Multiple Argentine touring car championship winner Leonel Pernía will join the TCR South America series for its next event at Cascavel in Brazil, racing a Peugeot 308 TCR for PMO Racing.
Pernía is arguably the biggest name in South American motorsport yet to join the fledgling series, as he makes his début for the second round of the season.
The 48-year-old already tested the car during summer testing in Buenos Aires.
By joining the TCR South America grid, it also returns Pernía to World Touring Car racing. Having made a one-off WTCC outing with Chevrolet at Monza in 2010, he will get another taste of World Touring Cars when the FIA TCR World Tour joins with the South American series for the events at Interlagos in Brazil and El Pinar in Uruguay.
With drop scores allowing drivers to discard three race results in 2024, Pernía’s absence from the season opener does not affect his ability to challenge for the title. He will race in the series on weekends which do not conflict with his other commitments in TC2000 or Turismo Nacional.
“The truth is that it is very nice to arrive in TCR South America,” said the three-time TC2000 champion. “It’s a category that caught my attention when it started and that gave me a good feeling when I first tried the car.
“After testing the Peugeot 308 TCR, I really wanted this to happen because it is a category that is becoming more competitive every day and that has its appeal in the cars and in the championship format that can be competed not only at the national level.
“It is not only South American, but it can also be done at a global level with the same cars and that is very good for the drivers to have a vision for the future.
“Also running throughout South America is a motivation, knowing that you compete in Interlagos, in El Pinar and in the best circuits in Argentina.
“Furthermore, this new experience will be with the team that began my history in Argentine motorsports with Oscar Fineschi and mechanics who are still here today after so many years.
“The synergy is going to be immediate, now it is a matter of working and being as competitive as possible from the first moment.
“I also want to thank the category for the trust, the sponsors who trusted me and now to work to make the best of this opportunity.”
Team Manager Damián Fineschi, who races against Pernía in TC2000, believes Pernía joins the team at the right moment in its history.
“We are super excited about Leo’s arrival to the team,” said Fineschi. “We know the importance of a pilot of his calibre.
“He knows very well what he is capable of, in addition to what he has already demonstrated. He is a person who pushes the team positively and fits in at an ideal moment for us, after a learning year for PMO Racing in 2023 where we evolved day by date and a 2024 preseason with a lot of work.
“We are in an ideal moment, and we hope that together we can achieve the results we are looking for.”