Photo: TCR South America

Pedro Cardoso wins opening TCR South America race at Velocitta

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Reigning champion Pedro Cardoso won the opening race of the TCR South American weekend at Velocitta in Brazil.

The Peugeot driver started third but fought his way into the lead before the end of the first lap.

Cupra driver Leonardo Reis started from pole but stalled as the lights went out, dropping him down to finish sixth.

Points leader Leonel Pernia (Honda) instead claimed the lead from second place on the grid but was soon passed by Cardoso.

Cardoso pulled away at the front to win the race by more than 2.5 seconds over Pernia.

Raphael Reis took his W2 Pro GP-prepared Cupra to third place ahead of Cardoso’s PMO Racing team-mate Marcos Regadas in fourth place.

Fabian Yannantuoni lost one place to Regadas at mid-point of the race to bring his Lynk & Co home in fifth place, over 17 seconds behind the leaders.

The second race of the weekend starts at 10:00 local time/15:00 CEST.