Néstor Girolami won on the afternoon of this Saturday (20), Race 1 of the TCR South America at the Autódromo Internacional de Mato Grosso, in Cuiabá. The race, which was supposed to take place the night before, was moved to early afternoon after heavy rain hit the track. Even with the track still wet, Girolami managed to dominate the race. In TCR Brazil, Leonel Pernía secured the victory.
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Green flag for the rolling start. Néstor Girolami managed to fend off attacks from Raphael Reis and stayed in the lead. But the Brazilian’s car slowed down, and with that, Leonel Pernía took second place, followed by Tiago Pernía. Reis dropped to sixth place.
The biggest movement happened in the middle of the grid, with Nelson Piquet Jr. climbing the grid and reaching eighth position before ten minutes of the race.
The race continued more conservatively, with drivers focused on not sliding on the wet spots of the track. Keeping the car intact for Race 2 was also a priority.
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Up front, Girolami opened more than a two-second lead.
The race became more contested in the final minutes, with Erick Schotten closing in on Fabricio Pezzini to try for 12th place, but he could not make the pass.
Girolami won without difficulties. Leonel Pernía and Tiago Pernía completed the podium. Pedro Cardoso finished in fourth place, followed by Rapha Reis. Juan Ángel Rosso was seventh, while Nelson Piquet Jr. was eighth. Joaquín Cafaro and Enzo Gianfratti rounded out the top 10.
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Race 2 is scheduled for 5:15 PM, Cuiabá time.
