Joao Vergara



 

Instagram:             @vergara.racing

Birthdate:               May 28, 2007

Birthplace:             Sao Paulo, Brazil

Residence:            Miami, Florida

Height/Weight:      5’11”/147 lbs.

Education:  Senior in High School

 


HOBBIES: Tennis, wake surfing, soccer, working out, Jiu-Jitsu 

CHARITY SUPPORT/WORK: Just Love Foundation/Hope Box Club 

RACING GOAL: Become a successful driver – win the NTT INDYCAR Series, win the Indy 500, win the 24 Hours of Daytona, with the 24 Hours of Le Mans 

RACING HERO: Ozz Negri (my uncle)

FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH: Soccer (Sao Paulo and Real Madrid), MMA (fighters not teams) Charles Oliveira, Alexandre Pantoja, Alex Perreira, Max Holloway and NFL (Broncos and Dolphins) 

FAVORITE SPORTS TO PLAY: Soccer and tennis 

TRAINING PREFERENCES: I prefer training in the gym to prepare for my driving, but it is also very important to spend time training in a simulator 

FAVORITE PLACES TO VISIT: Sao Paulo and Bonita, Brazil, Italy, South Africa 

BUCKET LIST ITEMS: Become a Black Belt in Jiu-jitsu, fly in a fighter jet, own a McLaren Senna 

THE ONE PERSON I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MET: Ayrton Senna – because he was the best of all time 

INTERESTING NOTE: In 2019, I won the South American wake surf championship in the junior division.

 

RACING HISTORY

2025: Finished fourth in the YACademy Winter Series for USF Juniors despite being unable to contest the final race at NOLA Motorsports Park following an incident in the previous race... took pole position at Homestead-Miami Speedway and led the point standings following the first three races after taking a fourth, a second and victory in the reverse-grid race... finished second in the opening race at NOLA Motorsport Park. 2024: Finished eighth in his rookie season of USF Juniors Presented by Continental Tire with a best finish of fourth at Road America... completed more laps than any other driver during the 16-race season (232 out of a possible 234)... finished fifth in the YACademy Winter Series for USF Juniors with one podium finish. 2023: Lucas Oil Formula Series Scholarship Shootout winner... vice champion of the Lucas Oil Formula Series. 2022: First year racing cars. 2021: First year of karting in the U.S., finishing sixth in Rok Vegas. 2020: Winner of the Copa Sao Paulo Championship in Junior Max Rookie. 2019: Finished third in Mini Max in the Copa Sao Paulo Championship. 2018: First full year of karting.