Benavides started his karting career in 2017, when he finished ninth in the WSK Final Cup in the KZ2-class. He then finished fourth in the WSK Champions Cup in 2018 and won the IAME Winter Cup the following year in the X30 Shifter class. Two years later he came 11th in the KZ category of the Spanish Karting Championship with two wins, having missed the final two rounds due to his racing commitments.[3]
Lower formulae
The American driver made his single-seater debut in the final round of the 2018 Euroformula Open Championship for Campos Racing. He finished 9th in the first race, however he didn't score any points as he was classed as a guest driver.[4]
In 2019 Benavides raced for FA Racing in the Formula Renault Eurocup. He scored no points, and with a best race finish of 6th in Spa but later being deemed out of the points due to a post race penalty. He finished 23rd in the standings having participated in 6 out of the 10 rounds.[5]
After a one-year hiatus Benavides made his return to racing in the Formula Regional European Championship with DR Formula RP Motorsport.[6] In the first round of the season at Imola the American retired from the first race, but finished 14th in race two.[7] He then raced in four more rounds until he left the championship midway through the ten rounds.[8]
Having tested for Carlin during the 2021 post-season test, Benavides joined the team for the 2022 FIA Formula 3 season.[9] The American generally struggled to score points, though mixed weather during qualifying at Spa allowed him to start near the front during the sprint race, from where he would go on to finish eighth.[10] He ended the season 23rd in the standings with 3 points, ahead of teammate Enzo Trulli but far from other teammate and Williams Driver Academy member Zak O'Sullivan.[11] During September, Benavides contested the final day of post-season testing with ART Grand Prix.[12]
FIA Formula 2 Championship
In November 2022, the American would compete in the Formula 2 post-season test for Charouz Racing System, partnering F2 veteran Roy Nissany at the Yas Marina Circuit.[13] Shortly after, Benavides was confirmed to drive for the outfit in 2023 alongside Nissany under the new name PHM Racing by Charouz.[14][15] Having prepared for the season by competing in the Formula Regional Middle East Championship at the start of the year, taking two points finishes and notably being involved in a crash at Kuwait Motor Town where his car flipped over several cars, Benavides narrowly outqualified teammate Nissany during his Formula 2 debut.[16][17] The year would become a struggle, as Benavides failed to score points throughout the campaign. In addition, the American would become involved in multiple incidents, namely a collision with Amaury Cordeel in Jeddah, crashes at Melbourne and Baku, and a retirement on the opening lap of the Silverstone sprint race after being spun around by Clément Novalak.[18][19][20][21] Before the round at Spa, it was announced that Benavides would be replaced by Euroformula Open racer Josh Mason.[22] Benavides did not return that year, finishing 22nd in points.
.jpg)
.jpg)
