Photo:

Agustín Canapino sets double-pole position in Santa Fe

By

Agustín Canapino has clinched both pole positions for Super TC 2000 double-header at the streets of Santa Fe. The Chevrolet YPF driver will have a close battle with Renault’s Facundo Ardusso and Emiliano Spataro.

Peugeot’s Facundo Chapur had set the first time during the Group B outing (the order was B-A-C), of 1:37.005, followed by Esteban Guerrieri, who had led Practice 2, but damaged his Toyota Corolla after making contact with the wall on his flying lap.

Later, Chapur was beaten by Bernardo Llaver, at the wheel of the Fiat Petronas’ Linea, but it was his team-mate Javier Merlo who then put his Fiat at the top when crossing the chequered flag. At that point, the order was: Merlo, Llaver, Ledesma, Chapur, Guerrieri, Muñoz Marchesi, Yannantuoni, Farroni and Mallo.

“It was my fault, I feel really bad for the team, who had given me a great car. It was a bad strategy, we have to go ahead”, said Guerrieri about his incident.

Group A had among others, Chevrolet’s pair of Agustín Canapino and Norberto Fontana, but the first challenge for pole came from Renault’s Emiliano Spataro, who overtook Merlo at the top of the time sheet.

Renault continued to show very strong pace with Facundo Ardusso and Leonel Pernía, who shortly after took first and second respectively.

Matías Rossi proved Toyota was determined to fight hard, and set a lap that placed him fourtth, but that was soon beaten by both Fontana and Spataro.

Canapino afterwards produced an amazing lap that put him on top of 1:35.704, whilst Pernía almost crashed into the wall at the exit of the chicane when trying to catch the Chevrolet. Neither Ardusso or Spataro could overtake him.

With one group remaining, the top ten was: Canapino, Ardusso, Spataro, Werner, Fontana, Pernía, Rossi, Urcera, Merlo and Fineschi.

Group C had the privateers who were able to take advantage of the setting sun, which saw the tarmac cooler than before. Franco Riva, with privateer Riva Racing Ford Focus, climbed up to 12th. while Lucas Colombo Russell set the ninth best time in with Escuderia FE Peugeot 408, but was later excluded due to a technical infringement.

Canapino therefore secured pole position for YPF Chevrolet, just after the team had announced he will remain as part of their line-up for 2017 and 2018. Ardusso ended in second, followed by Spataro, Werner and Fontana.

Pernía was the third Renault in the top six, meanwhile Rossi, Urcera, Merlo and Sirvent rounded out the top 10.

As the qualifying format considers each drivers’ second best time to form the grid for Sunday’s race, Canapino has grabbed two consecutive pole-positions.

The night race will start at 21:00 ART, set to 24 laps or 50 minutes.