La República Argentina recently welcomed Pope Leo XIV, marking the third apostolic visit in the country's history. The previous two visits both belonged to John Paul II, taking place from June 11 to 12, 1982 during the Malvinas war, and from April 6 to 12, 1987 under the presidency of Raúl Alfonsín. Each of these papal arrivals crossed paths with the calendar of Turismo Carretera.
Back in 1982, John Paul II arrived on Sunday, June 11. One week prior, Turismo Carretera had contested the fifth round of its calendar at the Concordia semi-permanent circuit. The race was organized by the Hogar Escuela Juan XXIII, which formed a dedicated commission to run the event. Emilio Satriano took the victory that day. When the championship concluded, Jorge Martínez Boero claimed the title with Ford, driving his Ford and winning five times to accumulate 279.5 points. Oscar Aventín followed him with 212.5 points, while Emilio Satriano took third with 170.5 points.
The second papal visit in 1987 coincided with the fourth round of the Turismo Carretera calendar in Bahía Blanca, held just one day before the Pope arrived at Ezeiza airport on Monday, April 6. Jorge Oyhanart secured the victory at Bahía Blanca aboard his Ford Falcon. That season stretched across 16 rounds, ending with Oscar Castellano crowned as champion. The driver from Lobería secured three final wins and totaled 286.5 points. Second place went to the driver known as the Vasco de Pilar with 261.5 points, and Emilio Satriano again finished third with 240 points.
Now, the arrival of Pope Leo XIV in Buenos Aires has landed exactly one week before the penultimate round of the Turismo Carretera season in Río Cuarto. Adding to the timing, the Pope will be in the city of Córdoba four days before track activity kicks off.
On Wednesday the 11th, the Pope will depart Argentina to continue his tour in Peru, leaving Turismo Carretera to settle the final stretch of its calendar. As history repeats itself with another papal visit, the question remains of who will ultimately claim the championship.
Turismo Carretera
