Ivan Machado Perez wins full-season Skip Barber Formula Race Series ride for 2025

The Skip Barber Formula Race Series will have a new name on the grid for the 2025 season. In another successful case of iRacing-to-reality, thanks to the Skip Barber Racing School and the 2024 Skip Barber Formula iRacing Series, Ivan Machado Perez from Spain has won a ride in a real-world open-wheel racing seat next year.

Machado competed against two other finalists from the Skip Barber Formula iRacing Series—Brazil’s Victor Miranda and the United States’ Matt Bussa. The trio recently took part in the 3-Day Skip Barber Racing School program at VIRginia International Raceway.

During the program, the finalists competed both on and off the track, lapping in the Skip Barber Racing School fleet of Mygale Formula 4 race cars while also working on their marketability, media skills, and other non-racing aspects of being a racecar driver.

All three of the drivers came into the program with varied levels of prior real-world racing experience, and all saw an opportunity with the Skip Barber Formula iRacing Series to potentially restart or even fully kick off a real-world career. On the simulator, they competed against hundreds of other drivers looking for that same opportunity, but stood out amongst their peers in the final results, allowing them to take the next step in attending the school.

In Machado’s case, he began karting at eight years old, graduating into Formula-style cars, including the Formula 4 when he was 15. At 19, his funding ran out, and he turned to iRacing to continue honing his skills. A member since 2018, Ivan has done just that, and now has that opportunity to get back on track in the real-world.

“I’ve been on iRacing for five or six years, mainly racing in prototypes and formula race cars,” Ivan explained during the 3-Day school. “I started on iRacing because a couple of years ago, I was also racing in real life. You couldn’t train all weekends and train all days, so the urge to get into sim racing in order to develop my skills a bit more, and to evolve as a racing driver came, and everyone told me that iRacing was a place to go and the platform to really use to develop your skills.”

The decision to join the Skip Barber Formula iRacing Series was not a difficult choice for the aspiring driver. “Back in March, when the announcement came that they were going to do this virtual championship, and the top three would go to the official shootout, I don’t know why, but I just said ‘why not, let’s give it a go. Why not get involved in it and try it out? Maybe you don’t win anything, but maybe you get a big prize?’”

It did work out for Ivan, who scored plenty of points over the five event, 10-race season. He wound up finishing third in the overall championship, behind Miranda ahead of Bussa. “Overall, already being here, being able to drive the formula car for three days, being able to get back behind the wheel, it’s already a big prize. I’m enjoying it a lot and I already feel fortunate for being able to do this.”

Before being named the winner, Ivan said it would mean the world to him if he could pull it off. Now he gets to look forward to racing a full schedule next season. Check out Part 1 of the Skip Barber Formula Race Series Shootout interviews from the 3-Day school session.

Our iRacing-to-reality stories continue to grow, and like Ivan said, why not get involved and try it out? Right now, those looking to get involved can sign up and get 50% off a new iRacing membership. Already have one? iRacing members can renew and get 25% off of a one or two year subscription! If the Skip Barber Formula iRacing Series returns in 2025, it could be you with a real-world ride! Visit iRacing.com/blackfriday for more information on how to signup or renew today!

About iRacing

The world leader in the online racing simulation and gaming market, iRacing was founded in 2003 by Dave Kaemmer, co-founder of Papyrus Design Group, and John Henry, principal owner of the Boston Red Sox and Liverpool Football Club and co-owner of Roush Fenway Racing. iRacing has developed dozens of formal partnerships in the motorsport industry to help create the most authentic racing simulation in the world, including with NASCAR, INDYCAR, the FIA, Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team, and numerous other car manufacturers, tracks, and racing series. Alongside its PC simulation, iRacing owns two additional game studios and produces the official console games of NASCAR (beginning in 2025) and the World of Outlaws, as well as the fantasy off-road racing game ExoCross. Learn more at www.iRacing.com.

About the Skip Barber Racing School

With international racing experience, celebrated skill, and the firm belief that competitive race car driving was teachable, Skip Barber founded his legendary racing school in 1975. Since that first class, over 400,000 students have become racers and champions.

Today, we are the world’s largest automotive education and entertainment company offering driving, off-road, corporate and group events, and racing schools at the finest venues in America. Our Skip Barber Race Series serves as the ultimate training ground for the next generation of racers. Skip Barber Racing fields entries in TC America, Toyota GR Cup North America, IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, IMSA Mustang Challenge and USF Pro Championships. Our innovative OEM programs elevate the finest automotive marques, and our bespoke corporate programs build teamwork and recognize outstanding achievement.

No experience rivals the Skip Barber Racing School. For more information on our programs, call us at 866-932-1949, visit us online at skipbarber.com and follow us on social media at #skipbarberracingschool/@skipbarber.

To learn about the Skip Barber Formula iRacing Series, visit https://www.skipbarber.com/iracing-series/. For more information about iRacing and for special offers, visit www.iracing.com.

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