With 14 seasons in Turismo Carretera, Juan Martín Trucco became a reference driver for the Dodge brand and a regular name in the most popular category. Until the 10th date of 2024, which brought together a crowd at the “Oscar and Juan Gálvez” Racetrack in Buenos Aires, he had climbed to the podium 15 times and with that he was an illustrious among the non-winners until, finally, after 206 attempts, he achieved his first victory in TC. In addition, the driver from Tres Algarrobos together with Di Meglio Motorsport sealed the first praise for the Challenger model, which came to retire the old GTX of the ram brand. Julián Santero (Mustang) put this celebration at risk, although the second place gave him the satisfaction of finishing at the top of the Regular Stage of the tournament and starting the Gold Cup better to define the champion in the last five races. In addition, the popular celebration was completed with the third place of Agustín Canapino (Chevy), on his return to the country after his journey in IndyCar.
Tremendous Mazzacane fire
The first lap of the race had barely been completed when Gaston Mazzacane noticed a fire, presumably due to a fuel leak, in the rear section of his Chevrolet Camaro. At more than 220 km/h on the “Alberto Salotto” curve, the flames consumed the trunk of the vehicle and the situation became dramatic. “With black smoke inside the cockpit I couldn’t see anything, I didn’t know where to go, although I knew there were cars behind me that were watching what was happening to me,” said the driver who managed to escape in the middle of the track. Driving in the middle of the pack, about twenty drivers who were behind braked so that the former Formula 1 driver could escape unharmed and, after three laps, the competition that had Trucco and Santero battling side by side could be restarted.
The famous S-shaped corner of the Buenos Aires circuit, the initial double curve, challenged the contenders with varying results. Once the Mendoza driver was favored and in the last opportunity, which was decided after half a circuit at par, the cards allowed Trucco to sing with all his strength before the imminent victory and that his 16th visit to the podium would be, once and for all, to step on the main step. “It’s all emotion, it’s hard for me to talk because it’s been many years since I was in TC Pista with my team that I then had to close, because I won a race in 2015 that they later took away from me, because I had been winning thousands and the victory didn’t happen. Persevere and you will triumph is the saying and here we are,” said the 225th winner in the history of the octogenarian TC.
Trucco and his 16 podiums: 7 second places and 8 third places before the first triumph | ACTC Press
Satisfaction extended to Rodolfo Di Meglio, a historic team boss who, among his countless successes, stands out as a figure in the history of Roberto José Mouras. His team undertook the development of the Dodge Challenger, the least attractive car of the new generation of the TC that is being renewed to have, from 2025, all Chevrolet Camaros, Ford Mustangs, Toyota Camrys and the restyled Torino. From the Mataderos workshop, they improved their performance in a year in which criticism did not affect their self-esteem and the driver noted this, trying not to break down in the attempt: “I thank the team because it was a very bad start to the year and the sponsors who have been with us from the beginning, with the sticks in the wheels… It cost a lot but it arrived.”
Feeling supported again in the world of TC, insisted Agustín Canapino, is like being at home and he made it clear in his return to the national tracks. Canning Motorsport worked on rebuilding a Chevy so that the driver from Arrecifes can race this weekend and did not disappoint: “I congratulate the team, the drivers on the podium and the TC for filling the racetrack with a category that is at its best.” Agustín said goodbye to the Chevy model, with which he won four crowns, to join the challenge of a Camaro from his next participation. Santero also expressed his satisfaction for having been the best in the first section of the tournament and obtaining several extra points in the play off: “We met the objective of winning a race (in Viedma) and the Regular Stage. We ran aggressively, we turned over 230 km/h with the two cars side by side and I hope you enjoyed it.” With this result, the fight for the title in the Gold Cup will begin with Santero having 23 points, while with 8 units will be Mariano Werner (Mustang), Valentin Aguirre (Camaro), Esteban Gini (Camry) and Jose Manuel Urcera (Mustang); while without the bonus points that are awarded for victories in the year, the mini-tournament will start with Marcos Quijada (Camaro), Diego Ciantini (Camaro), Santiago Mangoni (Camaro), Mauricio Lambiris (Mustang), Ricardo Risatti (Camaro), Juan Bautista De Benedictis (Mustang) and Juan Jose Ebarlin (Camaro) from September 15 in San Luis.
