Rubens Barrichello, Brazilian NASCAR champion

Like its American counterpart, the NASCAR Brasil splits its season into two parts, and the Brazilian champion is thus known at the end of the sixth of the nine-round championship. The final three races will be combined to determine the overall NASCAR Brasil champion. Barrichello secured the title in the first of the weekend's two races, holding a 28-point lead over his runner-up, Thiago Camilo.

“Everyone knows how much I love this competition and what a tough guy I am.”, explained Barrichello, champion in a Ford Mustang. "I'm sorry for Thiago, but there was nothing I could do. I was already on the outside, I saw his engine fail, and I ended up going inside. We're friends off the track, but when we close the visor, we fight for our own performance. In the end, the car behaved well, and even though Cacá (Bueno, Chevrolet Camaro #0, Team RC) came back strong, I managed to win. I'm very happy and very proud to win the championship."

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Rubens Barrichello was found in the paddock of 24 Hours of Le Mans !

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So it is 25 years after winning his first victory in Formula 1 that the Brazilian driver is once again experiencing great emotions, this time in his native country. Retired from F1 since the end of the 2011 season, Barrichello spent a season in IndyCar before devoting himself primarily to the Brazilian Stock Car Championship, where he won the title twice. His crowning achievement in NASCAR Brasil came during his first season in the championship.

Next November, Rubens Barrichello will be flying to the United States, where he will be honored, like all the other NASCAR champions, at the traditional end-of-season banquet. And who knows, perhaps it will be an opportunity to make some contacts and, perhaps, go and challenge the Americans on their own turf?

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