There could be no better end of the season for Joao Vieira, who waved the Brazilian flag with the national green-gold anthem at the Adria International Raceway, thanks to his success in race-2, after winning the podium with a great second place in the first race.

The 16-year-old Brazilian driver with Antonelli Motorsport ends with a win, a second place and the title of vice-champion in the Adria Winter Trophy, his first European season in open-wheels, a well-deserved result, after a year of strong growing in the Italian F.4 Championship powered by Abarth.

Back on the circuit where he opened in the Tricolour series, Joao has taken advantage of all the experience gained in a little more of four months:

 “I’m very satisfied for with Joao this weekend. A second place and, especially, the victory that we’ve missed in the Italian F.4”, his Giovanni Minardi concludes. “He has been the author of amazing overtaking, both in race-1 and race-2. Unfortunately, we missed the pole which could have given us the victory of this Trophy.

"A week before championship, we started from scratch, without knowing the car or the tracks, and four months later we got a victory”.

“This was his first season in an open-wheel, coming directly from karting, and his growth in each race is the most important signal of the value of this guy”.

“Finally, there’s the win  that I’ve so long chased. I’m really happy for how the weekend went at Adria. Ending the season with a second place, a win and the title of vice-champion is absolutely not bad”, Joao Vieira says, smiling. “The Italian F.4 Championship was really challenging and allowed me to grow and learn a lot. I’ll certainly take advantage of this experience next year”.

Now, Joao leaves Italy returning to Brazil, before leaving for Las Vegas. “I’ll go a few days in Brazil, at home, and then, prepare the Supernationals kart race, scheduled for  November 23rd.*