CECILIA RABELO Claims First Porsche Sprint Victory & Second Place at Portimão

July 1, 2025

GRRL! SUMMARY:

CECILIA RABELO delivered her breakthrough weekend in GT racing, claiming her maiden Porsche Sprint Challenge Sport class victory at Portimão followed by a second-place finish in Race 2. The rookie showed she belongs in sports cars after a stellar transition from Brazilian F4, where she became the first woman to score pole position in the series. Her Portuguese debut proved she’s adapted quickly to the demanding Porsche 991 GT3 Cup machinery.
The weekend showcased RABELO’s racecraft under pressure, particularly her aggressive restart moves and defensive driving against seasoned competitors. After qualifying on class pole with a lightning-fast lap, she executed a brilliant inside move at Turn 1 in Race 1 and later held off multiple challengers to secure her first GT victory. Even when dropping positions early in Race 2, she fought back with stunning overtakes to reclaim class leadership before settling for second.
RABELO’s performance at the technically challenging Portimão circuit demonstrated her preparation and adaptability – she topped the first practice session and consistently ran in the overall top ten against more experienced drivers. Her physical conditioning paid dividends in the Portuguese heat, and her simulator work translated perfectly to the real-world elevation changes. This breakthrough weekend positions her as a serious contender for the Sport class championship with the season heading to Estoril next.