The Mil Milhas de São Paulo race, a true marathon of speed and endurance, challenges drivers and teams to push their limits over 12 hours of intense racing. And it was precisely in this challenging scenario that a group of motorsport enthusiasts, known as Trozobas Racing, decided to make history.
What started as a simple message in a WhatsApp group transformed into an epic journey to the Mil Milhas starting grid.
In early 2022, Osvaldo Kusano, one of the members, already well-known at São Paulo track days, boldly proposed in a WhatsApp group of friends: "Does anyone want to race the Mil Milhas next year?" What seemed like a joke quickly became a serious challenge for the group members. Among them, Filipe Martins, Daniel Gonçalves, and Antônio Tavares Júnior stood out, courageous enough to embrace the idea. From then on, the journey to turn the dream into reality began.
With an initial plan to build a car from a Fiesta, they soon realized it would be more feasible to acquire a Corsa 2.0 from the OTO Team, experienced in endurance races, which was already equipped with a PR-4 ECU and a TDL 4.3 Pro Tune. Thus, they sought to train and adapt the car for the long race. Due to some unforeseen circumstances, they decided not to participate in the Mil Milhas race in 2023, but to compete in other events to be better prepared for their desired race. Despite setbacks, such as an engine breakdown during practice, the team persisted. They participated in some rounds of the Super Liga in 2022 and completed the full season in 2023, achieving a respectable third place in the championship.
Their participation in these events in 2022 and 2023 allowed them to extract maximum information about the vehicle and driving, all with the help of the PR-4 ECU and TDL 4.3 from Pro Tune. With this technology, the drivers were able to clearly and strategically visualize what they could improve and fine-tune, thus preparing for the dreamed-of Mil Milhas. Now with the car finely tuned and with track knowledge and driving strategies, they decided they were ready for the ultimate challenge: the Mil Milhas in 2024.
Intensive preparation involved technical adjustments to the car, obtaining the necessary licenses, and forming a dedicated support team. During the race, they faced various obstacles, from accidents to Safety Car interventions. But nothing shook the determination of the FlatOuters, who persevered until the end. As they crossed the finish line after 12 hours of intense racing, the FlatOuters of Trozobas Racing Team not only completed the Mil Milhas but also etched their name into the history of Brazilian motorsport.
What started as a WhatsApp message became an epic journey of friendship, determination, and passion for motorsport. For these drivers and their support team, the Mil Milhas represented more than just a race: it was the realization of a dream and proof that, with planning, effort, and teamwork, anything is possible.
Read the full article on FlatOut. Source: Leonardo Contesini, Feb/2024.