Leonel Pernía snatches victory from Matías Rossi at Santa Fe
Leonel Pernía snatched victory from Matías Rossi in the Super TC 2000 night race on the streets of Santa Fe. The Renault Lo Jack Team driver started from second on the grid but made his way past pole-sitter and Toyota Team Argentina driver Rossi into the first corner, a lead he never lost.
The two were close throughout the race, with Rossi finishing second just four-tenths of a second behind Pernía .
Néstor Girolami stopped Toyota Team Argentina from claiming two podium finishes by climbing from fourth on the grid to third in the race. Toyota’s Bernardo Llaver started from third and held the position in first part of the race before retiring due to a mechanical problem, a fate shared by fellow Toyota driver Mariano Werner.
José María López crossed the line in fourth for Equipo Petronas Fiat ahead of Christian Ledesma’s Honda and Fabían Yannantuoni’s Renault.
Mariano Altuna dropped from eighth on the grid to eleventh in the race after having opened the fire extinguisher by accident in the race, forcing him to make a pit stop.
The race was interrupted once as Franco Vivian retired in a spectacular way on lap ten after a brake failure. The Equipo YPF Chevrolet driver spun in to the wall in high speed and was fortunate to escape without injuries, while his Chevrolet Cruze sustained a lot of damage.
Rossí still heads the championship on 186 points ahead of Pernía on 116 and Fiat’s Facundo Ardusso, who retired from the race today, who is third on 112 points. The championship continues on September 22nd at General Roca.
