Street lamps glinted off the sun-baked asphalt of Vila Real as the Iberian Supercar Endurance Championship roared into its third round. For Gracie Mitchell—stepping into the high-pressure cockpit of a Tockwith Motorsport Ginetta G55 alongside teammate Luca Staccini—the weekend would mark a fierce statement of intent. 

Vila Real’s unforgiving circuit is no venue for hesitation. Tight chicanes, zero runoff, and roaring grandstands demanding perfection. Yet, amid the heat and intensity, Gracie and Luca navigated the chaos with poise—and twice brought their machine home on the podium in the GTX class. What unfolded over two 50-minute races was nothing short of a coming-of-age for this rising superstar behind the wheel. 

“I knew Vila Real was going to be a test,” Gracie said after Sunday’s podium. “Everyone told me the track was brutal, but I didn’t expect it to feel this intense—walls so close, no room for error. Honestly, I loved it.” 

Race 1: A Chaotic Baptism of Fire  

With a great qualifying done, and media duties fulfilled which saw huge crowds and long queues to meet the drivers in a local shopping centre, Saturday dawned with a torrential downpour, throwing strategy into disarray. As the field jostled through early safety car periods and changing grip conditions, Luca found himself right in the thick of it where he delivered a clean, aggressive opening stint. 

They fought through the storm, locked in battle for the GTX podium. When the rain stopped and the sun returned, Luca handed over to Gracie with their position intact with Gracie balancing composure with urgency. With many teams falling to mechanical woes or misjudged pit calls, the Tockwith duo capitalised, securing a brilliant second-place finish—their first podium together in the series. 

“I think we just stayed cool,” she reflected. “There were cars bouncing off barriers, others struggling with the wet–dry crossover, but Luca and I kept talking, kept it calm. I’m proud of how we adapted on the fly.” 

Race 2: Precision and Persistence Under Pressure 

Sunday’s race was no less brutal. This time the sun beat down, and with it came a different kind of stress—heat soak, tyre degradation, strategic juggling. Gracie took the opening stint, and it quickly became clear she had found an even higher gear. 

Lap after lap, she reeled off competitive times, slicing through traffic with an efficiency that belied her age. The circuit’s infamous tight barriers didn’t phase her; she drove with precision, confidence, and above all, patience. 

“There’s this moment where you just settle in,” she said. “The first few laps, it’s chaotic—but then it’s like something clicks. I trusted the car, trusted my braking points. I could feel where the grip was, where to push.” 

Though a minor error late in the race caused by the aggressive curbs threatened to derail their podium bid, the pair dug deep. When the chequered flag fell, the Tockwith Ginetta finished third in class—marking their second podium in as many days. 

“Honestly, it’s not even about the trophies,” she added, grinning. “It’s about proving to myself that I can hang with this level of competition. That I can push, take risks, and come out the other side. This weekend felt like a huge turning point. ” 

A Rapid Rise: Talent Refined Under Pressure 

Gracie’s early test sessions in Portimão drew attention, but it’s in the white-hot pressure of competitive race weekends that her talent is truly blossoming. At Vila Real, she didn’t just survive the most dangerous circuit on the calendar—she thrived. 

“The biggest shift for me has been mental,” she explained. “Learning how to reset mid-race, how to stay sharp when the tyres start to go, how to trust myself even when the radio’s quiet. Every time I get in the car, I feel more like I belong.” 

Working alongside the experienced Luca Staccini has accelerated her growth. The synergy between the pair is evident both on and off track, with seamless pit transitions and mutual respect fuelling their momentum. 

“Luca’s been incredible. We approach things differently, but that’s made us better as a team. He’s helped me with the data, with setup decisions, and in return I’ve been pushing hard to bring the pace.” 

Now a Serious Contender… 

Two podiums at Vila Real don’t just confirm potential—they reshape expectation. What was once a season focused on learning and experience is now wide open with opportunity. With consistent points and a strong standing in the GTX class, Gracie and Luca are now in genuine contention for the championship. 

“We’re not just here to learn anymore,” Gracie said, her tone shifting. “We’re here to fight for wins. I know I still have so much to work on, but weekends like this tell me it’s possible. And that’s a crazy good feeling. I was also delighted to see such a huge female presence all weekend too!” 

The momentum is real—and so is the threat she poses to more experienced rivals. 

Eyes Forward: Valencia and Beyond 

With the Iberian Supercars series now shifting to the high-speed curves of Valencia in September, soon followed by Jerez and Estoril, the championship narrative is heating up. But Gracie remains focused on the basics. 

“Every circuit teaches you something new,” she said. “Vila Real taught me how to manage fear, how to race with millimetres. Valencia will be a whole different test—faster, more open, but just as demanding. I’m ready.” 

Final Word 

Gracie Mitchell’s weekend in Vila Real was more than a highlight—it was a statement. In just two races, she stepped out of the shadow and into the spotlight as one of the fastest-developing drivers in the paddock. Calm in chaos. Fast under pressure. Hungry for more. 

She doesn’t just belong here—she’s becoming one of the drivers to beat. 

“I think that’s what excites me the most,” she said, pausing with a quiet smile. “I’m only just getting started.”