What a journey it has been for Tatiana Calderón. Born in Bogotá, Colombia, her racing life has taken her across the globe through IndyCar, Formula 2, and endurance classics like the Rolex 24 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Now, competing full-time in the NASCAR Brasil Series, she has written her name in the record books.
A strong rookie campaign reached its boiling point on Sept. 20. After opening the same-day doubleheader at Oval de Curvelo with a fourth-place finish overall, Calderón went out and claimed victory in the second feature race, securing her status as the first female winner in the history of NASCAR Brasil and punching her ticket to the playoffs in the process.
"It was a big moment," Calderón said. "I started racing in NASCAR Brasil this year, so every track, the car and the language is all new for me. To be able to show a woman can be competitive at such a high level is incredible, and I’m extremely thankful to SG28 Racing. This project is about giving women opportunities to really shine."
Her path to this milestone began at age 9 when her older sister Paula introduced her to a go-kart track. Inspired by fellow Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya and his move to Formula 1 in 2001, Calderón chased single-seaters. Her resume grew through the Star Mazda Championship, FIA Formula 3 European Championship, and the FIA GP3 Series, highlighted by an open-wheel win at Sebring International Raceway in 2014 during the Florida Winter Series. In 2018, Sauber Motorsport (later Alfa Romeo Racing) signed her as a test driver, leading to a promotional drive at Autódromo Hermanos Rodriguez that made her the first Latin American woman to pilot a Formula 1 car.
After her time with Alfa Romeo ended in 2021, A.J. Foyt signed her for seven road course races in the IndyCar Series in 2022 before a sudden loss of funding left her without a drive. Salvation arrived from an unexpected place when international superstar Karol G reached out via Instagram. Backed by Karol G's Con Cora Foundation, Calderón kept her career alive.
Looking ahead, a move to the United States remains a possibility. Calderón recently tested a Late Model Stock Car for MCM Racing Development, run by Max Calles, opening a potential door to the ARCA Menards Series and ultimately the NASCAR Cup Series. But for now, the focus remains firmly on closing out the remaining races in her historic NASCAR Brasil season.
