Regina Calderoni

Regina Calderoni made history in 1984 as the first woman to compete in Brazil’s Stock Car series, piloting through a world built entirely for men with grit, determination, and zero interest in asking permission.

EARLY YEARS

Born in Venice, Italy, Calderoni moved to Brazil at just five years old. She grew up in Sertãozinho, a sugarcane city in the interior of São Paulo, where her love affair with speed began early. Racing was in her blood from childhood—she started racing at twelve years old, with her mother as her first teacher behind the wheel. It was an unconventional upbringing for a girl in mid-century Brazil, but her family didn’t flinch. Her father’s influence and encouragement fueled her passion for motorsport, setting her on a path that would eventually rewrite the rulebook for women in Brazilian racing.

OTHER INTERESTS

Beyond the racetrack, Calderoni has maintained a lifelong passion for cars and restoration. In later years, she channeled that enthusiasm into personal projects, including “Penélope 46,” a meticulously crafted Opala with a six-cylinder engine packing 300 horsepower. Even well into her sixties, she proudly showcased her work, proving that her connection to the machines she loves never dulled.

EARLY SUCCESS

Breaking into karting as a preteen in Sertãozinho, Calderoni quickly proved she could hold her own against the boys. Her early racing experiences shaped her resilience and honed her skills in an environment that offered little encouragement for female competitors. By the time she reached her twenties, she had her sights set on bigger, faster, more prestigious machines. In 1985, she connected with a Stock Car pilot and car preparer who would help propel her into Brazil’s most elite racing category. That same year, she took the leap into professional competition, making her groundbreaking debut in Stock Car—a series defined by roaring Opalas and a deeply entrenched boys’ club mentality.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 1984: Became the first woman to race in Brazil’s Stock Car series, competing twice during the Opala generation era[1][2].
• 1980s: Competed in multiple Brazilian motorsport categories, including the Brazilian Touring Car Championship[3].
• 1989: Raced a VW Passat in national competition, continuing her presence in Brazilian motorsport[4].

INSPIRATIONS

Calderoni credits her father for planting the seed of her racing ambitions, while her mother gave her the literal keys to start. Growing up in a family that didn’t see gender as a barrier to speed was rare for the time, and it gave her the foundation to push through an industry that constantly told her she didn’t belong. Her inspiration wasn’t drawn from other female racers—there weren’t any to look up to in Brazil at the time. Instead, she carved her own lane, driven by an internal fire and a refusal to be intimidated by prejudice or the track itself.

REPUTATION

Calderoni is remembered as a trailblazer who opened doors that had been welded shut for women in Brazilian motorsport. She didn’t just participate—she broke barriers with every lap, earning respect in a brutally male-dominated field. Decades later, her legacy looms large as the pioneer who proved women could compete at the highest levels of Stock Car racing. She faced prejudice, skepticism, and outright hostility, but she never backed down. “Nothing was easy,” she’s said in interviews, reflecting on the obstacles she conquered. “But I kept overcoming them.” Her influence paved the way for the next generation of Brazilian female racers, including Bia Figueiredo, who competed from 2014 to 2019, and Antonella Bassani, who made her debut in the 2020s. Calderoni’s name is invoked with reverence whenever the conversation turns to women in Brazilian motorsport—she’s the original, the one who refused to wait for permission.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Information not available.

REFERENCES

Antonella Bassani makes impressive StockCar debut – Racers Behind the Helmet
Conheça a história de Regina Calderoni, a primeira pilota de Stock Car do Brasil – TV Tribuna
De Regina Calderoni à nova geração: A ampliação das brasileiras no automobilismo global – F1 Mania
Regina Calderoni e seu VW Passat em 1989 – Mil Milhas Brasileiras
REGINA CALDERONI, PRIMEIRA PILOTO MULHER DE STOCK CAR – YouTube
ELAS PILOTAM | DE ROLE NO OPALA DE CORRIDA – YouTube
A HISTÓRIA DO AUTOMOBILISMO BRASILEIRO TAMBÉM PASSA POR MULHERES – Colecon Brasil
Rainha – Historias Que Vivemos