José María López takes first win of 2011

José María López has taken his first victory since switching to Fiat for this season, leading a Fiat 1-2 at Junin with Juan Manuel Silva’s Ford-YPF Focus completing the podium.

The 28-year-old Argentine but on a dominant display, ending a winless streak of 21 races in the championship he won in 2008 and 2009.

A good strategy call by the Pro Racing Fiat team saw Lopez take his mandatory pit for tyres early on lap seven, setting quick times with no traffic and emerged with the lead after the pit stop sequence had run through.

Toyota Team Argentina’s Mariano Werner finished fourth and closed in on team-mate Matías Rossi in the standings, with just four points separating them with two races to go.

Honda’s Leonel Pernía is right in the mix as well, finishing fifth at Junin and is just seven points back on Rossi in third.

The next round of the championship is at the Potrero de los Funes Circuit in San Luis on November 6th, with the championship finale recently confirmed to be taking place on the streets of Buenos Aires on December 4th.