Indy Lights champion in 2008 (which followed him winning the North American Toyota Atlantic crown the previous year) who progressed to the IRL in 2009. This was after seven years of racing in the US, having moved there in 2002 as the reigning Brazilian Formula Junior Chevrolet champion. Raphael the moved into the American Le Mans Series in 2012 and then moved into the new US Sportscar series in 2014, with some stock car racing in his homeland as well, a situation he repeated in 2015. However at the end of the year, he failed a drug test at a stockcar event which earned him a two year ban from racing and could've possibly ended his racing career, despite Matos' assertion that the medication taken was for treating tumours in his shoulder. In 2018, Matos was back, racing in Brazilian touring cars. Matos, who now lives in the US and has joint citizenship, was in Trans-Am in 2021 and the GT4 America Series in 2022. He returned to Trans-Am in 2024.

Biography last updated 16 Mar 2024