Nelson Piquet Jr claims maiden TCR South America win in Velocitta finale
Nelson Piquet Jr claimed his maiden TCR South America race in the second and final race of the weekend at Velocitta in Brazil.
The Honda YPF Racing driver started from the reversed grid pole position and claimed the lead as the lights went out while Enzo Gianfratti, who started second, stalled.
Lynk & Co driver Fabian Yannantuoni made a strong start from sixth on the grid to snatch second place before the end of the first lap.
Disaster struck Yannantuoni’s Paladini Racing team-mate Juan Angel Rosso who tangled with Peugeot driver Marcos Regadas during the first couple of corners.
The contact sent Rosso off into the wall and retirement while Regadas was disqualified from the race for the incident.
The incident triggered the safety car for a couple of laps and when racing resumed, Raphael Reis (Cupra) overtook Mariano Pernia (Honda) for fifth place.
Reining champion Pedro Cardoso (Peugeot) attacked Yannantuoni for second place at mid-point of the race. But the PMO Racing driver’s attacks faded after a couple of laps and Cardoso instead came under attack from Leonel Pernia (Honda) in the fight for third.
Leonel Pernia made the move stick for third place with six minutes left of the race.
Piquet Jr won the race close to eight seconds ahead of Yannantuoni while Leonel Pernia was just below ten seconds adrift in third.
Cardoso was fourth ahead of Raphael and Leonardo Reis of W2 Pro GP.
Leonel Pernia heads the standings on 531 points while Cardoso is second on 408 and Piquet Jr is third on 403.
The next TCR South America race will take place in Brazil on November 14-16 at a yet to be announced venue.
