Fabrizio claims FIA CODASUR Rally Championship crown
Our Customer Racing Junior Driver Fabrizio Zaldivar lifted the FIA CODASUR Rally Championship title after a fifth-place finish at the season finale, Rally del Atlantico in Uruguay.
“This is like a dream,” said Fabrizio. “I remember in 2017 seeing my father win here, and now he sees me win the FIA CODASUR Championship, it is something that I will never forget.”
Leading from the front
The Paraguayan driver started the final round with an 11-point lead and completed the season with a mature drive, protecting his advantage while avoiding any major issues with his Automotor Rally Team-prepared i20 N Rally2. With co-driver Marcelo Der Ohannesian, Fabrizio was quickest on a single stage at the season finale as the duo held a top five place for most of the event. The result rounded off an strong season in South America for our customers.
“The success of Fabrizio and Marcelo adds further to what is becoming an excellent season for our rallying customers,” said our Customer Racing Manager Andrea. “The FIA CODASUR title is the second continental championship won by i20 N Rally2 teams in 2023.”
Fabrizio was the only driver to win multiple events during the five-round season. The first was a dominant victory in his home country at Rally Trans Itapúa. After establishing an early advantage for himself with the best times on each of the first four stages, he went on to win by 48 seconds, taking a championship lead that he would hold for the entire year. His second top step triumph came in Brazil, as the Paraguayan finished over a minute ahead of his next closest rival.
First title feelings
The championship win is a first title in our i20 N Rally2 for Fabrizio. His FIA CODASUR commitments have been just one part of a busy year, where he has combined his continental campaign with a WRC2 season as part of our official WRC2 line-up.
“I want to thank Hyundai Automotor Paraguay for the huge support and the MZR team for the great work in the technical management of our i20 N Rally2,” commented Fabrizio. “Thanks to all of them, this wonderful car is the owner of the continental title for the first time.”
