Hugo Valente left South America with only the consolation that he was the fastest LADA driver in qualifying after he failed to finish both FIA World Touring Car Championship races in Argentina on Sunday.
Valente outgunned LADA Sport Rosneft team-mates Nicky Catsburg and Gabriele Tarquini by lining up P13 on the grid for the Opening Race with Catsburg P14 and Tarquini P15. However, what was lucky 13 in qualifying proved to be unlucky in the races at Termas de Río Hondo when he retired on both occasions.
“It was a frustrating weekend for me with being the quickest LADA in qualifying only a very small consolation,” said Frenchman Valente. “In the first race I was battling closely with Nicky having a nice battle but on lap five I had a loss of power and had to pit. In Main Race I hoped for better but a puncture, probably caused through contact with [Grégoire Demoustier’s Citroën) saw me once again have to retire from the race.”