Benavides started his karting career in 2017, when he finished ninth in the WSK Final Cup in the KZ2-class.[3] 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.[4] 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.[5]
2018-2019: First single-seater years
The American driver made his single-seater debut in the final round of the 2018 Euroformula Open Championship for Campos Racing.[6] He finished ninth in the first race, however he didn't score any points as he was classed as a guest driver.[7]
In 2019 Benavides raced for FA Racing in the Formula Renault Eurocup.[8] He scored no points, and with a best race finish of eighth in Spa-Francorchamps but was later kicked out of the points due to a post race penalty.[9] He finished 23rd in the standings having participated in 6 out of the 10 rounds.[10]
Benavides then joined Carlin for the final three rounds of Euroformula Open.[15][16] He would score points in all but one of the races that he competed in, and with a highest finish of sixth during the final round in Barcelona, he finished 13th in the standings.
2022–2023: FIA Formula 3 debut and step up to Formula 2
Having tested for Carlin during the 2021 post-season test, Benavides joined the team for the 2022 FIA Formula 3 season.[17] He struggled to score points all season, 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, scoring his only points of the season.[18] He ended the season 23rd in the standings with three points, ahead of teammate Enzo Trulli but far from other teammate and Williams Driver Academy member Zak O'Sullivan.[19] During September, Benavides contested the final day of post-season testing with ART Grand Prix.[20]
In November 2022, Benavides would compete in the Formula 2 post-season test for Charouz Racing System, partnering F2 veteran Roy Nissany at the Yas Marina Circuit.[21] Shortly after, Benavides was confirmed to drive for the outfit in 2023 alongside Nissany under the new name PHM Racing by Charouz.[22][23] He prepared for the season by competing in the Formula Regional Middle East Championship at the start of the year with Hyderabad Blackbirds by MP Motorsport,[24] 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.[25] 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.[26][27][28][29] Before the round at Spa-Francorchamps, it was announced that Benavides would be replaced by Euroformula Open racer Josh Mason.[30] Benavides did not return that year, finishing 22nd in the standings with a highest finish of tenth in the Baku sprint race.
In 2024, Benavides returned to the Euroformula Open with Team Motopark.[31] He scored his first single-seater win during the opening round in Portimão, and finished runner-up in the other two races.[32][33] He then took a further win in Hockenheim,[34] before winning twice in Spa-Francorchamps.[35] He went on to win once during each round of the remainder of the season, allowing Benavides to clinch the title with a round to spare.[36]
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