# 2024 El Calafate Turismo Carretera round

The 2024 El Calafate Turismo Carretera round (commercially titled Gran Premio Shell Helix) was a motor race for Turismo Carretera held on the weekend of 23–25 February 2024. The event was held at the Autódromo Enrique Freile in El Calafate, Argentina and consisted of four races – three 'heats' of 19 kilometres, and a 'final' of 95 kilometres. It was the opening round of fifteen in the 2024 Turismo Carretera championship.

## Background

The event was notable as the debut of the series' five new models. Having almost exclusively run versions of the Chevrolet Coupé SS, Dodge GTX, Ford Falcon and Torino Cherokee for the last 50 years, as well as the Toyota Camry from 2022, versions of the Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger and Ford Mustang were admitted to the grid, along with a facelifted Camry and a 'concept' Torino.
43 competitors were entered in the event, however Martín Vázquez withdrew. Ten of the entries were new models – three Camaros and Mustangs apiece, two facelifted Camry models, one Challenger and one new Torino.

## Results
### Qualifying

Juan Cruz Benvenuti crashed in practice and withdrew from the remainder of the weekend.
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Car | Time/Gap | Pts |
| 1 | 1 | Mariano Werner | Werner Competición | Ford Mustang | 1:20.458 | 2 |
| 2 | 83 | Facundo Ardusso | RUS Med Team | Chevrolet Coupé SS | +0.010 | |
| 3 | 21 | Otto Fritzler | Pradecon Racing | Dodge GTX Cherokee | +0.077 | |
| 4 | 68 | Julián Santero | LCA Racing | Ford Falcon | +0.111 | |
| 5 | 79 | Facundo Chapur | AyP Competición | Dodge GTX Cherokee | +0.126 | |
| 6 | 7 | Marcos Landa | Trotta Racing Team | Torino Cherokee | +0.187 | |
| 7 | 19 | Diego Ciantini | JP Carrera | Chevrolet Coupé SS | +0.279 | |
| 8 | 22 | Juan José Ebarlín | LRD Performance | Chevrolet Coupé SS | +0.408 | |
| 9 | 127 | Marcelo Agrelo | Maquin Parts Racing | Dodge GTX Cherokee | +0.458 | |
| 10 | 3 | Germán Todino | Maquin Parts Racing | Ford Falcon | +0.494 | |
| 11 | 197 | Marcos Quijada | UR Racing | Chevrolet Camaro | +0.503 | |
| 12 | 13 | Juan Tomas Catalán Magni | CM Motorsport | Ford Falcon | +0.520 | |
| 13 | 161 | Kevin Candela | Candela Competición | Torino Cherokee | +0.594 | |
| 14 | 107 | Tobías Martínez | Trotta Racing Team | Torino TC 2024 | +0.623 | |
| 15 | 10 | Valentín Aguirre | JP Carrera | Chevrolet Coupé SS | +0.629 | |
| 16 | 4 | Jonatan Castellano | Castellano Power Team | Dodge GTX Cherokee | +0.659 | |
| 17 | 122 | Andrés Jakos | Toyota Gazoo Racing Argentina | Toyota Camry 2024 | +0.683 | |
| 18 | 11 | Christian Ledesma | Pradecon Racing | Chevrolet Camaro | +0.684 | |
| 19 | 177 | Ayrton Londero | Gurí Martínez Competición | Dodge GTX Cherokee | +0.712 | |
| 20 | 63 | Nicolás Bonelli | RUS Med Team | Ford Falcon | +0.728 | |
| 21 | 88 | Nicolás Trosset | UR Racing | Ford Mustang | +0.774 | |
| 22 | 121 | Elio Craparo | Hermanos Álvarez Competición | Dodge GTX Cherokee | +0.803 | |
| 23 | 172 | Santiago Álvarez | JP Carrera | Dodge GTX Cherokee | +0.834 | |
| 24 | 34 | Emiliano Spataro | Spataro Racing | Ford Falcon | +0.890 | |
| 25 | 85 | Ricardo Risatti | LRD Performance | Chevrolet Camaro | +0.894 | |
| 26 | 157 | Juan Bautista de Benedictis | DTA Racing | Ford Mustang | +0.938 | |
| 27 | 6 | Mauricio Lambiris | Maquin Parts Racing | Ford Falcon | +0.948 | |
| 28 | 95 | Agustín Martínez | Gurí Martínez Competición | Ford Falcon | +0.970 | |
| 29 | 231 | José Manuel Urcera | Moriatis Competición | Ford Falcon | +1.034 | |
| 30 | 53 | Federico Iribarne | Alifraco Sport | Chevrolet Coupé SS | +1.218 | |
| 31 | 77 | Augusto Carinelli | Fancio Competición | Dodge GTX Cherokee | +1.329 | |
| 32 | 9 | Juan Martín Trucco | Di Meglio Motorsport | Dodge Challenger | +1.389 | |
| 33 | 38 | Nicolás Cotignola | Sprint Racing | Torino Cherokee | +1.579 | |
| 34 | 94 | Lautaro de la Iglesia | Di Meglio Motorsport | Dodge GTX Cherokee | +1.688 | |
| 35 | 47 | Norberto Fontana | Hermanos Álvarez Competición | Chevrolet Coupé SS | +1.723 | |
| 36 | 12 | Gastón Mazzacane | Dole Racing | Chevrolet Coupé SS | +1.772 | |
| 37 | 5 | Santiago Mangoni | Las Toscas Racing | Chevrolet Coupé SS | +1.928 | |
| 38 | 75 | Sergio Alaux | Giavedoni Sport | Chevrolet Coupé SS | +2.095 | |
| 39 | 96 | Juan Cruz Benvenuti | Alifraco Sport | Chevrolet Coupé SS | No time | |
| 40 | 71 | Sebastián Abella | LCA Racing | Chevrolet Coupé SS | No time | |
| EXC | 23 | Esteban Gini | Maquin Parts Racing | Toyota Camry 2022 | Excluded | |
| EXC | 114 | Gastón Ferrante | AyP Competición | Toyota Camry 2024 | Excluded | |
| Source: |||||||

### Heat 1

| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Car | Laps | Time/Retired | Grid | Pts. |
| 1 | 1 | Mariano Werner | Werner Competición | Ford Mustang | 5 | 6:46.603 | 1 | 5 |
| 2 | 68 | Julián Santero | LCA Racing | Ford Falcon | 5 | +0.144 | 2 | 4.5 |
| 3 | 19 | Diego Ciantini | JP Carrera | Chevrolet Coupé SS | 5 | +1.325 | 3 | 4 |
| 4 | 161 | Kevin Candela | Candela Competición | Torino Cherokee | 5 | +5.762 | 5 | 3.5 |
| 5 | 3 | Germán Todino | Maquin Parts Racing | Ford Falcon | 5 | +5.763 | 4 | 3 |
| 6 | 4 | Jonatan Castellano | Castellano Power Team | Dodge GTX Cherokee | 5 | +6.180 | 6 | 2.5 |
| 7 | 121 | Elio Craparo | Hermanos Álvarez Competición | Dodge GTX Cherokee | 5 | +6.511 | 8 | 2 |
| 8 | 85 | Ricardo Risatti | LRD Performance | Chevrolet Camaro | 5 | +8.671 | 9 | 1.5 |
| 9 | 177 | Ayrton Londero | Gurí Martínez Competición | Dodge GTX Cherokee | 5 | +9.562 | 7 | 1 |
| 10 | 94 | Lautaro de la Iglesia | Di Meglio Motorsport | Dodge GTX Cherokee | 5 | +10.560 | 12 | 0.5 |
| 11 | 77 | Augusto Carinelli | Fancio Competición | Dodge GTX Cherokee | 5 | +11.323 | 11 | |
| 12 | 5 | Santiago Mangoni | Las Toscas Racing | Chevrolet Coupé SS | 5 | +11.420 | 13 | |
| 13 | 95 | Agustín Martínez | Gurí Martínez Competición | Ford Falcon | 2 | +3 laps | 10 | |
| DNS | 71 | Sebastián Abella | LCA Racing | Chevrolet Coupé SS | | | | |
| Fastest Lap: Julián Santero (LCA Racing), 1:20.721 |||||||||
| Source: |||||||||

### Heat 2

| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Car | Laps | Time/Retired | Grid | Pts. |
| 1 | 83 | Facundo Ardusso | RUS Med Team | Chevrolet Coupé SS | 5 | 6:43.817 | 1 | 5 |
| 2 | 22 | Juan José Ebarlín | LRD Performance | Chevrolet Coupé SS | 5 | +2.033 | 3 | 4.5 |
| 3 | 197 | Marcos Quijada | UR Racing | Chevrolet Camaro | 5 | +3.097 | 4 | 4 |
| 4 | 122 | Andrés Jakos | Toyota Gazoo Racing Argentina | Toyota Camry 2024 | 5 | +5.071 | 6 | 3.5 |
| 5 | 107 | Tobías Martínez | Trotta Racing Team | Torino TC 2024 | 5 | +6.196 | 5 | 3 |
| 6 | 63 | Nicolás Bonelli | RUS Med Team | Ford Falcon | 5 | +6.879 | 7 | 2.5 |
| 7 | 172 | Santiago Álvarez | JP Carrera | Dodge GTX Cherokee | 5 | +8.828 | 8 | 2 |
| 8 | 23 | Esteban Gini | Maquin Parts Racing | Toyota Camry 2022 | 5 | +9.011 | 14 | 1.5 |
| 9 | 157 | Juan Bautista de Benedictis | DTA Racing | Ford Mustang | 5 | +12.471 | 9 | 1 |
| 10 | 231 | José Manuel Urcera | Moriatis Competición | Ford Falcon | 5 | +13.543 | 10 | 0.5 |
| 11 | 75 | Sergio Alaux | Giavedoni Sport | Chevrolet Coupé SS | 5 | +19.204 | 13 | |
| 12 | 9 | Juan Martín Trucco | Di Meglio Motorsport | Dodge Challenger | 5 | +20.278 | 11 | |
| 13 | 47 | Norberto Fontana | Hermanos Álvarez Competición | Chevrolet Coupé SS | 1 | | 12 | |
| DSQ | 79 | Facundo Chapur | AyP Competición | Dodge GTX Cherokee | 5 | Technical | 2 | |
| Fastest Lap: Facundo Ardusso (RUS Med Team), 1:20.575 |||||||||
| Source: |||||||||

### Heat 3

| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Car | Laps | Time/Retired | Grid | Pts. |
| 1 | 21 | Otto Fritzler | Pradecon Racing | Dodge GTX Cherokee | 5 | 6:43.995 | 1 | 5 |
| 2 | 7 | Marcos Landa | Trotta Racing Team | Torino Cherokee | 5 | +1.090 | 2 | 4.5 |
| 3 | 127 | Marcelo Agrelo | Maquin Parts Racing | Dodge GTX Cherokee | 5 | +2.303 | 3 | 4 |
| 4 | 10 | Valentín Aguirre | JP Carrera | Chevrolet Coupé SS | 5 | +4.283 | 5 | 3.5 |
| 5 | 11 | Christian Ledesma | Pradecon Racing | Chevrolet Camaro | 5 | +5.291 | 6 | 3 |
| 6 | 13 | Juan Tomas Catalán Magni | CM Motorsport | Ford Falcon | 5 | +9.324 | 4 | 2.5 |
| 7 | 88 | Nicolás Trosset | UR Racing | Ford Mustang | 5 | +11.962 | 7 | 2 |
| 8 | 34 | Emiliano Spataro | Spataro Racing | Ford Falcon | 5 | +11.963 | 8 | 1.5 |
| 9 | 114 | Gastón Ferrante | AyP Competición | Toyota Camry 2024 | 5 | +16.321 | 14 | 1 |
| 10 | 53 | Federico Iribarne | Alifraco Sport | Chevrolet Coupé SS | 5 | +17.381 | 10 | 0.5 |
| 11 | 12 | Gastón Mazzacane | Dole Racing | Chevrolet Coupé SS | 5 | +18.036 | 12 | |
| 12 | 6 | Mauricio Lambiris | Maquin Parts Racing | Ford Falcon | 5 | +35.990 | 9 | |
| 13 | 38 | Nicolás Cotignola | Sprint Racing | Torino Cherokee | 5 | +35.991 | 11 | |
| DNS | 96 | Juan Cruz Benvenuti | Alifraco Sport | Chevrolet Coupé SS | | | | |
| Fastest Lap: Otto Fritzler (Pradecon Racing), 1:20.500 |||||||||
| Source: |||||||||
* ^1 – Emiliano Spataro was given a five-second post-race penalty for colliding with Nicolás Trosset.
* ^2 – Nicolás Cotignola was given a ten-second post-race penalty for colliding with Mauricio Lambiris.

### Final

The first race of Turismo Carretera's new era was filled with chaos and controversy. Facundo Ardusso led the pack from the start, whilst Nicolás Bonelli spun out in front of the pack at the first corner. At the end of the first lap, Juan José Ebarlín spun out Marcelo Agrelo, causing a chain-reaction crash that included Andrés Jakos, Christian Ledesma, Juan Tomás Catalán Magni, Kevin Candela and Valentín Aguirre, resulting in a safety car period and Ebarlín's post-race disqualification. On the restart, Ardusso and Otto Fritzler lightly clashed wheels at the opening corner – however Ardusso later backed off with a slow puncture, resulting in a five-second penalty for Fritzler. Mariano Werner then inherited the lead in his new Mustang, but "the Fox of Paraná" spun out four laps later and was stationary for just long enough to cause a safety car. Marcos Landa in the older model Torino claimed the lead, and maintained a comfortable gap to Diego Ciantini (who passed Ebarlín for second) before a safety car came out with three laps to go as Jakos pulled off the circuit with mechanical issues. A one-lap shootout would determine the winner between Landa and Ciantini, and with three corners remaining Ciantini unloaded Landa in front of the pack – dropping the Uruguayan outside the top ten. Ciantini crossed the line first followed by Ebarlín and Fritzler, but Ciantini would receive a post-race penalty for the contact with Landa, leaving fourth-placed rookie Facundo Chapur victorious after the additional sanctions for Ebarlín and Fritzler – until he too was disqualified an hour after the race for breaching the engine compression limit, leaving fellow rookie and reigning TC Pista champion Tobías Martínez in the brand new Torino TC 2024 – built in 50 days and untested – as the winner having been originally classified fifth.
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Car | Laps | Time/Retired | Pts. |
| 1 | 107 | Tobías Martínez | Trotta Racing Team | Torino TC 2024 | 25 | 40:24.132 | 40 |
| 2 | 23 | Esteban Gini | Maquin Parts Racing | Toyota Camry 2022 | 25 | +0.256 | 37 |
| 3 | 231 | José Manuel Urcera | Moriatis Competición | Ford Falcon | 25 | +0.498 | 34 |
| 4 | 68 | Julián Santero | LCA Racing | Ford Falcon | 25 | +0.987 | 31 |
| 5 | 6 | Mauricio Lambiris | Maquin Parts Racing | Ford Falcon | 25 | +1.603 | 30 |
| 6 | 85 | Ricardo Risatti | LRD Performance | Chevrolet Camaro | 25 | +1.852 | 29 |
| 7 | 121 | Elio Craparo | Hermanos Álvarez Competición | Dodge GTX Cherokee | 25 | +2.235 | 28 |
| 8 | 172 | Santiago Álvarez | JP Carrera | Dodge GTX Cherokee | 25 | +2.647 | 27 |
| 9 | 95 | Agustín Martínez | Gurí Martínez Competición | Ford Falcon | 25 | +2.832 | 26 |
| 10 | 94 | Lautaro de la Iglesia | Di Meglio Motorsport | Dodge GTX Cherokee | 25 | +2.948 | 25 |
| 11 | 21 | Otto Fritzler | Pradecon Racing | Dodge GTX Cherokee | 25 | +4.098 | 24 |
| 12 | 63 | Nicolás Bonelli | RUS Med Team | Ford Falcon | 25 | +4.505 | 23 |
| 13 | 7 | Marcos Landa | Trotta Racing Team | Torino Cherokee | 25 | +6.321 | 22 |
| 14 | 19 | Diego Ciantini | JP Carrera | Chevrolet Coupé SS | 25 | +6.322 | 21 |
| 15 | 157 | Juan Bautista de Benedictis | DTA Racing | Ford Mustang | 25 | +6.626 | 20 |
| 16 | 1 | Mariano Werner | Werner Competición | Ford Mustang | 25 | +10.156 | 19 |
| 17 | 177 | Ayrton Londero | Gurí Martínez Competición | Dodge GTX Cherokee | 25 | +12.127 | 18 |
| 18 | 38 | Nicolás Cotignola | Sprint Racing | Torino Cherokee | 25 | +14.064 | 17 |
| 19 | 5 | Santiago Mangoni | Las Toscas Racing | Chevrolet Coupé SS | 25 | +14.517 | 16 |
| 20 | 88 | Nicolás Trosset | UR Racing | Ford Mustang | 25 | +14.958 | 15 |
| 21 | 34 | Emiliano Spataro | Spataro Racing | Ford Falcon | 25 | +14.959 | 14 |
| 22 | 12 | Gastón Mazzacane | Dole Racing | Chevrolet Coupé SS | 25 | +17.995 | 13 |
| 23 | 77 | Augusto Carinelli | Fancio Competición | Dodge GTX Cherokee | 25 | +18.334 | 12 |
| 24 | 83 | Facundo Ardusso | RUS Med Team | Chevrolet Coupé SS | 25 | +18.978 | 11 |
| 25 | 4 | Jonatan Castellano | Castellano Power Team | Dodge GTX Cherokee | 25 | +19.372 | 10 |
| 26 | 3 | Germán Todino | Maquin Parts Racing | Ford Falcon | 25 | +22.812 | 9 |
| 27 | 114 | Gastón Ferrante | AyP Competición | Toyota Camry 2024 | 24 | +1 lap | 8 |
| 28 | 161 | Kevin Candela | Candela Competición | Torino Cherokee | 24 | +1 lap | 7 |
| 29 | 122 | Andrés Jakos | Toyota Gazoo Racing Argentina | Toyota Camry 2024 | 21 | Mechanical | 6 |
| 30 | 53 | Federico Iribarne | Alifraco Sport | Chevrolet Coupé SS | 19 | | 5 |
| 31 | 197 | Marcos Quijada | UR Racing | Chevrolet Camaro | 18 | | 3 |
| 32 | 75 | Sergio Alaux | Giavedoni Sport | Chevrolet Coupé SS | 4 | | 3 |
| 33 | 13 | Juan Tomas Catalán Magni | CM Motorsport | Ford Falcon | 2 | Crash damage | 3 |
| 34 | 10 | Valentín Aguirre | JP Carrera | Chevrolet Coupé SS | 1 | Crash damage | 3 |
| 35 | 127 | Marcelo Agrelo | Maquin Parts Racing | Dodge GTX Cherokee | 1 | Crash damage | 3 |
| 36 | 11 | Christian Ledesma | Pradecon Racing | Chevrolet Camaro | 1 | Crash damage | 3 |
| DSQ | 22 | Juan José Ebarlín | LRD Performance | Chevrolet Coupé SS | 25 | Collision with Agrelo | |
| DSQ | 79 | Facundo Chapur | AyP Competición | Dodge GTX Cherokee | 25 | Technical | |
| DNS | 9 | Juan Martín Trucco | Di Meglio Motorsport | Dodge Challenger | | Mechanical | |
| DNS | 47 | Norberto Fontana | Hermanos Álvarez Competición | Chevrolet Coupé SS | | | |
| WD | 96 | Juan Cruz Benvenuti | Alifraco Sport | Chevrolet Coupé SS | | Practice crash | |
| WD | 71 | Sebastián Abella | LCA Racing | Chevrolet Coupé SS | | | |
| Fastest Lap: Jonatan Castellano (Castellano Power Team), 1:20.770 ||||||||
| Sources: ||||||||
* ^1 – Otto Fritzler was given a five-second post-race penalty for colliding with Facundo Ardusso.
* ^2 – Diego Ciantini was given a ten-second post-race penalty for colliding with Marcos Landa.

## Championship standings
### Drivers' Championship

| Pos. | Driver | Pts | Gap |
| 1 | Tobías Martínez | 42.5 | |
| 2 | Esteban Gini | 38 | -4.5 |
| 3 | Julián Santero | 35.5 | -7 |
| 4 | José Manuel Urcera | 34 | -8.5 |
| 5 | Ricardo Risatti | 30.5 | -12.5 |
* Note: Only the top five positions are included.