Gabriel Casagrande secured a victory in Race 2 of the sixth round of NASCAR Brasil, held on Sunday afternoon (23), at the Autódromo Internacional Ayrton Senna in Londrina (PR). In an electrifying duel until the very last lap, the driver reclaimed the lead in the final meters and withstood the pressure from Thiago Camilo to cross the finish line first. Camilo finished in second, while Arthur Gama completed the podium.
Cacá Bueno started from pole with Jorge Martelli beside him, but he managed to hold the lead. There were no major incidents in the opening corners.
However, at the end of the first lap, Martelli ended up hitting the track barrier and the safety car came out on track.
The restart had Bueno maintaining the lead with Ibiapina right behind. Camilo and Casagrande were dueling in the second row, with Casagrande in third. But soon Casagrande managed to overtake for second place.
He and Bueno began racing very close, but Bueno managed to defend himself well. In the middle of the pack, the race was heated but steady.
With 18 minutes to go, Nicolas Costa left the track and caused another safety car.
The race resumed quickly, with Ibiapina reclaiming second place from Casagrande. Thiago Camilo occupied fourth, while Murilo Rocha completed the top five.
Ibiapina closed in on Bueno and managed the overtaking with 13 minutes remaining. But soon after Bueno regained the position.
The two faced off again two minutes later, but Ibiapina ended up losing space to Casagrande, who returned to runner-up in the race.
The battle between Thiago Camilo and Arthur Gama for fifth place heated up, but the winner of Race 1 in Londrina came out on top.
Soon after, Ibiapina lost the position to Camilo and then to Gama.
With two minutes left, the top five were practically glued to each other on track.
Camilo moved up on Casagrande and secured the pass for second place. Gama tried to go with him, but Casagrande defended.
On the last lap, Casagrande took advantage of the boost and moved into first, with Camilo right behind. Arthur Gama finished in third. Murilo Rocha won the Challenge, with Ibiapina in second and Tito Giaffone in third.
