Fontana wins qualifying race

Norberto Fontana won his first race for Ford, beating Honda’s Leonel Pernía to claim pole position for this afternoons feature race.

Fontana set the third fastest time in qualifying on Saturday, but on the back of his 19th place finish in Punta del Este, didn’t earn a grid drop as did his competitors Facundo Ardusso (Toyota) and José María López (Honda).

As a result, he started from first alongside Leonel Pernía. The first start was aborted as the Lanus Motorsport Honda Civic of Daniel Belli failed to start.

On the proper start, Fontana was passed off the line by the fast starting Civic of Pernía, but managed to repass the Honda before the end of the first lap, and went on to lead the remaining 12 laps of the sprint race.

López initially seemed to struggle, falling back as far as 14th from his original 13th place on the grid – but then fought back to tenth place, and became entangled in a hard fight with Toyota’s Mariano Werner – who was unable to get ahead of Emanuel Moriatis’ Fiat Linea.

López would pass the finish line just 0.107 behind Werner to secure tenth place for the feature race – with Toyota’s number two driver and fastest in qualifying, Facundo Ardusso – starting 11th.