Leonel Pernía wins Race 1 at Rosario

Leonel Pernía scored victory in Sunday’s Race 1 at Rosario, host of the first round of the 2025 TCR South America season, after a long battle with his team-mate Nelson Piquet Jr.

Polesitting Honda driver Tiago Pernía with team-mates Leonel Pernía and Piquet Jr. overtaking for the lead and going three-wide with Peugeot driver Pedro Cardoso at the start.

Leonel Pernía took the lead ahead of Cardoso and Piquet, with Tiago Pernía in fourth place. Fabián Yannantuoni sat in fifth position, followed by his team-mate at Paladini racing Santino Ballerini. Raphael Reis dropped to seventh at the start, with his team-mate at W2 Pro GP Fabricio Pezzini right behind.

The safety car was called into action as Yannantuoni went off the track on lap four and was stranded on the gravel trap.

The race went green again on lap six, with Cardoso attacking Leonel Pernía for the lead. Tiago Pernía found his footing and set the fastest lap, pushing Piquet forward and with the top four leaders very close together.

Leonel Pernía managed to open a discreet gap at the front as Cardoso came under fire from Piquet and had to focus on defending from the Brazilian.

Piquet’s efforts didn’t go in vain, and the Honda driver managed to overtake Cardoso on lap eleven, with the reigning champion now under attack from Tiago Pernía.

Further back, Reis lost in the battle with Pezzini and Juan Ángel Rosso, being overtaken by both and falling to eighth place on lap 13. But disaster struck for Pezzini, who limped back to the pits with a rear-right puncture at the end of the lap.

At the front, Piquet continued pressuring Leonel Pernía in the fight for the lead, with both Hondas opening a two-second gap over Cardoso with two laps to go.

Ballerini spun off the track, losing a wheel and hitting the barriers, on the last lap as he was running in fifth position in his debut race.

Leonel Pernía claimed the victory at the chequered flag, followed by Piquet and Cardoso completing the podium.

Tiago Pernía was fourth, followed by Rosso and Reis, with Luís Ramírez in seventh place. Mariano Pernía and Adrian Chiriano, both driving Hondas, followed, with María Nienkötter completing the top ten.

“I want to thank the whole team Squadra Martino Honda YPF,” said Leonel Pernía after the race. “We did a good start and were able to hold off Cardoso and Piquet. Then, it was a question of keeping Piquet behind, we are in a good shape and we have to continue.”

“It was a race to learn about the car, the racing and the tyres,” said Piquet Jr. “We have to think and work together in the team for Race 2.”

The TCR South America returns to the track at 12:13 local time (17:13 CEST) for Race 1.