Néstor Girolami: “The start was the key”

Néstor Girolami claimed the first FIA TCR World Tour victory of 2025 for BRC Hyundai from fifth place on the grid and the Argentinian driver said the start of the race was key.

“The first thing I have to say is that I feel like a local driver here, there are a lot of Argentinians and people from there, they come to encourage me,” said Girolami to TouringCarTimes.

“The start was fundamental for the race, it was the key point for the victory.”

Girolami made a strong first lap and then overtook Cupra driver John Filippi for the lead on lap three.

“In the previous lap I saw that he braked a little bit earlier and I saw the opportunity then,” said Girolami.

“I prepared it and I was a bit far but, having the reference from the previous lap, I knew that I had good potential in my car and I went for it.”

The Argentinian driver controlled the race from then on and was not worried despite Ruben Volt and Yann Ehrlacher closing in during the final couple of laps.

“We suffered a little bit at the end with the tyres and I knew that I had to leave a little gap to be able to control the end of the race,” said Girolami.

“But we can see that the others could preserve a bit better the tyres and came close at the end, but we always had it under control, never demanding in excess and always managing the difference.

Girolami will start the third and final race from third place on the grid behind Cyan Racing drivers Ehrlacher and Santiago Urrutia, with the grid being set on the points collected in qualifying and the first two races.

“For Race 3 we are expecting a lot of action. It will be hotter, so the cars will lose more and quicker, and the tyres will suffer, so we must be watchful,” said Girolami.