Marisa Panagopulo
Both the Copa de Damas (Ladies’ Cup) and Formula Hyundai
Femenina ran in Argentina, in the 1990s. The Copa appeared first, in 1994,
followed by Formula Hyundai Femenina (not to be confused with single-seater
series run elsewhere, with similar names.)
Both were one-make saloon championships, with the Copa de
Damas running Nissan Sentras, and Formula Hyundai Femenina using the Hyundai
Accent. During the 1990s, there were several womens’ racing championships in
Argentina, and South America generally, and for a few seasons, Formula Hyundai
Femenina ran concurrently with the Copa de Damas.
There was some crossover between the two championships, with
several drivers moving between them, including Marisa Panagopulo, who won both,
Karina Furlan and Claudia Teatini. A number of drivers from outside Argentina
raced in the two series over their lifetimes. These included Shantal Kazazian,
from Chile.
The Copa de Damas was quite closely associated with the
Turismo Carretera touring car championship in Argentina, and some of the
drivers from both ladies’ championships later joined the TC grid. They included
Marisa Panagopulo and Ianina Zanazzi, who also raced single-seaters, with some
success.
Interest in women-only competitions was dwindling towards
the end of the 1990s. The Nissan-based series was replaced by a similar one for
the Vauxhall/Opel Corsa, but this too disappeared after 1999.
Winners –
Copa de Damas
1994 Marisa
Panagopulo
1995 Maria
Angelica Alberdi
1996 Silvina
Genjo
1997 Mariela
Manfredotti
Winners –
Formula Hyundai Femenina
1995 Marisa
Panagopulo
1996 Claudia
Teatini
1997 Karina
Furlan
1998
Gabriela Crespi
For profiles
of some of the drivers who raced in these series, try here.
The
Campeonato Brasileiro Ford Fiesta Femenino, a similar Brazilian championship,
is discussed here.
(Image from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Marisa_Panagopulo.jpg)
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