Photo: STC2000

Facundo Chapur wins the qualifying race at Rafaela

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Citroën Total Racing’s Facundo Chapur claimed pole position and went on to win the Super TC 2000 qualifying race at Rafaela. He was joined on the podium by Matías Muñoz Marchesi of Team Peugeot Total Argentina and Julián Santero of Toyota Gazoo Racing Argentina.

Carlos Javier Merlo spun off on the opening lap in the second chicane with his privateer Renault Fluence of Team M&M Group while in fifth place.

There was further action at the start of the race as Toyota Gazoo Racing Argentina’s Manuel Luque went off track after light contact with Facundo Ardusso when battling for seventh place, forcing the safety car on track.

At the restart, Ardusso overtook Federico Iribarne of Citroën Total Racing for sixth.

Néstor Girolami of Team Peugeot Total Argentina braked late at the second chicane a lap later when trying to overtake Agustín Canapino of Chevrolet YPF for tenth position. The two made contact and Alessandro Salerno of Peugeot Junior Team collected Girolami.

At the chequered flag, Chapur claimed victory ahead of Marchesi and Santero. Rossi and Ardusso finished in fourth and fifth, with Werner sixth. Iribarne, Canapino and Renault Sport’s Emiliano Spataro along with Chevrolet YPF’s Manuel Mallo completed the top ten.