Photo: TCR South America

Néstor Girolami claims lights-to-flag victory at Oscar Cabalén

By

Hyundai MSA driver Néstor Girolami converted his pole position into a win the first TCR South America race of the weekend at the Oscar Cabalén circuit in Córdoba (Argentina).

Girolami had a clean start from pole to take the lead, with fellow Hyundai driver Joaquín Cafaro in second place Leonel Pernía (Honda) close behind in third.

Camilo Trappa (Hyundai) held fourth and was under hard pressure from Honda driver Nelson Piquet Jr.

But instead it was Raphael Reis (Cupra) who was on the move early on and overtook Piquet Jr. for fifth place on lap three

Trappa had to come into the pits at the end of lap eight to replace a tyre after a scruff with Tiago Pernía who soon after managed to overtake Piquet Jr. again for fifth position.

Reis went wide over the grass on lap 14 due to a puncture. The Brazilian limped back to the pits, dropping to 16th place.

Girolami claimed the victory at the chequered flag ahead of Cafaro and Leonel Pernía. Tiago Pernía finished fourth, followed by Piquet Jr.

Fuca was sixth at the line, with fellow Lynk & Co driver Juan Ángel Rosso right behind. Juan Manuel Casella (Peugeot) finished eighth, with Enzo Gianfratti (Cupra) and Gabryel Romano (Hyundai) completing the top ten.

“It’s an incredible feeling to win again in Córdoba, I have great memories from other categories,” Girolami said after the race. “We did a good start and consolidated a fair advantage over Cafaro, and I then saw that there were some tyre troubles, so slowed down to keep them working.”

Leonel Pernía continues at the front of the drivers’ championship with 299 points, 69 ahead of Reis and 75 over Girolami.

The TCR South America field returns to the track at 13:13 local time (18:13 CEST) for Race 2.