With a record grid and new regulations, the sixth season of TCR South America began this Friday (6) at the Circuito dos Cristais, in Curvelo (MG). In total, 23 drivers participated in the first track activities, a number that represents the largest in the category’s history, excluding rounds held in conjunction with the FIA TCR World Tour.
Read more F1: Wolff pokes Aston Martin after Honda engine choice
Among those entered in the round, six competitors are making their debut in the championship: Argentines Nicolás Fuca, Camilo Trappa, and Diego Ciantini, as well as Brazilians Enzo Falquete, Erick Schotten, and Gabriel Moura. The season also marks the introduction of the Junior Cup, intended for drivers up to 24 years old with fewer than seven race starts under TCR regulations. The new division brings together Joaquín Cafaro, Enzo Falquete, Erick Schotten, Gabriel Moura, Nicolás Fuca, Camilo Trappa, and Bruno Massa.
On the track, Friday was marked by balance. Each of the three collective test sessions had a different leader, a scenario that anticipated an intense battle throughout the weekend on the Minas Gerais track. The first collective test of the day ended with the best time from Argentine Néstor Girolami, who drove the Hyundai MSA team’s Hyundai Elantra N TCR to the top of the table and set the pace at the start of activities.
Following that, in the session held at noon, Brazilian Nelson Piquet Jr. was the fastest. With ambient temperatures exceeding 30 °C and nearly 60 °C on the asphalt, the driver took advantage of his knowledge of the circuit to record the best time of the activity.
Read more F1: Domenicali defends new regulations again, but says he «listens» to criticism
The final collective test on Friday featured Tiago Pernía, who was responsible for the fastest lap of the session that ended the day. Thus, the three initial activities of the weekend ended with different drivers in the lead.
The round’s schedule continues this Saturday with two more collective tests and the qualifying session that will define the starting grid. The races are scheduled for Sunday at 9h and 13h.
