Joaquin Cafaro wins hectic final race at Velocitta
Joaquin Cafaro dominated the final TCR South America race of the weekend at Velocitta, heading the field from lights to flag from the reversed-grid pole position.
Lynk & Co driver Fabricio Pezzini made a strong start from third on the grid to pass Hyundai’s Camilo Trappa heading into Turn 1.
Another driver on the move early on was reigning champion Leonel Pernia who was up to fourth place before the end of the first lap from sixth on the grid.
Eric Schotten was a non-starter in this race due to a foot injury he sustained in Race 1 after a brake failure saw him crashing hard into the barriers.
Cupra driver Raphael Reis had a tough Race 2, pitting after what seemed to be a tyre issue which dropped him from ninth place into retirement.
G Racing Motorsport driver Pedro Cardoso made a late move on Pezzini for second place with 19 minutes left of the race.
While Cardoso started to gain on race leader Cafaro, Pezzini found himself having to defend third place from Leonel Pernía, Juan Angel Rosso and Trappa.
Néstor Girolami had a tough race after a stall on the grid, fighting his way back up to finish tenth.
Cafaro won the race by just over three seconds over Cardoso while Pezzini was a distant third, close to 35 seconds from the leaders.
Points leader and Honda Racing driver Leonel Pernía came home in fourth ahead of Rosso, Trappa and Tiago Pernía.
Nelson Piquet Jr, who had pole for Race 1, rounded off the top eight.
The next TCR South America race takes place at Alta Gracia on August 22-23.
