The rambla (the street beside the ocean) along La Brava and nearby streets are blocked off and lined with cement barricades. Grandstands are in place at strategic viewing spots. Auto racing aficionados are streaming into town, and huge transport trailers began arriving this morning to unload over 60 very fast-looking cars in all colors of the rainbow (and covered in advertising), some of them modified touring cars, others low-slung "formula" cars very similar to the ones seen in Formula One races. All this because three races will be held in Punta del Este over the next three days: the season-ending race of the Argentinean series "TC2000," a race in the Renault Formula 1.6 series, and one in the Copa Megane series.
TC2000 is the leading "touring car" race series in South America, dating back to 1979. It's more or less like the Nascar series in the United States, with official teams sponsored by different automobile companies and others by private syndicates. Drivers are internationally famous, many of them also drivers of Formula 1 cars in Europe. Most races are held within Argentina, but the series does venture into neighboring countries like Brazil and Uruguay. The race in Punta del Este will see cars from over 30 teams, including official teams from Honda, Volkswagen, General Motors, Renault, and several other companies.
The Renault Formula 1.6 series, which is run all over the world, features a totally different type of vehicle -- low-slung, bullet-shaped cars that could pass for the Formula One racers seen at Monte Carlo and other venues. The Copa Megane, also run over the world, is limited to one brand, Renaults.
This will be the first event like this in Punta del Este in over 20 years, but my understanding from at least two people here who profess to now these things is that the intention is to bring serious auto-racing to this area if not annually, then certainly every three or four years. There's even a fleshed-out proposal to construct a Formula One track just down the coast from Punta del Este toward Piriapolis (that's in the direction of Montevideo), in hopes of attracting a stop in the premier racing series in the world.
The picture is from a previous race in the Renault Formula 1.6 series, in a different location.
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