The Honda Argentina-backed Squadra Martino team has signed Matías Cravero and Nelson Piquet Jr to join its driver line-up for the 2025 TCR South America season.
Both drivers enjoyed strong results with the team in partial campaigns in the 2024 season and will now compete full-time with the team next year.
They join Juan Manuel Casella and Enrique Maglione at the four-strong team, which has also recently confirmed it will run Hondas in the TC2000 championship, taking over from RV Racing Sport, which had run the TC2000 franchise for the past two seasons.
Piquet Jr made his TCR début with the outfit at the Interlagos round in 2024 when the series joined with the FIA TCR World Tour, scoring a category podium in his first-ever race.
Cravero, who made his TCR début in the inaugural season in 2021, took part in four events with the team, and likewise gained a podium in his first event, and followed it up with a further two rostrum visits.
All four drivers will race new Honda Civic Type-R FL5 cars for the team, which is gaining full-season backing from the regional Honda distributor.
“We are very pleased to announce the team for next year together with Honda Argentina,” said Team Principal Sebastian Martino.
“It is a huge responsibility and an important challenge to represent the brand in TCR South America and throughout South America.
“I am sure that Nelsinho, Matías, Juan Manuel and Enrique will do an excellent job. Now we just need to get the cars on track to be strong from the start of the championship.”
Piquet Jr boasts an impressive racing CV which includes Formula 1, NASCAR, Formula E (where he was the first champion) and Rallycross. In more recent years, the 39-year-old has competed predominantly in the Brazilian Stock Car Pro Series.
“I am very happy to compete for the first time in a full championship with front-wheel drive cars and to fight for a South American title again,” said Piquet.
“I thank Honda and Squadra Martino for the opportunity and I will work hard to repay the trust they are placing in me.
“I competed in a TCR stage last year at Interlagos and was very impressed with the professionalism of the category.”
Argentine Cravero has yet to take on a full season in TCR, but last season was 11th overall, despite only competing in four events.
“I am very happy to announce that I have joined the official Honda and Squadra Martino team,” said Cravero.
“I am excited and looking forward to performing well and achieving many podiums with the team. I would like to thank everyone who made this project possible.”
Honda Argentina Automobiles Victor Pruvost is pleased to be able to expand the company’s backing of the team.
“It is a pleasure to announce the official Honda team for the TCR South America and to extend our competitive spirit throughout the region,” added Pruvost.
“Together with Squadra Martino, we will be present with four latest-generation Civic Type R FL5s at the races in Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil.
“We are proud to add Nelsinho Piquet to our team and continue with Matías Cravero, Enrique Maglione, who was Trophy champion this year, and Juan Manuel Casella who was runner-up in 2024.
“I am sure that it will be a year of complete success alongside Sebastián Martino.”