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Bia Martins is a Brazilian touring car driver from João Pessoa, Paraíba, who’s carved out her place in Brazil’s male-dominated motorsports scene through sheer grit and a healthy dose of divine intervention—at least according to her.

EARLY YEARS

Growing up in João Pessoa, Paraíba, Bia Martins didn’t have motorsports thrust upon her—she chased after it herself. At just nine years old, she started following her father to racing championships across Paraíba, tagging along to watch other drivers compete. That early exposure planted the seed, and unlike most childhood fascinations that fade, this one stuck. Her family clearly had a competitive streak—her brother’s passion for athletics inspired Bia to pursue a degree in Physical Education, though not for the reasons you’d expect. “I decided to study Physical Education and work with the preparation of drivers because I needed a ‘plan B’ to continue working within motorsport, in case something went wrong on my path as a racing driver,” she explained. It’s the kind of pragmatic thinking that keeps you in the game when the dream gets expensive.

Eventually, Martins made the big leap from João Pessoa to São Paulo, trading her hometown for better racing opportunities in Brazil’s motorsport capital. It’s a move countless Brazilian racers have made before her, but doing it as a young woman with karting ambitions and a backup plan in driver coaching? That takes a different kind of courage.

OTHER INTERESTS

Beyond the track, Martins works as a performance coach specializing in the physical and mental preparation of racing drivers—a role born from her own experiences in Brazil’s national racing categories. She noticed a glaring gap in driver preparation at that level and decided to fill it herself. It’s not just a fallback career; it’s become her way of staying embedded in motorsports from multiple angles, helping other drivers sharpen the skills she knows are critical to survival in the cockpit.

EARLY SUCCESS

Martins built her foundation in karting, competing in the Paraíba Kart Championship from 2017 to 2019. She finished runner-up three years running—a consistency that speaks to both talent and the frustration of always being the bridesmaid. Still, those podium finishes in her home region proved she could compete, and they kept her name circulating in Brazilian racing circles.

Her first taste of touring cars came in 2020 with a single round of Formula 1600 at Interlagos, Brazil’s most iconic circuit. The following year, she made another one-off appearance in the Shell HB20 Cup’s seventh round. These weren’t full campaigns—they were appetizers, brief chances to prove she belonged in faster, heavier machinery. But they were enough to keep the momentum going and position her for what came next.

In 2023, Martins took the leap into her first full touring car season, debuting in the newly launched HRacing Cup behind the wheel of a Hyundai HB20 (#555). She finished seventh among 28 rookies and scored a podium at the series’ fourth round—a solid showing for someone adapting to tin-top racing. The season wasn’t without drama: in one race, she gained nine positions on the opening lap, climbing from outside the top 20 to P13 and ultimately finishing 14th overall, seventh among rookies. At the final round on October 29, 2023, at the Ayrton Senna Circuit, a brake fluid leak forced her retirement despite her efforts to stay competitive. “Today we had everything we needed to reach the podium, but due to a mechanical problem it wasn’t possible,” she said afterward, thanking her sponsors for sticking with her.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2017-2019: Runner-up in the Paraíba Kart Championship for three consecutive seasons.
• 2020: Competed in one round of Formula 1600 at Interlagos.
• 2021: Participated in the seventh round of the Shell HB20 Cup.
• 2023: Finished seventh in the Rookie class of the HRacing Cup in her debut touring car season; scored a podium finish at the series’ fourth round.
• 2024: Competed in her second consecutive touring car season.

INSPIRATIONS

Martins credits her father for her introduction to motorsports—those early trips to Paraíba championships laid the groundwork. Her brother influenced her educational path, inspiring her pursuit of Physical Education and, by extension, her coaching career. But when it comes to explaining how she’s navigated her racing journey, Bia goes a bit more existential. “I usually say that everything that happens in my career is a divine thing. Nothing has much explanation or human logic,” she’s said. “If I were to think about it, I wouldn’t be where I am today. So, I think that every moment I spend on the track was very important for me. Making my debut in Formula 1600, racing in the Shell HB20 Cup… All of that was the hand of God.” It’s an approach that blends faith with pragmatism—prepare for the worst, hope for divine intervention, and keep showing up.

REPUTATION

Martins has earned recognition for her ability to maximize limited opportunities and adapt to new challenges. Media coverage of her HRacing Cup debut emphasized her steady progress and composure in the face of mechanical setbacks. As one of the few women competing in the series, she’s helped establish a female presence in Brazilian touring car racing at a time when the category is still building its identity. Her reputation isn’t built on flashy wins or championship titles—it’s rooted in persistence, smart racecraft, and the ability to keep moving forward when the easier option would be to quit.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

In 2025, Martins will compete in the Turismo Nacional series, continuing her progression through Brazil’s touring car ranks. It’s another step up in a career that’s been built one calculated move at a time—no overnight success story, just steady advancement and a refusal to let setbacks define the trajectory. Whether it’s divine intervention or just good old-fashioned determination, Bia Martins keeps finding a way to stay in the race.

References:

Racers Behind the Helmet – Bia Martins Career Interview
Racers Behind the Helmet – HRacing Cup 2023 Season Recap
Racers Behind the Helmet – Bia Martins 2025 Turismo Nacional Announcement