Néstor Girolami confirmed as Rafaela winner after Werner’s exclusion

Peugeot Total Argentina’s Néstor Girolami has been confirmed as the victor of last weekend’s round of the Argentinian Super TC 2000 Championship following the exclusion of original race winner Mariano Werner’s Lincoln Sport Group Ford Focus, and the penalty applied to Girolami’s Peugeot team-mate Agustín Canapino.

Girolami had led the race heading into the last lap, but contact between the two drivers, both touted for potential full-time moves to the FIA World Touring Car Championship next year, allowed Werner to get past in his Ford Focus, with Canapino crossing the line second and Girolami third.

The stewards decided that Canapino’s pass was unreasonable and reversed the positions of the two drivers, which proved critical when the rear-wing of Werner’s Ford Focus was found to be illegal and was excluded from the race.

The team appealed, but this was heard and lost on Tuesday, with Girolami now confirmed as the winner of the fifth round of the 2015 season.

The board in its meeting on June 30, considered the appeal filed by the Sports Director of Lincoln Sport Group, Mr V. Hugo Cuervo, in relation to the exclusion of car No. 9 of STC 2000 competition on June 28 at Rafaela Autodrome.

After analysis of the basis of the presentation, the CDA Board decided not to grant the request to reduce the penalty of exclusion.

The revised results mean Fiat’s Facundo Chapur leads the standings on 90 points, with Toyota Team Argentina’s Matías Rossi eight adrift, while Peugeot team-mates Girolami and Canapino are now tied on 80 points each.