RÚBEN VAQUINHAS JOINED BY MICO MINEIRO FOR GT4 AM TITLE DEFENCE

RV7 Team has confirmed its entry in all four scoring rounds of the 2026 Iberian Supercars season with an Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4, fielding a driver pairing that blends continuity with fresh momentum, as Mico Mineiro joins Rúben Vaquinhas for what promises to be a particularly demanding campaign in the GT4 Am division.

After two seasons alongside Pedro Bastos Rezende, Rúben Vaquinhas begins a new chapter in the series while maintaining the same ambition that led him, in 2025, to secure the GT4 Am titles across the three championships that make up the Supercars Endurance platform – Iberian Supercars, Campeonato de Portugal de Velocidade and Supercars España.

With the competitive landscape expected to be even stronger this season, the Portuguese driver has made no secret of his targets for the upcoming season.

“For 2026, my goal is to win the titles again, even with the increased level of competition in the championship. At the same time, I want to keep progressing and working consistently to take the next step in my career, with the clear ambition of moving up a division,” said the RV7 Team driver, whose car will be run with technical support from Gianfranco Motorsport.

The arrival of Mico Mineiro represents one of the key new elements in the line-up. The driver from Castelo Branco will make his debut in the championship after building a consistent track record in other circuit racing categories, where he has established himself as a Gentleman Driver of recognised potential. Teaming up with Rúben Vaquinhas therefore marks a natural step in his sporting progression, now within a more demanding competitive environment.

The reigning GT4 Am champion across the three championships also highlighted the importance of the new partnership, not only on a sporting level but also from a human perspective: “this year I will also have the opportunity to share the car with Mico Mineiro, a driver I admire not only for his talent and vast experience on track, but also for the values he stands for. As he is also a businessman, we share the same vision, discipline and level of commitment, both on and off the track. I believe this partnership will be a huge asset, allowing us to grow, learn from each other and raise the bar even further throughout the season. On top of that, Mico has a great sense of humour, so I’m sure that alongside the results we’ll also share plenty of great moments and good laughs during the year.”

From Mico Mineiro’s side, the enthusiasm for the new challenge is clear, in a debut that combines personal ambition with a strong structural alignment.

“I was very excited to receive the invitation from Rúben Vaquinhas to share the wheel of the Aston Martin. As a great admirer of Aston Martin, that was the icing on the cake! I owe this excellent opportunity to Rúben, and together with my sponsors we decided to accept it – it’s a great source of pride for all of us,” he said, adding: “although our friendship is recent and still growing, I have a deep admiration and respect for Rúben for the way he conducts himself, which helped me make the decision knowing that his presence will bring us many positive moments. The fact that the technical side will be handled by Gianfranco Motorsport, a team I have been with for the past two years, also made the whole operation much easier. I truly believe that Ginho Rodrigues may well have had a hand in creating this opportunity.”

The driver also highlighted the natural progression of his career and the competitive weight of the Iberian racing series.

“After competing in Caterham series, I see this step as a natural one. Knowing that Supercars Endurance represents the highest level of circuit racing in the Iberian Peninsula, I believe that being part of Gianfranco Motorsport will allow me to perform at the required level and help Rúben in his ambitions to fight for victory in the Am division. In what marks my 34th year connected to motorsport, I couldn’t have asked for a better sign or a better start – it’s incredibly exciting. As someone who has long admired this championship, I’m delighted to join such an exclusive field. I wish everyone a great season,” concluded Mico Mineiro.

The 2026 season gets underway on 16–17 May at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal.