Photo: TCR South America

Pedro Cardoso charges to victory in first race at Autódromo de Mercedes

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Honda driver Pedro Cardoso claimed the victory in Sunday’s Race 1 at Autódromo de Mercedes in Uruguay, host of the sixth round of the 2024 TCR South America season.

Rafael Suzuki was due to start from the sixth spot on the grid but couldn’t start the race due to engine problems with his Peugeot 308TCR.

Raphael Reis (Cupra Leon VZ TCR) pulled away on the lead from the pole position at the start, followed by the Honda Civic FL5s from Cardoso, Norberto Fontana and Fabián Yannantuoni (Toyota Corolla TCR).

The safety car was called into action after Diego Noceti (Toyota Corolla TCR) spun off the track and hit the barriers. The Uruguayan driver, who is due to start Race 2 from the reverse grid pole position, was able to head back into to the pits under his own power.

Yannantuoni collided with Fontana on lap three after the race had resumed, with both drivers managing to stay on track. The Toyota driver would spin off a few corners ahead, falling in the race order.

Fontana continued in third place but would come under attack from Leonel Pernía (Peugeot 308 TCR) on lap six.

Cardoso attacked Reis for the lead on lap seven, with Honda driver overtaking for the lead after some contact between the two

Fontana went wide on lap eight, dropping to eighth place as Pernía, now third, also closed the gap to Reis.

Casella came under fire from Rodrigo Baptista (Honda Civic FL5) on lap nine in the fight for fourth, as Matías Rossi (Toyota) remained closed in sixth place.

Fontana recovered and overtook Juan Angel Rosso (Toyota Corolla TCR) for eighth place on lap ten. The Toyota driver would stop in the run off area shortly after with smoke coming out of his engine.

Rosso’s retirement promoted Thiago Vivacqua (Toyota Corolla TCR) to eighth place, followed by Enrique Maglione (Honda Civic Type R TCR) and Galid Osman (Cupra Leon VZ TCR) in tenth place.

Cardoso scored the victory at the chequered flag, with Reis and Pernía completing the podium. Casella was fourth, followed by Baptista and Rossi.

Fontana crossed the line in seventh place, ahead of Maglione, Osman and Vivacqua.

“The car is great and I’m very grateful to PMO Racing, as we won the race with 40 kilos,” said Cardoso. “We extend the lead in the championship, so I’m very happy.”

Race 2 is scheduled for 12:38 local time on Sunday (17:38 CEST)