Porto, Choksey Confirmed in RAFA Racing Team Toyota GT4

Photo: RAFA Racing Team

Reigning IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge GSX champion Kiko Porto will step up to a full season Michelin Pilot Challenge effort with RAFA Racing Team alongside Varun Choksey in the No. 12 Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2.

While Porto and Choksey are new to the series, it will mark the Kevin Conway-led squad’s second season in Pilot Challenge competition after entering a Toyota for Jim Jonsin and team owner/driver Rafael Martinez last year, also in the GS class.

While Porto dominated the VP Challenge GSX class with nine class wins out of 12 races last year, Choksey is coming off two seasons of GT World Challenge America powered by AWS competition, most recently with Random Vandals Racing.

“The Michelin Pilot Challenge grid is stacked, and every weekend is a real fight,” said Porto. “That’s what makes this series so good, and that’s exactly the kind of environment I want to be racing in.

“I’m really excited to be sharing a car again.

“Everybody speaks very highly of Varun when his name comes up. I’m looking forward to meeting him properly, understanding how he works as a driver, and seeing how we can work together toward the goal of winning races.”

Choksey added: “I’m looking forward to it massively. It’s a new program, a new car, and Rafa (Martinez) and Kevin (Conway) have been really welcoming so far. I’m excited to get started and see what we can build together.”

The four-hour BMW M Endurance Challenge season opener will mark Choksey’s first competitive laps at Daytona International Speedway, a track that Porto swept the weekend in VP Challenge last year.

“I’ve never raced at Daytona before,” said Choksey.

“I’ve been there as a fan and loved the atmosphere. I expect drafting to be important and the pack to stay close, and for me it’s about learning as much as possible early in the season.”

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John