Leonel Pernía wins the qualifying race at Oberá

Renault Sport’s Leonel Pernía has taken victory in the Argentinian Super TC 2000 Championship’s qualifying race at Oberá. Perníá’s Fluence GT was followed across the line by Chevrolet YPF driver Bernardo Llaver, and Peugeot’s Fabián Yannantuoni.

Toyota Gazoo Racing’s Matías Rossi had set pole position in the qualifying session, after a close battle with Peugeot driver Mariano Werner.

The championship-based grid penalty system was then applied, which promoted Pernía and Llaver to the front row for the qualifying race.

Pernía kept the lead at the start, followed by Llaver and Yannantuoni, with all three breaking away from the Peugeot 408 of Facundo Chapur, Agustín Canapino’s Chevrolet and the Renault Fluence of Facundo Ardusso.

A spin by Franco Riva in his privateer Ford Focus III on lap seven forced the deployment of the safety car out on lap seven.

When the safety car came in, there was just one lap left of racing, with Pernía opening up a gap, enough to secure the win ahead of Llaver and Yannantuoni.

Facundo Chapur finished fourth, ahead of Ardusso, Canapino and Rossi.

Chevrolet’s Facundo Conta, RAM Racing’s Damián Fineschi and Werner rounded out the top ten.

The action continues tomorrow, with the feature race scheduled for 12:10 ART.