Ernesto ‘Tito' Bessone returns to motorsport at the age of 67
Argentine driver Ernesto 'Tito' Bessone is the only driver in the country's history to win atleast one title in all four of the to categories of the country. He won Turismo Carretera (2003), TC2000 (1996), Top Race (2004), and Turismo Nacional (Class 3, 2003).
However, at the age of 67, Bessone is returning back to compete making another record. He becomes the oldest driver to compete in a top-level national competition, surpassing the age of 66 at which, coincidentally, his father retired from racing in 1989, four years after becoming the oldest champion by winning the Class 2 of the TN.
'It's a huge emotion to return to TC2000. In 1985 I had the chance to witness the change from the Renault 18 to the Renault Fuego and the Ford Taunus to the Ford Sierra and it produced a great phenomenon in the category. Now, after 40 years, I have the chance to experience again this radical change in car models with the arrival of the SUVs and it's an honour to be part of it,' said Tito while talking to Clarin.
He will be part of the El Halcón Motorsport and had tested the Next Gen Nivus of the TC2000.
'I'm going to do it with great commitment, I'm going to give everything I have to be at the best level on a track that I really like like Oberá. I want to thank the category for making this project possible and the sponsors for trusting me,' added 'Tito' ahead of the debut of the new 500-horsepower SUVs designed especially for the category with models from brands such as Chevrolet, Honda, Toyota, Fiat, Nissan and the aforementioned Volkswagen.
Bessone's last race in the TC2000 was on August 21, 2011 , as a guest of Leandro Carducci in the 8th Edition of the 200 km of Buenos Aires. This time, he will be the protagonist, the 1996 champion with a Ford Escort, host of 263 races (among which he achieved 28 victories, 25 pole positions and 31 lap records) and who has just restored the historic Renault Fuego Coupé that he made win for the first time in 1985, the same year in which he won on his debut day in the TC (on December 22 in Buenos Aires).
Who is Ernesto 'Tito' Bessone?
One of the most revered names of the Argentine motorsports, Bessone was born on 3rd April,1958. He made his motorsport debut in the Turismo Nacional in 1979, driving a Peugeot. He won his first title in 1983 in the now-defunct Club Argentino de Pilotos (Argentine Drivers' Club), driving a Datsun 280 ZX, and repeated the feat the following year. He also won the championship in that category in 1988, driving a Nissan 300 ZX.
In 1995, driving a Ford, he won the Supercart title, a category that used the same vehicles as Turismo Carretera, but adapted for racing on racetracks. And in 1996, he won the 2000 Turismo Competición championship driving a Ford Escort. In TC2000, he totaled 263 races and 28 victories.
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