Brazilian V8 Stock Cars: Khodair and Bueno win races at Tarumã and title bid is still open

Allam Khodair and Cacá Bueno were the great winners of the 11th round of the Brazilian V8 Stock Car season this Sunday. The traditional and fast circuit of Tarumã, near Porto Alegre, was a stage for two competitive races under blue skies and 35 degrees Celsius of temperature with crowded grandstands. Marcos Gomes, the series leader, had a small chance of clinching the title this weekend, but with a third place on race one and only a 11th on race two postponed the decision of the gran finale to Interlagos, in São Paulo, on December 13th.

We are alive and fighting, that’s what really matters

Cacá Bueno

Moreover, for now, Cacá Bueno is the only man who can beat the Voxx driver to the trophy. Gomes needs a 12th place finish to be the first son of a Stock Car champion to claim the title, but felt frustrated after this weekend. "It wasn’t the best, because on race two lots of people hit me. Anyway, the strategy will be the same: start as far ahead as possible. And as it will be a one-race-only round, there won’t be the reversed grid, which reduces the chances of something going wrong", said Marcos, with 242 points against 210 of Cacá Bueno.

Allam Khodair started from pole on race one and lead the first seven laps until he and Gomes in second were overtaken by young ace Felipe Fraga, at once around the outside on the fast turn 1 using the push-to-pass button. But after the pit stop round, the Full Time-Texaco driver regained the lead to win for the first time this season.

"We had got four second places so far and other two thirds, so we were really close. Finally, it came today, but it was already too late, since we are out of the title bid. However, the team and I are happy; the car felt good the whole time and we finally won. So, let’s celebrate", told Khodair.

Barrichello on podium

Cacá Bueno came ninth, saved the match point against Gomes, and started second on race two due to the 10-place reversed grid. Local hero Vitor Genz started ahead, but with worn tires, he was being passed by the fastest drivers. Rubens Barrichello put some pressure on Bueno, who knew to keep the right momentum to move on his Red Bull teammate Daniel Serra to take the lead. Barrichello did the same and got his third podium of the year.

For the five-time Stock Car Champion, a big relief, since he goes to Interlagos with chances to be a champion for the sixth time. "Of course we were a little relieved today. I won and Marcos was 11th, so nothing is impossible. The team made a top job in a weekend that seemed to be hard, so we played with the strategy to score more points on race two. We are alive and fighting, that’s what really matters", told Bueno.

Race 1 Results*

*Unnofficial Results

Race 2 results*

*Unnofficial Results

Championship standings

1-) Marcos Gomes - 242 points
2-) Cacá Bueno - 210
3-) Rubens Barrichello - 188
4-) Allam Khodair - 184
5-) Daniel Serra - 181
6-) Ricardo Maurício - 173
7-) Thiago Camilo - 165
8-) Max Wilson - 162
9-) Julio Campos - 154
10-) Valdeno Brito - 148
11-) Felipe Fraga - 123
12-) Ricardo Zonta - 121
13-) Sérgio Jimenez - 108
14-) Átila Abreu - 107
15-) Diego Nunes - 99
16-) Vitor Genz - 92
17-) Antonio Pizzonia - 85
18-) Gabriel Casagrande - 76
19-) Luciano Burti - 73
20-) Galid Osman - 70
21-) Raphael Matos - 55
22-) Tuka Rocha - 54
23-) Lucas Foresti - 53
24-) Rafael Suzuki - 51
25-) Denis Navarro - 49
26-) Cesar Ramos - 42
27-) Popó Bueno - 38
28-) Felipe Lapenna - 36
29-) Raphael Abbate - 24
30-) Bia Figueiredo - 7
31-) Gustavo Lima - 5
32-) Fábio Fogaça - 3
33-) Felipe Guimarães - 2
34-) Mauro Giallombardo - 2

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