Here is the harsh reality of motorsport: you can put everything you have into a machine, and the metal can still break. Mariano Werner arrived in San Nicolás leading the Copa de Oro Rio Uruguay Seguros 2026 of TC, fresh off his second win of the season in San Luis. But a difficult Saturday dictated by tricky weather conditions immediately put the heavy machine on the back foot. Despite the heavy ballast in the category, the driver from Entre Ríos managed to secure seventh in qualifying and lined up on the second row for the first heat.
"It was an atypical weekend because of the rain, we qualified well, maybe the car didn't end up quite as punchy, but by the time we ran the heat we were good and in the final a bit better," Werner explained.
Everything pointed toward another strong performance once the lights went out for the main event. Holding a brilliant pace, Werner was charging forward with sights set on gaining ground against Matías Rossi and Otto Fritzler. Then, disaster struck. The crown and pinion of the differential gave out, forcing the car to an absolute halt.
"We were doing really well, at a great pace with the chance to advance on Rossi and Fritzler, but the crown and pinion of the differential left us stranded," Werner said. "We put everything into the car, but the iron is ungrateful. Many times a race ends and I could have won or arrived just in time and this time it didn't hold up for us. You have to work and just as you win you lose points. I am aware that I have a good group, my car runs well and we will give battle."
That sudden failure cost dear points in the championship chase. Werner now sits fifth in the Copa de Oro standings with 63 points, leaving him 19.5 units behind the current leader, Facundo Chapur.
Thankfully, there is no time to dwell on a broken differential in Turismo Carretera. The next round is scheduled for October 24 and 25 at Rosario, where the fight for the crown resets once again.
