Cruise ship coach present in Curvelo, participating in stock car events.
Thiago Pérez, the renowned coach of Cruzeiro Basketball, stepped out of his usual court and into the world of motorsports this past Saturday. He attended the Stock Car Curvelo 2025 event, marking his first in-person experience with racing.
Pérez, who grew up watching Ayrton Senna in Formula 1, shared a special connection with the legendary racer. His admiration for Senna, combined with fond family memories of watching races, made the Stock Car Curvelo 2025 event a nostalgic and familial experience.
As he walked through the Circuito dos Cristais, Pérez couldn't help but be impressed by the structure and technology used in motorsports. He found the pit area, cars, and strategy particularly cool. The sound of engines roaring added to the excitement, although he admitted it could be a bit intimidating for newcomers.
Pérez spent time conversing with a Stock Car team chief, gaining insights into the sport. He humourously compared the responsibilities of a team chief to that of a basketball coach, adding a unique perspective to his experience.
Despite his preference for basketball coaching over racing, Pérez remains respectful and positive towards motorsports. He appreciates the grandeur and complexity of Stock Car events, and continues to enjoy observing the teams and pits in action.
However, Pérez emphasised that he sees racing as very different from basketball. While basketball is a team sport with a more straightforward strategy, racing is more individual and requires precision.
In the end, Pérez celebrated being able to follow his passion for motorsports so closely. Despite not expressing any desire to participate in racing, he is deeply interested and connected to the world of racing culture through his personal history and recent attendance at a major event in Stock Car racing in 2025.
[1] Source: Personal interview with Thiago Pérez, Cruzeiro Basketball coach.
Thiago Pérez, despite his love for basketball, found the world of motorsports fascinating after his first-hand experience at Stock Car Curvelo 2025. Engaging in a discussion with a Stock Car team chief, he drew parallels between their roles and those in sports-analysis for basketball. Conversely, he acknowledged the distinct differences between the sports, recognizing that racing demands individual precision, unlike the collaborative nature of basketball. Immersed in the social-media buzz and entertainment elements of the event, Pérez's renewed interest in motorsports extended beyond admiration for Ayrton Senna, branching into the realm of contemporary sports entertainment.
