Photo: TCR South America

Pepe Oriola wins first TCR South America race at Interlagos

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Pepe Oriola has taken the victory in the inaugural race of the TCR South America championship at Interlagos for W2 Racing. He was joined on the podium by his team-mate Raphael Reis and Cobra Racing driver Rodrigo Baptista.

Reis started on pole position, but was beaten by Oriola at the start.

José Manuel Sapag of Squadra Martino managed to take second for a few meters but was soon overtaken by both Reis and Baptista of Cobra Racing Team.

Oriola quickly managed to pull op a gap in the lead ahead of Reis.

Sapag tried to recover third place but ran wide and was instead passed by Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce TCR driver Paul Holton for fourth place.

Further down the field 16-year-old Ayrton Chorne of Squadra Martino held sixth place throughout the 13-lap race.

Adalberto Baptista (Cobra Racing Team) and Guilherme Reischl (MC Tubarao) rounded off the top eight.

Geciel De Andrade (MC Tubarao) retired after three laps due to a technical issue.

The second race of the weekend in Brazil starts at 14:50 CEST.