Viedma, Argentina – Juan Bautista De Benedictis, driving a Ford Mustang, set the pace in the second practice session for the Turismo Carretera (TC) series, extending the early dominance of the RUS Med Team. The team had previously topped the charts in the first practice with Tobías Martínez at the wheel. This strong showing comes after De Benedictis faced challenges in El Calafate, where a promising run ended with a retirement.
Despite unstable weather conditions with intermittent rain, De Benedictis clocked a lap time of 1m28s040, surpassing Martínez’s previous best by 0.963 seconds. The performance underscores the strength of Ford Mustang teams early in the 2025 TC season. The second date of the Turismo Carretera is proving to be a key indicator of performance as teams adapt to the evolving competition.
The RUS Med Team’s continued success is particularly noteworthy given recent changes within the TC paddock. Agustín Martínez, son of veteran driver “Gurí” Martínez, announced his retirement on March 3rd, leaving Tobías as the sole representative of the Martínez family in Viedma, according to SoloTC.
Behind De Benedictis, José Manuel Urcera secured the second-fastest time in his Toyota Camry, finishing just 0.208 seconds behind. Elio Craparo, another driver switching manufacturers this year, placed third in a Ford Mustang, 0.292 seconds off the pace. Germán Todino, also in a Ford Mustang, completed a strong showing for the “Óvalo” with a fourth-place finish, 0.314 seconds back. Agustín Canapino was the highest-placed Chevrolet driver, taking fifth with a time 0.347 seconds slower than De Benedictis, as reported by El Destape.
The qualifying session, scheduled for 16:00 local time, will be divided into four groups, each with eight minutes to set their fastest laps. The track length is 4.118 meters.
TC – ENTRENAMIENTO II – VIEDMA
(Results as reported by source materials)
De Benedictis’ strong performance builds on his recent victory at Toay, La Pampa, where he secured the first win for Ford in the 2025 TC season, El Diario del Centro del País noted. That win followed consecutive victories for Ford drivers Mauricio Lambiris and Mariano Werner, highlighting the brand’s current competitive edge.
The early stages of the 2025 TC season have seen Ford emerge as a dominant force, with five of the twelve drivers qualifying for the Copa de Oro currently piloting Mustang vehicles. Julián Santero currently leads the championship standings, followed closely by Mauricio Lambiris, with José Manuel Urcera, Werner, and Agustín Martínez also within the top twelve, according to SoloTC.
Despite their success in races, Ford drivers have faced challenges in qualifying, securing only one pole position so far this year – achieved by Werner in Alta Gracia. This is an area the teams will likely focus on improving as the season progresses.
As the TC series heads into qualifying in Viedma, all eyes will be on De Benedictis and the RUS Med Team to see if they can translate their practice pace into a strong starting position for the race. The competition is expected to be fierce, with Chevrolet and Toyota teams looking to close the gap on the leading Ford squads.
The next step for the teams is the qualifying session, where they will battle for the best starting positions for the main race. Fans can expect a thrilling display of skill and strategy as the drivers push their machines to the limit. Stay tuned for further updates as the 2025 TC season unfolds.
What are your thoughts on Ford’s early dominance in the TC series? Share your predictions in the comments below!
