Each year, even more prestigious
Buenos Aires, October 4th 2006.
The prestige of the most important event of the TC2000 calendar continues to increase. The driver lineup includes six former Grand Prix drivers: Nicola Larini, Tarso Marques, Christian Fittipaldi, Luciano Burti, Enrique Bernoldi and Norberto Fontana, three former TC2000 champions: Omar Martinez, Ernesto Bessone and Henry Martin, the division's 1997 sub-champion Walter Hernández, the 250cc Motorcycle World sub-champion Sebastián Porto, plus drivers of the stature of Alain Menú, Hoover Orsi, Anthony Reid, David Muffato, Fabrizio Giovanardi, Carlos 'Cacá' Bueno, and Robert Huff. Also included are four TC2000 champions still competing in the division, Gabriel Ponce de León [2001/03/05], Christian Ledesma [2004], Juan Manuel Silva [1999] and the above-mentioned Fontana [2002], all of whom will be giving their all towards success. The third edition of the "Buenos Aires 200 Kilometres" is already under way.
These names, heavyweights in what refers to international motor racing scene, enhance the list of guest drivers for the "Buenos Aires 200 Kilometres".
Toyota Team Argentina:
Luciano Burti [Brazil], who drove for the Formula One Jaguar Racing and Prost teams and later became Ferrari's test driver, will share Norberto Fontana's car. They will be the only driver pairing formed by two drivers who competed in motorsport's top echelon. Burti won the event's 2005 edition, co-driving a Ford Focus with Diego Aventín. Christian Fittipaldi [also from Brazil, and a former Minardi and Arrows Grand Prix driver] will co-drive the team's other Toyota Corolla with Gabriel Furlan.
Chevrolet Pro Racing Elaion:
General Motors decided its WTCC drivers should share the local machinery at this event. Alain Menu [Switzerland] , who in both the two previous editions claimed podium finishes, will share the car of Matías Rossi, who is one of this season's championship contenders. Christian Ledesma and Italy's Nicola Larini will co-drive the 2004 champion's Astra. The team's third car will be driven by Marcelo Bugliotti and Robert Huff, a British driver who is a team mate of Menú and Larini in General Motors' WTCC outfit.
Honda Petrobras Podium:
The team's two guest drivers, neighbours from the "land of the samba", have competed in the top echelon of motor racing: ex-Minardi driver Tarso Marques will be co-driver of Diego Aventín. Enrique Bernoldi, who was a test driver for the BAR team [2004] and competed in Formula One with the Arrows team during 2001/02, will share Fabián Yannantuoni's car.
Honda Petrobras Lubrax:
The other team of the "H" also convoked two drivers with plenty of experience. Britain's Anthony Reid, with a succesful career in the BTCC, and in Formula 3 and SportsCar championships, was one the leading protagonists of the first edition of the race [2004], together with Martín Basso. This year, he will again drive a Honda Civic, on this occasion with the division's 1999 champion and current standings leader, Juan Manuel Silva. Fabrizio Giovanardi has been nominated as Carlos Okulovich's co-driver. Giovanardi was 3rd in the 2005 WTCC, ETCC champion in 2001 and 2002, champion of the 2000 European Super Touring Cup, and the 1998 and 1999 Italian Super Touring champion.
Ford Berta YPF:
The reigning TC2000 champion team, directed by Oreste Berta [son] decided on two Brazilian drivers. Gabriel Ponce de León, the division's 2001, 2003 and 2005 champion, and winner of the event's first edition in 2004, will share his car with David Muffato, who was third in his country's 2000 Stock Car Light championship and 2003 champion of the Stock Car V8 division. Meanwhile, Martín Basso and Hoover Orsi [current Stock Car V8 standings runner-up, and with much experience in long-distance events such as the Mil Millas Brasileñas and the Grand-Am series in North America] will share the former's car.
Volskwagen Sportteam
The team directed by Sergio Polze is setting all its resources on this event.
Emiliano Spataro will share his VW Bora with Brazil's Carlos 'Cacá' Bueno, a driver with much experience in TC2000, as he was a member of the works-supported, Peugeot team in 2000 and 2001. The team's other car will be co-driven by Leandro Carducci and by none less than Henry Martin, the 1997 TC2000 champion.
Renault Sports TC2000 Team:
This team directed by Edgardo Fernández has formed a driver pairing which from the onset has much potential: The 1998 TC2000 champion, Omar Martinez will co-drive the Mégane of Guillermo Ortelli. In the meantime, young Lucas Benamo will have Brazil's Felipe Maluhy as co-driver. Maluhy finished 2nd in the GT2 class of the Mil Millas Brasileñas and took part in the Interlagos 500 Kilometres at the wheel of an F3 prototype.
Edival Du Pont Racing Team:
The team based at Rafaela contracted the services of Sebastián Porto. The 250cc Motorcycle World Sub-champion of 2004 will share a Chevrolet Astra with Mariano Altuna.
RV Competición:
In the team which is directed by Roberto Valle, Fabián Flaqué will share his Ford Focus with another former [1996] TC2000 champion, Ernesto Bessone. Guillermo Valle will be co-driven by José Luis Di Palma -with a vast national and international career behind him-, while Emanuel Moriatis will co-drive his Focus with Leonel Ugalde.
DTA Castrol Motorsport
The team with headquarters in the city of San Nicolás went for the huge experience of the 1997 TC2000 Sub-champion, Walter Hernández, in its search for Lucas Armellini's co-driver.
The visitors include eight Brazilian drivers [four of them ex-Grand Prix drivers], two Italians, one Swiss, two Britons, one Chilean and nineteen Argentinians.
The memories and anecdotes of the previous two editions remain in many peoples' retinas. The 2006 edition of this race, named by the press as motor racing's mega-event of the year, will leave its mark, characterized once again by the unmistakeable style of TC2000.
For more information and news about this wonderful race, please visit the new webpage in English version
Click here:
http://www.tc2000.co...ngles.php?id=12
And you will surprise with the amazing TC 2000 series..!!
