Then passing through the Andes Mountain Range to La Quiaca, entering the Bolivian Altiplano by Villazón at almost 3500 meters. After Pilcomayo, a short descent and the climb to Potosí at 3984 meters. Then to La Paz and to Lake Titicaca. From there down to the Pacific Ocean to continue through Arequipa, Nazca, and along the coast to Lima, capital of Peru, completing 4768 km. After two days of rest, begin the return to Buenos Aires.

Practically everything will be developed on dirt roads, in scythes, with a lot of mountains and rocky difficulties that will make this Northern International Grand Prix, the longest and most difficult race of those disputed until then.

Fangio is registered with a 1940 model green coupe and corresponds to No. 26. Numerous public congregates in front of the River Plate stadium in Buenos Aires, to witness the start of this Grand Prix at 0 o'clock on September 27. A total of 92 participants are from the start.

Fangio's first triumph in a TC Grand Prix

To settle debts after the Thousand Miles of 1939, Fangio had had to sell the black 1939 Chevrolet coupe, so when the Great Prize of the North of 1940 was announced, he was on foot.

Advised by a friend, he buys and prepares a green 1940 Chevrolet coupe in his workshop. The money to pay for it had to come from a raffle, which had the same race car as a prize. Fangio decides to leave his car almost standard in the engine part, reinforcing it in everything else, to support the long journey. He arrives first at Tucumán, surprising with his 126 km / h average, without stopping. The climb to Potosí brought its problems, like the muddy ground of Cuandacol and Huaco.

The heat was tremendous and the engines suffered a lot. Several punctures were relegated and the most dramatic moment was when they hit the neutralization of La Paz - Bolivia. Then the problems were not lacking; Broken radiator, temperature, 20 flat tires, a touch on the rock in the 12th Stage, when it was thought that everything was over it came to the differential change and more cover problems. With all this, Fangio arrives victorious in the General Classification. He has spent 109 hours traveling the 9445 km. His general average is 86.2 km / h. His people are euphoric with this victory, the first achieved in TC, which will consecrate Argentine Road Tourism Champion.

Fangio is already a consecrated. This Northern International Grand Prix is one of its most important victories and since then Fangio and Galvez / Chevrolet and Ford, will divide the TC fans for the whole decade.

CHEVROLET COUPE 40

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