Photo: Super TC 2000 Media

Matías Rossi extends points lead with victory in Junín

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Toyota Team Argentina’s Matías Rossi now has a 52 point advantage in the Argentinian Super TC 2000 Championship after seven rounds after claiming victory at Junín, finishing ahead of the Renault Fluence of Emiliano Spataro and José María López’s Fiat Linea.

Rossi had been the fastest in qualifying, but lost out in the morning’s Super 8 grid setting heats which saw Equipo YPF Chevrolet’s Agustín Canapino start from pole position. Unfortunately for the Chevrolet driver, victory at the circuit just west of Buenos Aires wasn’t to be, falling back with a hydraulic problem after just three laps.

After Canapino’s problem, Leonel Perníá assumed the lead in the Renault Lo Jack Fluence, but a puncture in the middle of the race put the Termas de Río Hondo winner out of contention and handed Matías Rossi his fourth win of the season in the Toyota Corolla.

Emiliano Spataro crossed the line just two-tenths of a second behind Rossi for Renault, with López just behind in the Equipo Petronas Fiat.

Matias Munoz Marchesi scored a great result for the Peugeot Lo Jack Team with fourth ahead of Facundo Ardusso’s Fiat, who remains second in the championship standings after the race.

Bernardo Llaver was the second highest placed of the Toyota drivers in sixth ahead of the Honda Civic of Damien Fineschi, whilst Facundo Chapur took an excellent result for the privateer Escuderia FE team in the Volkswagen Vento, securing eighth position.

Ignacio Char crossed the line in ninth for the PSG16 Team in the Ford Focus but was later excluded for an illegal passing manouver on the Chevrolet of Franco Girolami, which promoted the Lanus Motorsport Chevrolet of Daniel Belli to ninth and Agustín Calamari’s Toyota to tenth position.

Rossi now heads to the next round of the Championship at Santa Fe with 164 points in the drivers’ standings, with Fiat’s Facundo Ardusso on 112 and Renault’s Leonel Pernía third on 90 points. Reigning champion José María López is just five points behind on 85.

The Santa Fe round of the Super TC 2000 Championship takes place on 31st August.