In TCR South America Barrio wins again as Pezzini secures the title

In TCR South America’s season finale at San Juan Villicum, Jorge Barrio took the second win of the Toyota Corolla GR-S, while fourth place in Race 1 was enough for Fabricio Pezzini to secure the Drivers’ title. Juan Ángel Rosso win an action-packed second race and finished runner up in the championship. 

Race 1 – Pezzini was on pole after a thrilling Qualifying in which him and Raphael Reis posted the two fastest laps covered by 39 thousandths, demoting Barrio to third, a further 47 thousandths behind. Rosso, fourth fastest, was excluded for underweight.

Pezzini made a good start and led from Barrio and Bernardo Llaver, while Reis was fighting with Matías Cravero for P4. The safety car was deployed in lap 2, after an incident between Franco Farina and Fabio Casagrande. Racing resumed after one lap with Pezzini chased by Barrio, Llaver and Reis, while there was a tough battle for P5 between Cravero, Juan Manuel Casella, Javier Scuncio, Rosso, Matías Milla and Fredrick Balbi. Scuncio spun off after contact with Casella, and Rosso moved into P5. In lap 7, Barrio stole the lead from Pezzini who was also passed by Llaver and Reis; one lap later, Reis overtook Llaver for P2. There were no further changes, Barrio scored Toyota’s second win ahead of Reis, Llaver, Pezzini who secured the title, and Rosso.

Race 2 – The pole sitter was Figgo Bessone on his maiden appearance in the series with a PMO Racing Peugeot 308, Pezzini’s teammate Márcio Basso was on P2. At the start, Basso was faster than Bessone, but the latter took the lead in the opening lap, while Casella defended P3 from Scuncio, Llaver, Pezzini, Milla and Reis. An incident between Balbi’s Alfa Romeo and Franco Farina’s Peugeot prompted the safety car into action. The green flag was waved in lap 5; Llaver, Pezzini and Scuncio delivered a thrilling fight for P2, while Barrio and Reis made contact in the battle for P7. Up front, Bessone was closely chased by Llaver and Pezzini, while Scuncio joined the trio. In lap 7, Llaver took the lead passing Bessone on the outside at T1 and tried to pull away. After several attempts, Pezzini passed Bessone for P2, while Scuncio went wide and lost positions. At the beginning of lap 9, while trying to defend P3 from Reis, Bessone lost his car and crashed into Pezzini’s. The safety car was deployed once again. Racing resumed in lap 11 with Llaver leading from Barrio, Rosso and Reis who had passed Milla for P4. In lap 13, Llaver and Barrio began fighting for the lead, running door-to-door until they clashed; Llaver got the worst and half-spun. Rosso seized the opportunity to pass both and take the lead; he won the final sprint, beating Barrio by less than three tenths, with Llaver third, five further tenths behind. After the race, the Stewards imposed a one-second penalty to Barrio who dropped to third behind Llaver.

San Juan – Race 1

1. Jorge Barrio (Toyota Gazoo Racing, Toyota Corolla GR-S), 12 laps

2. Raphael Reis (W2 Pro GP, CUPRA Leon Competición), 1.329

3. Bernardo Llaver (W2 Pro GP, CUPRA Leon Competición), 2.697

San Juan – Race 2

1. Juan Ángel Rosso (Squadra Martino, Honda Civic Type R), 16 laps

2. Bernardo Llaver (W2 Pro GP, CUPRA Leon Competición), 0.885

3. Jorge Barrio (Toyota Gazoo Racing, Toyota Corolla GR-S), 1.273

Championship points

1. F. Pezzini 486 pts; 2. JÁ. Rosso 460; 3. R. Reis 432 

Picture: TCR South America/Hernán Capa