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Oscar Ruben Larrauri is the first Supertourism champion in South America

15 December 1997

Oscar Ruben Larrauri is the first Supertourism champion in South America

The Argentinean Oscar Larrauri clinched the 1997 Supertourism title with his second place in the last race in Buenos Aires. Larrauri that was 10 points behind Osvaldo Cocho Lopez, and had nearly lost his hopes to became champion, was surprised with Cocho's qualifying.

"I expected much more from Cocho, but he lost all his chances when he get into the grave in his second lap in qualifying and couldn't do a fast lap. So he qualified 14th, while we were starting second." said Poppy Larrauri, former F-1 driver in the late 80's.

Flavio Figueiredo, winner of the last two races in Brazil, wasn't in the best of his form this weekend and qualified and finished 5th. His teammate Javier Balzano qualified 4th and finished third in the race.

"I am very confident for next year. This year I lost 4 races and still finished 4th in the championship, with 73 points." said Nono Figueiredo. The most disappointed was Cocho Lopez, that only needed to finish 5th in the race, but his car was never on the pace as the others and he only finished 6th after starting 14th.

In the manufacture's championship BMW was champion, followed by Chevrolet and Alfa Romeo.

Next season will start in march, and for the first time all races will be covered live for all countries of the Mercosul.

There will be 6 Brazilian drivers, instead of the 2 of this season, and there will be some Chilean and Uruguayan drivers too, to take the championship away from Argentina.

Marc Zimmermann - The Auto Channel