Fontana takes victory in Sante Fe Sunday race

Norberto Fontana won the day race at Sante Fe, and closes in on Leonel Pernía in the championship, as the latter fails to finish at the twisty street circuit.

Fiat driver Emiliano Spataro, fresh from the win the night before, held the lead at the start, leading from Fontana, but unfortunately for him a repeat win was not forthcoming as he later clipped the wall in turn one, damaging the suspension on his Fiat Linea, gifting Norberto Fontana the lead and the victory.

Soon after Fontana took the lead, the safety car was called to recover the stricken TTA Corolla of Francisco Troncoso, and the other Scuderia Fiat Linea of Ignacio Char, who were both blocking the entrance into the first corner.

Chevrolet then looked to be in a strong position, with their drivers Ortelli and Ledesma second and fourth respectively, but a failed attempt to get past the third placed Honda of José María López by Ledesma, saw the Chevy Vectra knocked down the running order, and would later retire.

Lopéz wasn’t done yet, and managed to take second place from Guillermo Ortelli, again with contact, which saw the second Elaion Chevrolet removed from the race, turning the race into a disaster for Chevrolet.

In the final stages of the race, championship leader Leonel Pernía also retired from the race, along with the two Ford-YPF Focuses of Gabriel Ponce de León and Martin Basso, which escalated the Renault Mégane of Juan Manual Silva to third place.

On the back of his win, and Pernía’s DNF, Fontana now leaps back up to second place in the standings, 18.5 points behind, with the Honda of Mariano Altuna 2.5 points behind him.