RAFA Racing Club founder and driver Rafael Martinez appeared on television on KHOU 11 in Houston to discuss his introduction to motorsport, the development of RAFA Racing and his ambition to help establish Houston as a racing destination.
Martinez entered the sport only five years ago. After studying finance and economics at the University of Houston, he built a successful career in finance and commodity trading before purchasing a McLaren and discovering he could take it to the racetrack.
“About five years ago, I went to the track for the first time,” Martinez said. “I found out that I could get on track with it, and that’s kind of how it all started.”
While Martinez enjoyed driving, he recognized that the traditional track experience was not always designed for families. When he began attending events with family and friends, their garage became the center of a large social gathering that attracted others in the paddock.
That experience helped inspire RAFA Racing Club and its focus on bringing racing, family and community together.
“One of the things that we wanted to lean on was the family component,” Martinez said. “There were a lot of individuals enjoying the weekend and driving their cars, but we were coming with my family and friends.”
Martinez began developing the RAFA concept approximately four years ago after personally encountering the challenges associated with participating in motorsport. These included transporting and servicing a car, arranging coaching and logistics, and finding the right expertise to complete repairs.
RAFA Racing Club was created to bring those services together within a single community. Construction began in 2023–24 before the Houston facility opened its doors in March 2025.
The club features a country club-style clubhouse for events, race watch parties and social gatherings. It is complemented by the new RAFA Performance Centre, where RAFA Racing Team drivers and club members train and prepare for their racing seasons.
During his KHOU 11 appearance, Martinez highlighted RAFA Performance’s first-ever Open Week, scheduled for September 2–6. The event will welcome drivers, motorsport partners, club members and members of the community from Houston and across the United States.
Open Week will run daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., providing guests with an exclusive look inside the facility and an opportunity to experience the type of high-performance environment used by RAFA Racing Team drivers.
The program is built around four areas: Assess, Train & Recover, Engage and Access.
Guests will be able to experience professional driver-level assessment protocols, explore the team’s training and recovery systems, and meet RAFA Racing Team personnel, drivers and club members. Simulator sessions with drivers will also form part of the experience.
Open Week will also showcase technology from Technogym, Keiser, Senaptec, Atlantis, Thorne, Hyperice, Normatec and Precision Fuel & Hydration.
More than a traditional gym, RAFA Performance is being developed as a dedicated environment for drivers, athletes and members looking to improve their physical preparation, recovery, longevity and overall performance. Places for Open Week were limited, with registration of interest closing on August 21 ahead of a planned public opening in October.
RAFA Racing has also developed a professional competition platform to identify talented drivers and provide opportunities both behind the wheel and within the wider business.
Martinez acknowledged that the financial demands of motorsport prevent many talented drivers from building sustainable careers. RAFA aims to support its drivers while creating roles in coaching, marketing, content production, accounting and other areas.
“We wanted to build a platform where we could support drivers and identify talent that we could develop,” Martinez said. “We’re giving them the opportunity to have a sustainable career.”
Toyota sits at the center of RAFA Racing Team’s 2026 competition program. Working with Toyota Gazoo Racing North America, the team provides a driver-development pathway from Toyota GR Cup North America into competition with the Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2.
RAFA’s Toyota program spans Pirelli GT4 America, the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge and the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge. Beyond Toyota, the team also competes in Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin, Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America and McLaren Trophy America.
RAFA has also expanded into stock-car racing through the ARCA Menards Series, giving the Houston-based organization a presence across one-make, GT4, endurance, sprint and stock-car competition.
Houston remains central to Martinez’s long-term vision. He believes becoming a genuine racing destination requires professional infrastructure, experienced people, quality facilities and compelling reasons for visitors to come to the city.
RAFA Racing is preparing to open a clubhouse in Austin, close to Circuit of The Americas, while pursuing wider expansion. Martinez said Houston will remain the organization’s headquarters as its footprint grows.
“Our goal is to expand globally,” Martinez said. “Having the headquarters be in Houston means there is always going to be a reason for people from the outside to come and visit the Houston location.”
