Agustin Canapino, a rookie in the NTT IndyCar Series, will return to his native Argentina next month to drive in the Turismo Carretera (ACTC) stock car series for the final six races of the season.
The ACTC series is where Canapino found success as a professional race car driver, winning the driver’s championship on four separate occasions in 2010, 2017, 2018, and 2019.
His success made him one of the most popular drivers in Argentina, and his move to IndyCar with Juncos Hollinger Racing this season grew his following even more.
Canapino will be greeted by many excited fans when he runs the six races in his home country, which conveniently do not conflict with the remainder of the IndyCar season.
“It is a beautiful opportunity to return to the family of Turismo Carretera and see all of the amazing fans once again,” said Canapino.
“Buenos Aires is the ‘cathedral of motorsports’ as we call it, and since the track’s renovations, it will be more than special to race there again.
“It was also the place where I was able to secure my first championship title at the age of 20, back in 2010, and everything changed for me from that day onwards.”
The first race in which Canapino will return will be at the Juan y Oscar Galvez Autodrome in Buenos Aires on August 19-20, which is an off weekend for IndyCar.
Canapino will drive the #78 entry for the event, which will carry a green and black livery that matches JHR’s bold color scheme that it has run this season.
The final five races of the 2023 ACTC season will also have Canapino on the grid, with those rounds being run after IndyCar concludes its season on September 10 at Laguna Seca.
The 33-year-old is still expected to run the 2024 IndyCar season, and he currently has no plans to return to stock car racing full time.
JHR owner Ricardo Juncos, who is proud of his own Argentinian heritage, has given his full support to the races, and likely sees them as another way to demonstrate how successful an IndyCar event in the country would be.
“For Agustin to race again in the TC, being an IndyCar driver, is a priceless opportunity that presented itself very beautifully,” said the JHR team owner.
“It deserves everyone’s support, and that’s why [JHR co-owner] Brad Hollinger and I did not hesitate to allow Agustin to participate in Buenos Aires and at the five TC races that complete the 2023 season.”
The announcement garnered attention from other IndyCar drivers on social media, who began to voice their interest in competing in a round or two alongside Canapino.
Scott McLaughlin, who also has a background in stock car racing in Australia, was the first to volunteer, and received an invitation from the ACTC team owner for the race on August 20.
Alex Palou and Pato O’Ward also noted their interest in trying out a stock car race in Argentina, but no official participation announcements have been made outside of the one for Canapino.
Before Canapino’s trip home, he will first compete in the next IndyCar round on the streets of Nashville for the Music City Grand Prix, which takes place August 4-6.
