Photo: STC 2000

Facundo Ardusso wins qualifying race in Mendoza

Renault Sport’s Facundo Ardusso claimed victory in the Super TC 2000 qualifying race in Mendoza. He was joined on the podium by Chevrolet YPF’s Agustín Canapino and Toyota Gazoo Racing Argentina’s Matías Rossi.

Pole sitter Canapino and Rossi made contact in the first two turns and Ardusso took advantage to claim the lead. Then he tried to pull away from the cars behind him in the form of Canapino, Rossi, Team Peugeot Total Argentina’s Néstor Girolami and Renault Sport’s Martín Moggia.

Franco Riva retired with a suspension failure from 11th position with his privateer Ford Focus of Sportteam, as did Emiliano Spataro of Renault Sport following a spin off track.

Ardusso pulled away in the short qualifying race to win from the very first lap. Canapino tried to catch him but never managed to get close enough. Rossi held onto third, as Girolami held back Pernía for fourth.

Mariano Werner came home in sixth for Team Peugeot Total Argentina, Moggia was seventh and Chevrolet YPF’s trio Facundo Conta, Manuel MAllo and Bernardo Llaver rounded off the top ten.

The feature race will be held on Sunday at 12:00 local time, scheduled for 27 laps and featuring two Joker Laps per driver.

Drivers must take their first Joker Lap, which is calculated to be around nine seconds slower than the regular lap, before lap 15.