Here's the thing about Luis José Di Palma: he is putting together a remarkably honest, low-key campaign to secure his place in the Copa de Oro through the 3 de Último Minuto format. Competing with a Toyota fielded by the RUS MED Team, the driver from Arrecifes currently sits 15th in the general championship standings, a position that temporarily hands him a coveted spot in the playoff, where he has already banked a solid collection of points.
The opening round at the Autódromo Rosendo Hernández in San Luis made it abundantly clear that Di Palma meant business in this last-minute scramble. Saturday qualifying belonged to him as he claimed pole position with authority. Sunday brought more of the same when he captured his heat win and ultimately wrapped up the final on the podium, collecting 41 points in total to place himself in an enviable position right at the start of the playoff.
Things stayed remarkably consistent during the second date of the Copa de Oro at San Nicolás. "Josito" kept that Toyota Camry right at the sharp end, stacking up points with an eye on both cementing his playoff qualification and fighting hard once inside. A haul of 29.5 points included a 9th-place finish in the final, pushing his total tally in the cup to 69.5 units and lifting him to 4th in the standings, just 13 units adrift of the leader, Facundo Chapur.
Two rounds remain before the final three last-minute qualifiers are officially locked in, but the momentum is undeniable. Despite not having secured a victory yet this season, Di Palma is performing brilliantly as the third-best Toyota in the general championship. More importantly, if the qualification cut-off happened right now, he would stand proudly as the top user of the Japanese manufacturer within the Copa de Oro.
