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The
Lamborghini Super Trofeo series visited the
Circuit de Catalunya, Spain over the weekend for
its penultimate meeting of its inaugural year.
Having begun the weekend with a 45-point lead in
both the Pro and Pro-Am Drivers’ Standings,
Petri Corse pilots Fabio Babini and Claudio
Rossetto now lead by only 19 points, after
Reiter Engineering’s Peter Kox and Marc A. Hayek
secured two victories to bring their podium
tally to seven this season.
The Lamborghini
Blancpain Super Trofeo features the Lamborghini Super
Trofeo: a lightweight version of the Gallardo LP 560-4. The
Super Trofeo is equipped with a reworked chassis and a power
output of 419 kW (570 hp) from its V10, ‘Iniezione Diretta
Stratificata’ engine. The race car features Lamborghini’s
permanent four-wheel drive, making the Super Trofeo the only
one-make, all-wheel-drive motorsport series.
Barcelona also saw the first female competitor, as German TV
presenter Christina Surer got behind-the-wheel of the #2
team Automobili Lamborghini VIP guest car. Former Formula
One driver Ivan Capelli also competed this weekend in the #1
Gallardo LP 560-4 derivative. The inaugural season of the
Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo is running over six
European race weekends, alongside other prestigious series
such as the FIA GT Championship, DTM and the British F3 and
GT Championships.
Qualifying
Babini secured pole position, having set a fastest time of
1:15.036 during the 30-minute qualifying session. Reiter
Engineering’s Kox secured second on the grid after setting
his fastest time of 1:15.051, less than two hundredths of a
second off the pole-sitter. Bonaldi Motorsport’s Ferruccio
Bellini started from third, having set a lap time of
1:15.961, with the #88 of Lamborghini Racing Eastern Europe
completing the second row. Former Formula One driver Ivan
Capelli secured 10th on the grid in the #1 team Automobili
Lamborghini VIP car, with Surer setting the 11th fastest
time.
“The Petri Corse car is working well for us yet again,” said
pole-setter Babini. “We made some small set-up changes after
free practice earlier today and the car is perfect. Kox was
very close to our time in this session, but I am happy for
the race tomorrow.”
Round 13
The #22 Petri Corse secured its sixth victory in round 13.
Babini’s team-mate, Rossetto, was passed at the start by
Hayek in the #24 and Bellini in the #3 before the first
corner, but Italian Rossetto fought back to reclaim the lead
before the end of lap two. Bellini passed Hayek for second
place while fellow Bonaldi Motorsport driver Eugenio Amos
was on a charge from an eighth-place start and was currently
fourth. Behind, Automobili Lamborghini VIP guest driver
Jaime Hernandez who was partnering Capelli was forced into
retirement when his tyre blew on the start/finish straight.
Peter Kox took over from Hayek in the #24 and managed to
pass Bellini for second. As Bellini entered turn one, he
spun the #3, allowing Amos through for third.
Babini claimed the win for Petri Corse with Kox second and
Amos third. Lamborghini Racing Eastern Europe’s Jarek Janiš
secured fourth, with guest driver Christina Surer crossing
the line seventh in the #2 car. “I was worried about what
might happen at the first corner because there was the
possibility another driver might hit our car,” said Rossetto.
“That didn’t happen, and although I was in third I was able
to take second place and then the lead because the car was
really quick. My thanks to Petri Corse, Pirelli and
Lamborghini.”
Round 14
Kox managed to claim the lead at the start of round 14,
while an incident involving the #69 and #3 Bonaldi
Motorsport entries and the #22 Petri Corse forced the #3 and
#22 to retire. Janiš began to chase Kox, closing the gap to
as little as four tenths of a second, but was unable to
pass. As the #24 and #77 entered the pits, Janiš clipped the
pit wall and was given a drive-through penalty, costing him
second place. Adam Lacko* in the #88 was promoted to second,
and made an attempt to pass Hayek, who took over from Kox at
the wheel of the #24. Czech driver Lacko spun but was able
to rejoin without losing position.
Hayek secured the win, with Lacko second and Amos third,
having passed Siebrand Dijkstra in the #16 on the last lap.
“That was a very exciting race,” said Hayek, President and
CEO of the series title sponsor, Blancpain. “We were passed
in the pit-stop by the #77 from Lamborghini Racing Eastern
Europe and it took me a lap to catch-up and overtake. Later,
when Adam [Lacko] tried to overtake me into the first
corner, I was already very ambitious on the brakes. I
thought as he came next to me, ‘I’m not sure that’s going to
work!’ but it worked out well, and I’m happy he was able to
come back from the spin and finish second.”
Round 15
Kox and Hayek claimed their second win of the day in round
15. From pole, Kox took the lead at the start with Lacko in
second and Janiš third. From 10th on the grid, Babini
climbed to seventh at the start, and charged his way through
the field to second place before the pit window opened.
After the two front-runners pitted, Babini’s team-mate
Rossetto was passed by Czech driver Lacko for second before
going wide at turn one and allowing Amos through for third.
Hayek claimed the chequered flag in the #24, followed Amos,
who managed to pass Lacko just a few corners before the
finish line. Lacko finished third, with Jarek Janiš’
team-mate and newcomer Stephan Dostal fourth. From the very
back of the grid, a determined Bellini battled his way
through the field to finish a strong sixth. Automobili
Lamborghini VIP guests, Capelli and team-mate Jaime
Hernandez claimed seventh, with fellow VIP drivers Surer and
Juan Collín crossing the line 10th.
“This has made a perfect weekend for us,” said Kox. “Marc
put in a really impressive, mature performance. He’s getting
better all the time. After this year I don’t think he’ll be
needing me any more!”
“We’ve had some outstanding weather in Barcelona and the
heat always puts additional stress on a car, let alone a
race car,” said Maurizio Reggiani, Director of Research and
Development. “The Super Trofeo has withstood this, keeping
consistent throughout the three races to provide some close,
exciting racing.” The Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo
will now travel to Paul Ricard, France, on 2-4 October for
the final race weekend of its inaugural season.
Qualifying results
1. Babini/Rossetto (#22), Petri Corse 1:15.036
2. Hayek/Kox (#24), Reiter Engineering 1:15.051
3. Bellini (#3), Bonaldi Motorsport 1:15.961
4. Scheublein/Lacko (#88), Lamborghini Racing Eastern Europe
1:16.142
5. Dijkstra/van de Zwaan (#16), Schoolmaster 1:16.325
6. Janiš/Dostal (#77), Lamborghini Racing Eastern Europe
1:16.518
7. Bertocci/Maddalena (#6), Petri Corse 1:16.732
8. Amos (#69), Bonaldi Motorsport 1:16.807
9. C. Leimer/H. Leimer (#63), Autovitesse 1:16.965
10. Capelli/Hernandez (#1), Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A
1:17.059
11. Surer/Collín (#2), Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A 1:17.704
12. Bassetti/de Plano (#66), Petri Corse 1:20.567
Round 13 results
1. Babini/Rossetto (#22), Petri Corse 40:07.937
2. Hayek/Kox (#24), Reiter Engineering + 10.384
3. Amos (#69), Bonaldi Motorsport + 10.687
4. Janiš/Dostal (#77), Lamborghini Racing Eastern Europe +
19.298
5. Bellini (#3), Bonaldi Motorsport + 29.285
6. C. Leimer/H. Leimer (#63), Autovitesse + 1:06.805
7. Surer/Collín (#2), Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A + 1 lap
8. Dijkstra/van de Zwaan (#16), Schoolmaster + 1 lap
9. Bassetti/de Plano (#66), Petri Corse + 1 lap
Not classified
Bertocci/Maddalena (#6), Petri Corse
Capelli/Hernandez (#1), Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A
Scheublein/Lacko (#88), Lamborghini Racing Eastern Europe
Round 14 results
1. Hayek/Kox (#24), Reiter Engineering 40:0.020
2. Lacko (#88), Lamborghini Racing Eastern Europe + 18.382
3. Amos (#69), Bonaldi Motorsport + 32.637
4. Dijkstra/van de Zwaan (#16), Schoolmaster + 33.872
5. C. Leimer/H. Leimer (#63), Autovitesse + 55.390
6. Janiš/Dostal (#77), Lamborghini Racing Eastern Europe +
59.014
7. Surer/Collín (#2), Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A +
1:07.112
8. Bassetti/de Plano (#66), Petri Corse + 2 laps
9. Capelli/Hernandez (#1), Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A + 2
laps
Not classified
Babini/Rossetto (#22), Petri Corse
Bellini (#3), Bonaldi Motorsport
Round 15 results
1. Hayek/Kox (#24), Reiter Engineering 41:18.248
2. Amos (#69), Bonaldi Motorsport + 08.201
3. Scheublein/Lacko (#88), Lamborghini Racing Eastern Europe
+ 08.826
4. Janiš/Dostal (#77), Lamborghini Racing Eastern Europe +
24.379
5. Dijkstra/van de Zwaan (#16), Schoolmaster + 25.279
6. Bellini (#3), Bonaldi Motorsport + 25.688
7. Capelli/Hernandez (#1), Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A +
33.510
8. Bertocci/Maddalena (#6), Petri Corse + 44.238
9. Surer/Collín (#2), Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A + 1 lap
10. Bassetti/de Plano (#66), Petri Corse + 1 lap
Not classified
C. Leimer/H. Leimer (#63), Autovitesse
Babini/Rossetto (#22), Petri Corse
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