He had his triumphal baptism at TC 2000 at just 17: the Next Gen pushes into Argentine motorsport

It is the young blood of Argentine motorsport. An activity that has the thrust of tradition in a country as fierce as few, which is renewed with new faces, and which with increasing expectation assumes a leading role in the discipline. And so these appearances arise, in this case with the striking yellow dyed hair and youthful self-confidence Ignazio Montenegrowho at 17 is a new winner of the TC2000winning head to toe with Renault in the final played at the San Nicolás racetrack.

Montenegro got a driving license on public roads a few weeks ago, it is the last year of high school, but it knows very well the secrets to accelerate fully with the best cars in the country to beat, for example, the multiple champion Agostino Canapinowhich he surpassed in the TC2000.

A podium that marks the thrust of the new generation. Because Canapino joined the triumph of Montenegro and the second place of the current monarch Giorgio district (Toyota), the boy who was the protagonist in 2021 when he became champion of the current TC2000 Series and of the National Formula, also 17 years old and … without a license plate.

“In 2019 I saw Canapino from the stands. And the time that I share podiums with him. One of my idols. Mariano Werner is also my other reference. It is incredible to fight hard with any of these greats “recognizes Montenegro, born on 23 November 2004 in Rada Tilly, in the province of Chubut.

“I had a car with a lot of pace. I applied the Push to Pass (all drivers have 15 strokes to increase the engine power) for the end, but Agustín came to the end. And in the last two corners there is an incredible adrenaline rush. So much anxiety for this first victory, ”confessed Montenegro after celebrating their first TC2000 victory.

Nacho knew from an early age that speed was his passion. At the age of 7 he convinced his parents, Alejandro and Paula, to go karting. An unknown world for the family, who discovered every detail of the needles in the baby’s first steps.

And there the vice stood out, until he took motor sport seriously. He entered the Argentine championship at the age of 12 and distinguished himself (second classified Junior) up to the jump in European karting.

But he already had motor racing between his eyebrows. In 2019 he accelerated in the Formula Metropolitan and followed the advice of the drivers who are dedicated to training new drivers: Lucas Colombo Russell and Lucas Benamo (who also advises the international Franco Colapinto, today in F3), who are his coaches for he.

The pandemic, like so many, has complicated his career. The interruption of the business made him rethink many things. As in Europe the activity first started in Argentina, he traveled to Spain and competed in Formula 4, until he returned and competed in the last dates of the then Formula Renault.

Then, at the age of 16, he raced in the TC2000 Series, in the Toyota Young team, until he came into contact with Marcelo Ambrogio, owner of the then official Renault team and current Axion Energy Team, with whom he made official the its entry into the TC2000 in 2022.

After many kilometers traveled with the kart, in 2020 he moved to Buenos Aires, together with his sister Martina, who studies Medicine, and then his other brother Emiliano. He attends secondary school at the Guido Spano School, where first with the virtuality and then with the permission for absences for participation in car racing, he has the support of his family and the educational community.

“Many of my classmates and teachers were unfamiliar with motorsports. And now they are my fans and watch all the races, ”he says with great grace as he runs his hands through his almost platinum hair.

The TC2000 race was bad. After the phenomenal experience of the previous date, in Rafaela, this time the show disappointed. But a new winning name has remained for history: Ignacio Montenegro, who at 17, makes history. A name that begins to take on dimension in Argentine motor sports.

Despite his youth, he is not the youngest winner.It is always surprising that a guy is the star in a professional car category like the TC2000. Ignacio Montenegro, just 17, prevailed in the eighth round, in San Nicolás.

Historical data

However, he is not the youngest winner in the history of the category. Montenegro was born on November 24, 2004. At 17 he appears to be the youngest. But is not so.

Mariano Altunawith a Polo from the then Volkswagen factory team, Trelew won when he was 17 years, 5 months and 20 days.

In San Nicolás, Montenegro shared the podium with Jorge Barrio, only 18, with whom they lead the arrival of the new generation of national motorsport. In the center, the “expert” Agustín Canapino, 32 years old: “These guys are very good. They are very competitive and are constantly asking us. They accelerate with both feet ”, indicated the champion.