01/08/2026 04:27 - Deportes
The Turismo Carretera (TC), Argentina's premier stock car racing series, held its traditional grid lottery for the 10th edition of the Desafío de las Estrellas (Challenge of the Stars) on Friday, July 31, 2026, at the San Juan Villicum racetrack. This special event, corresponding to the 9th round of the 2026 season, saw Sebastián Abella (Ford Mustang) draw the coveted ball number 1, securing the pole position for Sunday's final.
Joining him on the front row will be Marcos Castro in his Torino, aiming for glory in his debut season. Abella, from Campana, expressed his surprise: I need to process what's happening. Tomorrow with the team we will analyze the strategy. Notably, his only previous participation in this format was in 2024, when he started 10th and retired 9 laps from the finish.
Originally scheduled for 9:00 PM at the Estadio Aldo Cantoni, the ceremony was moved to 7:00 PM inside the autodrome due to a three-day mourning period declared by the provincial government following a tragic helicopter crash that killed 7 people (officials, crew, and firefighters) in the Ischigualasto Provincial Park. The event was broadcast live.
To maximize excitement, this special race eliminates qualifying and heats. The grid is determined by chance, but with a key rule to level the playing field: the 53 drivers are divided into three tiers based on their championship standings.
| Pos. | Driver | Car |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sebastián Abella | Ford Mustang |
| 2 | Marcos Castro | Torino |
| 3 | Joaquín Ochoa | Dodge Challenger |
| 4 | Santiago Álvarez | Toyota Camry |
| 5 | Augusto Carinelli | Ford Mustang |
| 6 | Matías Canapino | Torino |
| 7 | Jorge Barrio | Chevrolet Camaro |
| 8 | Lucas Valle | Toyota Camry |
| 9 | Matías Jalaf | Ford Mustang |
| 10 | Nicolás Impiombato | Torino |
| 11-17 | Jakos, Ferrante, De Carlo, Lugón, Fontana, Chansard, Vázquez | Various |
| 18-35 | Todino, Quijada, Trucco, Risatti, Agrelo, Ebarlín, Trosset, Scialchi, Olmedo, De Benedictis, Bonelli, Moscardini, Gianini, Ardusso, Azar, Martínez, Spataro, Mangoni | Various |
| 36 | Facundo Chapur | Toyota Camry |
| 37 | Agustín Canapino | Chevrolet Camaro |
| 39 | José Manuel Urcera | Chevrolet Camaro |
| 40 | Christian Ledesma | Chevrolet Camaro |
| 44 | Mariano Werner | Toyota Camry |
| 45 | Otto Fritzler | Mercedes-Benz |
| 47 | Valentín Aguirre | Chevrolet Camaro |
| 50 | Matías Rossi | Toyota Camry |
| 53 | Jonatan Castellano | Dodge Challenger |
Note: Only key positions are listed. Championship leader Jonatan Castellano will start last after drawing ball 53.
Sunday's race promises to be the most demanding of the year and the longest since the 1000K of Buenos Aires in 2018. Key regulations:
The final will consist of 66 laps (41 more than a normal race and 16 more than the 2025 edition), with a time limit of 120 minutes.
All drivers must make at least one pit stop for refueling (any amount). Tire changes are not allowed.
The winner will earn 60 points (compared to the usual 40), which could completely shake up the championship.
When the race is neutralized, the pit entry will be closed to prevent any sporting advantage and controversy.
Track action begins on Saturday, August 1 at 11:05 AM with practice sessions. The grand final of the Turismo Carretera will take place on Sunday, August 2 at 12:50 PM (local time).
You can follow all the action live on Canal 9 (Argentine TV) and via the official streaming platform Motorplay. The production is handled by ACTC Media TV.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
