standings with a podium finish.
Driving her way to Formula 4 South America in 2015, she placed sixth in the final tally and fourth one year later with five podiums and 18 top-10 finishes. Competing in four MRF Challenge – Formula 2000 events in 2016, Tomaselli looks forward to settling in with Pabst Racing for this year.
Just knocking on the door for a top-15 ranking in last year’s points standings, the potential is there for Tomaselli to produce strong finishes in 2019.
That said, the third-year racer appreciates and respects her new opportunity, noting the fundamentals that come with competing in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship.
“To compete in a big series is awesome,” Tomaselli observed. “We can learn during every race, not only on track, but outside as well with the IndyCar drivers and everything.”
Naturally, a driver like Tomaselli puts emphasis on being prepared for the grind of the schedule. With the 2019 season fast approaching, Tomaselli has worked ardently to be at her peak shape, mentally and physically.
“Yes, we drivers need to be,” she said. “I did some tests with Pabst, and I’ve been preparing myself and my body with simulator training and going to the gym every day to be in a good shape for the season.”
If Tomaselli needs to turn to inspiration during the year, she has quite the legendary icon to follow in the form of Ayrton Senna.
Additionally, Tomaselli is honored to represent Brazil for her contemporaries and for women racers aspiring to compete in motorsports.
“As a Brazilian driver, my inspiration on track and away from it is Ayrton Senna,” she noted. “He was an awesome driver and incredible person as well and that, for me, is a good inspiration. I’m very proud to be a Brazilian driver and be a woman driver as well. It is very good to be representing my country and women in a big motorsport series.”
Passion and pride happen to be the qualities embedded within Pabst Racing, which will certainly make for a potent combination with Tomaselli in 2019.
The 15-race season is just around the corner with the Streets of St. Petersburg awaiting Tomaselli and her peers on March 8-10, 2019.