Ricca Autosport’s CJ Sepúlveda has a very busy couple of weeks on the horizon. While the driver of the No. 78 Hyundai Elantra N1 TC EVO prepares for the weekend ahead at Sebring International Raceway for the fifth and sixth rounds of the 2026 Touring Car America season, he has a major career milestone looming just ahead: the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring.
While progress in racing is often measured in lap times and data, for CJ, the leap from last season to his current trajectory has felt far more significant. When reflecting on his first year with Ricca Autosport, Sepulveda admitted he could not have anticipated how quickly things would come together.
“If I look at where I am now compared to the start of last year, I would have never believed how far things have gone,” he said. “That was my first experience in a professional racing series, so I didn’t know what to expect. I was very nervous and stressed at my first race in Sonoma, but we ended up having a really strong year. I had several podiums and Hard Charger awards, and overall it was a very positive experience that gave me a lot of confidence. Winning the N Trophy and the N Racing Scholar Award to compete at the Nürburgring made it even more special.”
While the current season has presented a slightly slower start, Sepúlveda remains focused on development rather than results alone. His priorities have shifted toward refining his understanding of the car, strengthening his connection with the team, and preparing for the 24-hour challenge that lies ahead in Germany.
Preparation, particularly for physically and mentally demanding circuits like Sebring, has become a disciplined routine for him. Simulator training forms the foundation of his approach, allowing him to build familiarity before arriving on track. But Sebring introduces unique variables, most notably its punishing heat and famously rough surface.
“Being from Puerto Rico helps,” he added with a smile. “I’ve been racing at home recently and was at Circuit of The Americas a couple of weeks ago, so I’ve already been dealing with high temperatures. The bumps at Sebring are also iconic and challenging, so we spend time figuring out how to approach those. Overall, it’s about simulator work, knowing the track well, and not overthinking it, because it can definitely get into your head, especially with the heat.”
Behind Sepulveda’s rapid development stands Jeff Ricca, whose role extends far beyond team leadership. Before even meeting him, Ricca received a strong recommendation from Victor Gonzalez Racing, a group the team has worked with in the past, and that endorsement quickly proved accurate.
“Once we brought him in, it became clear that he checked all the boxes,” Ricca explained. “It was one of those perfect scenarios that Hyundai is looking for in an N Scholar. Some drivers are very fast but lack presence off track, while others are great socially but don’t perform as well competitively. CJ brings both.”
“Winning the N Scholar Award wasn’t just about performance,” he elaborated. “It’s also about consistency and finishing races. From what I’ve seen, CJ can reliably bring the car home every time, and that’s something that matters on a global level for Hyundai and the program.”
As their attention turns to the Nürburgring 24 Hours, they clearly recognize the magnitude of the challenge. The event is steeped in history and widely regarded as one of the toughest tests in motorsport. For Sepulveda, the mental hurdle initially loomed large.
“Physically, it’s the same routine between simulator work, stamina training, and so on,” he stated. “The mental aspect is the bigger challenge. It’s such an iconic race that it’s easy to get caught up thinking about the pressure and expectations.”
However, multiple trips to the Nürburgring earlier in the year for other races and permit sessions have helped ease that pressure.
“I’ve already broken the ice,” he said. “That has helped reduce the stress by a lot. Now I’m just excited and confident in the team and what we’re building. I’m really looking forward to the race."
It goes without saying that the Nürburgring is a particularly unique driving experience, which in turn can make it difficult to draw comparisons from other tracks in the United States. Sepulveda noted that Sonoma offers some similarities, with its elevation changes and off-camber corners, but only to a point. One of the more surprising aspects of the Nürburgring, according to him, is its rhythm.
“Even though it’s very long and technical, you don’t get as fatigued as you think you would,” he explained. “At COTA, I felt very fatigued after a 35-minute race, maybe in part due to the heat or track design. But at the Nürburgring, I’ve done three-hour stints and still felt really strong and motivated.”
Meanwhile, for Ricca, experience at the Nürburgring has reinforced a fundamental lesson that he can now pass on to Sepulveda. During his trip to The Green Hell last year, he witnessed and experienced firsthand how endurance racing is a game of discipline.
“Fifty percent of it is driving the track. The other fifty percent is driving your mirrors,” he emphasized. “That reality demands a mindset that runs counter to instinct. Being able to let a position go and think about the bigger picture is something that’s very hard to break into a racer’s mind. Drivers in other classes aren’t concerned about your race, and one mistake can ruin your entire program. It’s a 24-hour race, not a sprint. That kind of discipline takes mental training, because once the helmet goes on, it’s easy to forget everything you’ve been told.”
Ricca’s perspective is shaped by his own transition away from the driver’s seat, a shift that has allowed him to guide others using firsthand experience.
“I’ve really been enjoying it,” he expressed. “I get to share everything I’ve learned from my own experience. I had to figure out a lot of things on my own since I never had a coach or mentor, so now I can pass that knowledge on and help my own drivers in return. I understand the driver mindset, and I can help with both technical guidance and mental preparation. That kind of insight can be invaluable.”
However, the logistical aspect has been a huge undertaking. Running a full-season SRO America program while also preparing for the 24-hour event has required a great deal of time, energy, and thinking on his feet.
“It’s been pretty crazy,” he shared. “A lot of things are unpredictable and you just have to adapt. We originally thought one trip to Germany would be enough for CJ to get his A permit, but the weather canceled one event, so we had to return more times than expected. You can’t plan for things like that months in advance. But now that we’re past those hurdles, everything is more structured. We’re finishing this weekend in Sebring, getting on a plane, and heading straight to the 24-hour.”
The opportunity to represent Hyundai on an international scale, and global responsibility that comes along with it, is not lost on Sepulveda, and his gratitude and seriousness in his approach are abundantly evident. He has a deep fondness for the Hyundai community and spends as much of his free time during race weekends visiting car corrals and engaging with fans.
“It feels like a family, and I’d love to stay part of it long term,” he concluded.
To catch CJ and Ricca Autosport on track at Sebring International Raceway this weekend before they head overseas to the Nürburgring, get your #GTSebring tickets now, or tune-in to SRO’s free live streams on YouTube (GTWorld) and Twitch (SROMotorsports) and follow all the action through our social media channels and the event hashtag #GTSebring.
