Potrero de los Funes Circuit

Lago Potrero de los Funes
Location Potrero de los Funes-San Luis, Argentina
Time zone GMT -3
Major events FIA GT
TC2000
Length 6.270 km (3.896 mi)
Turns 22
Lap record 2:13.236 (105.274mph average) (Marcel Fassler, Phoenix Racing (Corvette C6.R), November 22, 2008)

The Lago Potrero de los Funes circuit is a race track originally constructed in 1987, and rebuilt in 2008. It is located 14 km (8.7 mi) from San Luis, capital city of the San Luis Province, Argentina. The circuit is semi-permanent, with a length of 6.27 km (3.90 mi). It was created by modifying the ring road that encircles Lake Potrero de los Funes, at the course's center.

The circuit has received very high praise from the drivers for its substantial undulations and numerous high speed corners and bends, which provide a great driving challenge.

The track's layout has changed slightly from its original layout. It appears that the curve prior to where the pits are now was tightened to create a more pronounced corner ahead of the pits, and perhaps to reduce speeds on the racing line going past the new pit exit. On the opposite side of the lake, where start/finish used to be located, a chicane has been added at the first high speed bend along that stretch. Also, on the initial descending run along the lake, there has been another chicane added to reduce speeds into the following corner that has limited run-off. Therefore, the original course had slightly shorter length of 6.186 km (3.844 mi).

Races hosted

According to Damian Vega's account, a meet was held at this circuit on August 15, 1987. The main event was a Turismo Carretera race. During one of the heat races, a crash occurred that resulted in the deaths of two spectators. In the feature race, there was another crash, but the driver survived, though he may have been injured. This was the circuit's only meeting until the FIA GT weekend was held in November 2008.

On the track's reopening, two major events were hosted in November 2008. A race weekend was shared by the Argentinian TC 2000 as well as the international FIA GT Championship. José María López won the TC 2000 event, while Bert Longin and Anthony Kumpen won the San Luis 2 Hours in their Saleen S7R.

Year Race Category Winner Results
2008 TC 2000 at Potrero de los Funes TC2000 Argentina José María López Results
2008 San Luis 2 Hours FIA GT Championship Belgium Bert Longin
Belgium Anthony Kumpen		 Results
2009 Gran Premio Provincia de San Luis Turismo Carretera Argentina Juan Bautista de Benedictis Results
2009 Gran Premio Coronación TC2000 Argentina Gabriel Ponce de León
Brazil Daniel Serra		 Results
2010 Gran Premio Coronación TC2000 Argentina Matias Rossi Results
2010 San Luis 1 Hour FIA GT1 World Championship France Frédéric Makowiecki
France Yann Clairay		 Results
2011 San Luis 1 Hour FIA GT1 World Championship Netherlands Francesco Pastorelli
Netherlands Yelmer Buurman		 Results
2011 Gran Premio Province of San Luis TC2000 Argentina Fabián Yannantuoni Results

Future Races

The FIA GT race did not take place in 2009; however, TC 2000 and Turismo Carretera both visited the circuit. Potrero de los Funes will return to the international racing scene as the final round of the FIA GT1 World Championship for the 2010 season.

References

    External links

    Coordinates: 33°13′30″S 66°14′20″W / 33.22500°S 66.23889°W / -33.22500; -66.23889

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