Third championship for López at Potrero De Los Funes

José María López has taken his third Argentinean TC 2000 title in the final round of the Super TC 2000 Championship at Potrero De Los Funes, with fifth place enough to secure him the crown despite rival Néstor Girolami winning the race.

After setting the fastest time in qualifying, López lost his duel with former Honda team-mate Leonel Pernía in the Super 8 qualifying races on Sunday morning and had to start fifth for the race. A steady race in the PSG16 Team-run Ford Focus saw the 29-year-old hold his position at the front whilst Renault Lo Jack Team’s Emiliano Spataro led the way.

Spataro needed López to DNF to stand a chance of lifting the title, even with the race victory, but a late race puncture put Spataro out of the race and gifted the lead to Peugeot Cobra Team’s Néstor Girolami, with Peugeot team-mate Facundo Ardusso completing a 1-2 for the French manufacturer.

Last year’s champion Matías Rossi finished in third for Toyota, but that wasn’t enough to retain the title. López’s title is his first since the 2009 season, winning with the independent PSG16 Team despite starting the year with the Pro Racing team with which he competed last year, with the Fiat Linea.

Despite manufacturer support behind the Peugeot, Toyota, Honda, Renault and Chevrolet teams, the PSG16 Team pulled off a surprise title with López and the Ford Focus, despite the loss of Ford’s support over the winter period.

José María López also becomes the first champion of the new Super TC 2000 era, with the cars now equipped with British engine builder Radical’s V8 engine.