By Kiko Porto
When I joined RAFA Racing Team to drive the Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2 this year, the goal was clear from day one: go and win the VP Racing SportsCar Challenge championship.
Now here we are at the last round of the season at Road Atlanta, and we’re in position to make that happen. It’s been a really special year. From the team to Toyota, everyone believed in this program, and we put in the work to make it a success.
Sure, we had a couple of issues along the way, but honestly, the flow of the season has been amazing. The points are in our favor now—technically, just starting both races should be enough to clinch the title.
But that’s not how I approach racing. I’m always going for wins, and that won’t change this weekend.
The moment I’ll never forget is Daytona. It was my first time racing there, and it’s such an iconic track.
To come away with two wins and a pole on that weekend made it even more special. Those victories right at the start of the season gave me so much confidence and set the tone for the rest of the year.
The Supra has been a blast to learn. Because it has the shortest wheelbase, it’s so quick to rotate and change direction, which really helps in tighter corners. The flip side is that in high-speed corners you have to be careful, because the car can move around a lot. But once you understand that balance, it’s a really rewarding car to drive..
Not every weekend was completely without issue. At COTA, we were probably the fastest we’ve been all season, but a DNF just a few laps from the end of Race 2 meant we didn’t get the results to match our pace. That was tough, but it also showed that this championship isn’t just about speed—it’s about being consistent and finishing the races.
Sharing this program with my teammate Ian Porter has been a big positive. It’s both of our first seasons in the Supra, so we’ve been learning together from the beginning.
We usually like the same things in the car, which makes working with the engineers really productive. He’s also a really quick learner. If I tell him to brake a little later or try a different line, he’ll be doing it the very next session.
It’s been great to see how much he’s improved this year, and I think having each other as a reference has pushed us both forward.
The team environment at RAFA has been incredible. Kevin (Conway) makes it clear—he expects us to win. That pressure could feel heavy, but it’s actually motivating. At the same time, he and the engineers have trusted me to make calls, even if that means making mistakes and learning from them.
That’s helped me grow a lot as a driver. Plus, Ian and I have also been helping the Michelin Pilot Challenge side of the program by gathering data early on weekends for Rafael (Martinez) and Jim (Jonsin), which has been another cool way to contribute.
Winning this championship would mean so much. It would be the first IMSA title ever for the Toyota Supra, which is historic.
Toyota has won with Lexus, but never with a Supra, so to be the driver who brings them that first championship would be very special.
For me personally, it would also be my first sports car title after winning championships in open-wheel racing. To prove I can win in both disciplines is a big step for my career and for what comes next.
This season has already been unforgettable, but now it’s about closing it out the right way. I’m so thankful to RAFA Racing Team and Toyota for trusting me with this program, and I can’t wait to get back in the car at Road Atlanta and go for one more win before we celebrate.
