Bruna Tomaselli

A Brazilian racer who’s been turning heads since her karting days, Bruna Tomaselli has carved out a reputation as one of South America’s most determined female drivers—surviving crashes, breaking barriers, and proving she belongs on track with anyone.

EARLY YEARS

Born September 18, 1997, in Florianópolis, Brazil, Bruna Tomaselli grew up loving cars, racing, and speed—the holy trinity for any future racer. At seven years old, her father handed her the keys to her first go-kart, and what started as fun quickly turned serious[4]. She raced karts from 2005 to 2012, progressing from backyard laps to actual championships, because once you get a taste of speed, there’s no going back. By the time she hit her teens, Tomaselli was ready to trade four wheels on the ground for open-wheel racing, making the leap at just fifteen years old[4].

Florianópolis, a coastal city known more for its beaches than its racetracks, wasn’t exactly a motorsport hotbed. But that didn’t stop her. If anything, it made her hungrier. The progression from go-karts to formula cars is a well-worn path, but doing it as a young woman in Brazil—where motorsport is traditionally dominated by men—required grit and a refusal to take no for an answer.

OTHER INTERESTS

No information available.

EARLY SUCCESS

Tomaselli moved into Brazil Formula Junior in 2013 at age fifteen, running a Ford-based single-seater and immediately making an impression with one podium finish in her rookie season[2]. The following year, 2014, she scored her first win and finished fourth in the championship—a solid result that proved she could compete at the front[2]. But formula racing has a way of humbling you, and her next few years were a masterclass in perseverance.

She graduated to South American F4 in 2015, where she finished sixth overall despite surviving a nasty accident at Rio Hondo that could have ended her career before it really started[2]. Instead of backing off, she came back in 2016 and finished fourth in F4 Sudamericana, racking up five podiums—including a second-place finish at Rivera behind Juan Manuel Casella and four third-place results at Pinar[2]. It was the kind of consistency that gets you noticed.

From 2017 to 2019, Tomaselli bounced between F4 and the occasional F3 race, never quite breaking through but never giving up either. She ran a partial F3 schedule in 2016–2017, finishing 19th overall in three of sixteen races[1]. In 2018, she competed in fourteen of fourteen F4 races, finishing sixteenth, with reports noting she was consistently knocking on the door of the top ten in USF2000[7]. By 2019, she ran all fifteen F4 races and finished eighth overall—her best result in the category and proof that sticking with it pays off[1].

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2014: First win in Brazil Formula Junior; finished 4th in championship[2].
• 2016: Fourth in F4 Sudamericana with five podiums, including second at Rivera[2].
• 2016: Ninth overall at Mil Milhas Brasileiras in a Hayabusa-engined prototype with the “Fantastic Four” team (Emilio Padron, Fernando Ohashi, Fernando Fortes)[2][3].
• 2019: Eighth in F4 after running all fifteen races[1].
• 2020: Pole position and podium finish in endurance racing debut at Curitiba in the Imperio Brasil series[6].
• 2021: Joined W Series with Veloce Racing; finished fifteenth overall in eight races, with a fifth-place result in her debut race at Miami and additional points at Red Bull Ring (5th) and Hungaroring[2][4].
• 2022: Twelfth in W Series F.3 with Racing X / Fine Moments, running a shortened seven-race season after the series collapsed financially[1][2].
• 2023 (approx.): Part of the first 100% female team in Brazilian motorsport history—drivers, mechanics, everyone—at the 500km Interlagos with Bia Figueiredo and Carol Aranha, finishing fifth in GT3 Cup from fifteenth on the grid and twenty-fourth overall[3].
• 2024: Eighth overall in Stock Car (TC) with KTF Sports, driving a Chevrolet Cruze V8, with a best finish of fourth at Interlagos[1][2].

INSPIRATIONS

Tomaselli’s father sparked her racing career by handing her that first go-kart, and she’s never forgotten it[4]. Among her racing heroes is Bia Figueiredo, a fellow Brazilian driver with whom she shared a car in the all-female team at Interlagos—a moment she described as an honor, racing alongside someone she looked up to[3].

REPUTATION

When Veloce Racing signed Tomaselli for the 2021 W Series, they called her a “super-fast Brazilian rookie”[4]. That wasn’t hype—it was observation. She’s known for being quick, determined, and unafraid to mix it up on track. Paula Mascari, chief mechanic of the all-female team at Interlagos, called Bruna “our main star,” and it’s easy to see why[3]. She’s not just fast; she’s a statement.

Her reputation as a barrier-breaker is well-earned. Being part of the first all-female team in Brazilian motorsport history—where every single person, from drivers to mechanics, was a woman—put Tomaselli at the center of a movement she’s proud to represent[3]. She’s been vocal about wanting to show the world what female racers can do, and she’s backed it up with results. As she put it in 2021: “The best thing about being in W Series and a Veloce driver is to show the world the potential of female racers”[4].

Peers and teams respect her work ethic and her ability to adapt. Whether it’s endurance racing, formula cars, or touring cars, she’s shown she can compete. The media has consistently framed her as a promising talent, and there’s been no drama, no controversies—just racing.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

No information available beyond 2024.

References:

[1] Speedsport Magazine Race Driver Database
[2] Speedqueens – Bruna Tomaselli Career Overview (2019)
[3] Racers Behind the Helmet – All-Female Team at Interlagos
[4] Veloce Racing – Bruna Tomaselli Interview (2021)
[5] Grand Prix Grandstand – Bruna Tomaselli Interview (2021)
[6] Racers Behind the Helmet – Curitiba Endurance Debut
[7] ThePitcrewOnline – USF2000 Performance (2018)