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Brazilians Dominate F-3 Race in Londrina

3 July 1998

Last weekend Brazilian drivers dominated the Sudam F-3 Race in Londrina
at the Ayrton Senna Circuit.

On Saturday, Leonardo Nienkotter, several times Brazilian go-kart
champion and in his 2nd F-3 season, got his first pole-position in F-3.
He was followed by Jaime Mello Jr., Rodrigo Sperafico, Duda Pamplona and
Nestor Gabriel Furlan (ARG).

On sunday, at the start, Nienkotter kept his position, while Sperafico
and Mello fought each other and touched, losing many positions. The
track was clear for Nienkotter and Pamplona, both Prop Car drivers, to
make the first 1-2 in the team's history. Tom Stefani, 2nd in the
championship before the race, started 9th and finished 10th.
Furlan, series leader, finished 4th and has now a confortable lead over
Nienkotter and Stefani.

Race Results:
1)Leonardo Nienkotter (Brasil), 43 laps, 51min32s768 ;
2)Duda Pamplona (Brasil), 43 laps;
3)Rodrigo Sperafico (Brasil), 43 laps;
4)Gabriel Furlan (Argentina), 43 laps;
5)Jaime Mello Jr. (Brasil), 43 laps;
6)Martin Basso (Argentina), 43 laps.

Championship Standings after 5 races:
1) Gabriel Furlan (Argentina), 85 points;
2) Leonardo Nienkotter (Brasil), 46;
2) Tom Stefani (Brasil), 46;
4) Rodrigo Sperafico (Brasil), 42;
5) Duda Pamplona (Brasil), 41;
6) Ricardo Sperafico (Brasil), 36;
6) Jaime Mello Jr. (Brasil), 36

Next race will on July 5th in Brasilia

Marc Zimmermann -- The Auto Channel