F1: Juncos Hollinger to demo IndyCar in Argentina
Juncos Hollinger Racing is pleased to announce the team will be bringing the No. 77 JHR NTT INDYCAR SERIES car to Argentina for an exhibition during November 4th through the 9th. The car will be presented at the Michelangelo, Buenos Aires and then head to the Circuit of Buenos Aires and the Circuit of Termas de Rio Hondo, Santiago del Estero to be driven by Argentinean driver Agustin Canapino.
After 51 years, an NTT INDYCAR SERIES car will return to the track for the first time in Argentina. The last time the series visited Argentina was in 1971 during the USAC Rafaela Indy 300 race held at the Autodromo, won by Al Unser.
“For many years we have been trying to bring a NTT INDYCAR SERIES car to Argentina and today to be in the position to officially announce the car will be returning for an exhibition after 51 years is amazing,” said JHR Co-owner and Team Principal Ricardo Juncos. “This gives us a lot of pride as Argentinians and for all that this means. Since we are linked to Chevrolet in the United States and to have Agustin Canapino as the driver will be one of the greatest moments of motorsports in our community. When Alberto Canapino was with us at the 24 Hours of Daytona, we thought of what a great moment this would be to see Agustin in an NTT INDYCAR SERIES car and from that point on, on my promise that is what we were going to make happen. Regardless of the team and effort it would take, today it is a reality, and I am sure Alberto would be so proud of this moment.”
“To make this all possible, many people and companies have been involved,” said Juncos. “I am very grateful for the government of the Providence of Santiago del Estero, through the Governor Gerardo Zamora and Emanuel Moriatis, the President of the Turismo National series, who opened the doors allowing us to be a part of this great event. Also, Juan Carlos Lucio Godoy, the President of Rio Uruguay Seguros, one of the companies that have been supporting us for several years, Agustin Canapino, Chevrolet and General Motors of USA, Firestone, Luis Angel Machi the owner of Michelangelo who allowed us to hold this event that will take place on Friday before the exhibition, and to the President and CEO of Penske Entertainment Corp. Mark Miles and INDYCAR President Jay Frye, and the Governor of Indiana Eric Holcomb. Through all of these people and companies this would have not been possible to show the fans of Argentina an NTT INDYCAR SERIES car on track running at the Autodromo of Buenos Aires and then at the Autodromo de Termas de Rio Hondo in Santiago del Estero.”
“As an Argentinean and understanding what motorsport of this hierarchy means, it fills us with pride, the whole Juncos Hollinger Racing team, our friends and all the immense number of people who in different ways collaborated to make this possible. I think this is a very important step forward in terms of promoting INDYCAR not only in Argentina but also in all Latin America, and I hope it will be the basis that will allow us in the near future to have our country more involved in the INDYCAR SERIES championship.”
Many South American countries, including Argentina, have a major following in motorsports. JHR will promote the NTT INDYCAR SERIES throughout the visit by showcasing the car during the exhibition beginning November 4th with a presentation at the Michelangelo of Buenos Aires. The car will be on track for a private session during the Turismo National November 5th and 6th and will conclude at the main event at the Termas de Rio Hondo, Santiago del Estero November 9th.
Gerardo Zamora, the Governor of Santiago de Estero, visited with Ricardo Juncos, Mark Miles, President and CEO of Penske Entertainment Corporation, and Eric Holcomb, Governor of Indiana during the 2022 Indianapolis 500.
“For me it is an honor to have an NTT INDYCAR SERIES car test in our International Circuit of Termas de Rio Hondo,” said Hector Farina, Director of the International Circuit of Termas de Rio Hondo. “The last time we had this car in our country from the United States was back in 1971 and has not returned since then. To have this car in our providence, with a first-class driver will be something extraordinary. Thank you everyone for coming and for thinking of Santiago del Estero.”
“It will be an honor to have the team here in Argentina,” said Nelson Bravo, Secretay of Tourism of the providence of Santiago del Estero. “We are projecting to have a full house in Santiago del Estero.”
“Argentina is proud to be the homeland of Juan Manuel Fangio, the greatest driver in history in my opinion, and continues to be present in different ways with international perspectives,” said Juan Carlos Lucio Godoy. “Now we have the privilege of hosting Ricardo Juncos and his NTT INDYCAR SERIES team. To have the Argentinean talent with an American backing, come to our country to show us this engineering and to showcase the car on track in Buenos Aires and then at the circuit of Termas de Rio Hondo. This is a great opportunity that will open expectations and the hopes for the future. To be part of this process in providing our motorsports fans in Argentina is something that greatly interests us because investing in the growth and showing what is being done and how we can grow and advance. The competition of the Turismo National is special to Argentina and will be in the city of Buenos Aires November 6th. To have these fans see a car of such a high level like the NTT INDYCAR SERIES car and to be driven by an experienced Argentinean driver, Agustin Canapino, will be an incredible moment and hopefully the start of a new future. What prevents us from dreaming when there are those who are thinking about the possibility for one to two years from now? We want to help Argentina grow and we are convinced we can reach that goal with the shared effort.”
Agustin Canapino made his debut with JHR in the 2019 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship driving the JHR Cadillac Dpi entry during the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring. Canapino has had great success throughout his career claiming multiple championships in Argentina, including three consecutive championships in the Turismo Carretera class.
“For me, to have this chance to be the driver of the Juncos Hollinger Racing NTT INDYCAR SERIES in Argentina is a great privilege, a great honor, and great responsibility for which I have been preparing myself for a long time,” said Canapino. “I would like to thank Ricardo Juncos, Brad Hollinger, and the entire Juncos Hollinger Racing team, as well as those who have made it possible for the car to come to Argentina. I only have words of gratitude, and at the same time I want to invite everyone to come to this incredible event that we will have with the National Tourism in which I will also be competing in the race of two drivers was the big icing on the cake which is the Indy Exhibition. This is not just another car, it’s the team of Argentina. They finished the final event qualifying on the front row in the most competitive and demanding category in the world. I want to thank everyone who made this dream come true and I hope everyone can make it to the exhibition as it will be a historic event for Argentina.”
The Argentinean will make his first appearance in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES next week during a private test at Sebring International Raceway.
“To be able to test with Ricardo and the team is a huge honor and huge commitment,” said Canapino. “It is very exciting for me, because it is something that Ricardo had talked with my dad about a lot, who unfortunately is no longer here and will not be able to see me live this moment, but I know he will be watching. Thank you to Ricardo and Juncos Hollinger Racing for giving me this opportunity to test the car before the exhibition. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES car is demanding and the complexity of it is essential to testing beforehand so that everything goes the way we want it to.”