A last minute deal means that Uruguayan Mauricio Lambiris will deputise for the ill Fernc Ficza at Zengő Motorsport in this weekend’s World Touring Car Championship races in Argentina.
Ficza was unable to travel to the country due to recent surgery for appendicitis, which initially left the Hungarian team with just one car entered for Dániel Nagy.
Now Lambiris, who is at the circuit anyway racing in the supporting Turismo Nacional round, has been able to secure a last-minute deal to stand in for Ficza, becoming the first Uruguayan racer to drive in the championship as a result.
The 28-year-old Lambiris recently won the Turismo Nacional round at Posadas in north-east Argentina, which in itself was the first victory for a Uruguayan racer in the championship’s 45-year history.
“It’s an amazing opportunity for me,” said Lambiris. “When I was flying here I understood that the Zengő team did not have one driver here so I tried to close the deal with the team and here we are.
“For me it’s positive. I know the circuit because we race here all the years and that will help me. I’m very excited, it’s very important, the most important race in my career.”