Rodrigo Almeida was just eight years old when he first set foot on a karting track. It was during a visit with his father to the Automobile and Touring Club of Mozambique (ATCM), whose iconic circuit sits alongside the Maputo waterfront. A few minutes watching the cars was enough for him to ask if he could get behind the wheel. A few days later, he returned to enrol in the club's academy — and never looked back. 'I did the academy and loved the experience straight away. That's where my passion for motorsport was born,' he recalls.
Born in Maputo and raised in the Triunfo neighbourhood, he found in the ATCM the starting point for a trajectory that, little more than a decade later, has taken him to the leading championships in Europe and Asia. Under technical guidance, he began competing in karting and quickly made his mark.
Unlike many international drivers, Rodrigo did not grow up in a family connected to motorsport. Even so, his father, Joel Almeida, was always an encouragement. 'My father was with me from day one. I also had important people around me, like Rufino Fontes, who continues to follow and advise me,' Almeida told E&M.
His talent opened doors, but he quickly understood that in motorsport, success depends on far more than speed. The transition from karting to circuit racing involved considerably higher costs and forced him to secure sponsorships to sustain his career. 'That was probably the most difficult phase. Without sponsors, it would have been impossible to continue.'
While still studying at the Portuguese School of Mozambique, he balanced classes with frequent trips abroad to compete. Those efforts were rewarded with victory in the National Karting Championship organised by the ATCM — one of the most memorable moments of his career. In that category, he claimed the national title multiple times and earned the right to represent Mozambique internationally.
Rodrigo Almeida is a young Mozambican driver, born in 2004, with a passion for motorsport and a career now being forged in the diaspora.
In 2023, he moved to Portugal to pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Porto. The decision also had a strategic dimension: living closer to European circuits cut travel time significantly and allowed him to focus more on race preparation.
'I came for the studies, but also because it made the logistics of racing much easier. Before, I was losing entire days to travel.' Despite the move, he returns to Mozambique every year. 'I miss the people, the climate and the beach. I still feel that Mozambique is my home,' the driver says.
The connection to his birth country accompanies him throughout every international competition. 'Representing Mozambique means a great deal to me. I always carry the flag with me.' Today, at 22, Rodrigo has competed in more than 45 countries across Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Each championship has represented a new level of challenge and learning. 'Every race teaches you something. You encounter new cultures, different ways of working, and very experienced drivers. All of that helps you grow.'
His rise has been rapid. After claiming multiple national karting titles, Rodrigo represented Mozambique at the 2019 FIA Karting World Championship. The following year, he finished third in the Portuguese Karting Championship in Portimão. In 2021, he made the leap to circuit racing, competing in the BMW M2 Cup in Germany and finishing fourth overall among 23 drivers, while also securing a pole position and a second-place finish at Circuit Zolder. The season that followed brought one of his greatest achievements: a race victory in the DTM Trophy at the Red Bull Ring in Austria, one of the circuits used by Formula 1.
In subsequent years he consolidated his international programme, driving machinery including the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup and the Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2. He joined the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Talent Pool and accumulated podium finishes across both Europe and Asia.
'You encounter new cultures, different ways of working, and very experienced drivers.'
In 2026, he is splitting his season between the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia — where he is positioned near the top of the overall standings — and the Portuguese Velocity Championship, competing under the banner of Toyota Gazoo Racing Caetano Portugal.
Not all lessons, however, have come from victories. 'There were races where a small mistake cost me an excellent result. In this sport, everything is decided by millimetres. The important thing is to learn quickly.' His preparation has also evolved. In addition to physical training, he spends hours in the simulator studying each circuit in detail. 'It's not always possible to train in the cars because of the costs. The simulator has become essential.'
Another unforgettable experience came at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium. 'That was probably the most difficult event I have done. It is 24 hours of racing and any lapse in concentration can compromise the entire team's work.'
Alongside his sporting career, Rodrigo continues to invest in his academic formation. Studying Mechanical Engineering also gives him a deeper understanding of the behaviour of the cars he drives and allows him to communicate more precisely with the team's engineers. His next objective is to convert his junior driver status into a professional contract. 'That is what I work towards every day.'
Whenever he returns to Maputo, he makes a point of visiting the ATCM, where his dreams first took shape. 'It is special to come back here. This is where it all began and I love seeing more and more young people taking an interest in motorsport,' he says.
The driver is a member of the official Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Talent Pool programme.
In his view, karting remains the principal gateway into the sport, but he believes simulators can help lower barriers and uncover new talent. 'There are drivers who started on simulators and made it to real circuits. That could open many doors for young Mozambicans,' Almeida emphasises.
He also advocates for greater corporate involvement in developing the sport in Mozambique. 'We have a very good circuit in Maputo and a great deal of potential. With more promotion and more sponsors, other drivers capable of representing Mozambique at the highest level could emerge.'
More than a decade after that first lap at the ATCM in Maputo, Rodrigo Almeida continues to chase the same dream. The difference is that the circuits are now larger, the rivals come from every corner of the world, and he competes in the leading championships of Europe and Asia. But he still takes to the track carrying the same flag he brought with him when he first left home.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/?p=529902
