Photo: STC2000

Facundo Ardusso wins joker lap race in Mendoza

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Renault Sport’s Facundo Ardusso won the Super TC 2000 feature race in Mendoza that saw drivers take two mandatory joker laps. Chevrolet YPF’s Agustín Canapino, who started last due to an exclusion in the qualifying race, finished a strong second ahead of Toyota Gazoo Racing Argentina’s Matías Rossi.

Rossi tried to get past Ardusso at the start into the first turn, but had stay behind as Leonel Pernía overtook Néstor Girolami for third. Matías Milla tried to overtake his Sportteam team-mate Franco Riva for 17th place on the opening lap but both cars collided.

Toyota Gazoo Racing Argentina’s Julián Santero took the first joker lap of the race and moved up to third. On lap 6, Girolami entered the joker lap too and took the lead of the race.

Rossi took his first joker lap on lap 12 and emerged in the lead briefly, but Ardusso, who had the momentum from the main straight, regained the lead before the first turn.

When all the drivers had completed their first joker laps, which was mandatory to be done before lap 15, the order was Ardusso, Rossi, Pernía, Girolami, Canapino, Werner, Mallo, Conta, Bernrdo Llaver and Carlos Merlo.

Girolami retired from fourth on lap 14 due to a technical issue and forced the safety car out on track.

Straight after the restart, Canapino completed his final joker lap. The 2016 champion became a strong candidate for the race win, climbing more than 20 positions from last position on the grid. However, Ardusso took his remaining joker lap on lap 21 and reclaimed the lead from Canapino.

Ardusso won his second race of the weekend ahead of Canapino and Rossi. Pernía finished fourth in front of three Chevrolets in the form of Mallo, Llaver and Conta.

Werner, Toyota Gazoo Racing Argentina’s Damián Fineschi and Citroën Total Racing’s José Manuel Urcera rounded off the top ten.

The fourth round of the season will be held on May 20th in Potrero de los Funes, San Luis.