Italian team Petri Corse secured the Teams’, Pro and Pro-Am drivers’ titles of the 2009 Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo season at Paul Ricard HTTT, France, yesterday. Despite close competition from Reiter Engineering’s Peter Kox and Marc A. Hayek, Petri Corse’s Fabio Babini and Claudio Rossetto managed to secure all three titles after claiming three podium finishes during the final race weekend of the 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 Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo has been run over six European race weekends, alongside other prestigious series such as the FIA GT Championship, DTM and the British F3 and GT Championships. This was the sixth and final round. Either one or two drivers per car were able to register for the series; each race weekend comprised of free practice, qualifying session, and three 40-minute races. The race car features Lamborghini’s permanent four-wheel drive, making the Super Trofeo the only one-make, all-wheel-drive motorsport series. The pan-European series saw nine nationalities compete with 24 different drivers securing podium finishes over the six rounds, demonstrating close on-track competition throughout the season.

Qualifying

New team for the final race weekend, PURESPORT, secured pole, with Mirko Venturi behind-the-wheel of the #23 Super Trofeo. In the 30-minute session, the Italian driver set a fastest lap of 2:10.837. Babini set the second fastest time in the #22 Petri Corse entry, lapping the French track in 2:10.967. Behind, team Automobili Lamborghini driver Giorgio Sanna set the third fastest time of 2:12.108 in the #1 VIP race car, putting his team-mate AUTOhebdo journalist Romain Bernard on the second row of the grid. “We are really happy to get pole for our first race,” said PURESPORT’s Team Manager Rosario Campagna. “As a company, we have never competed in a racing series before and only decided to enter the Super Trofeo for one race three months ago, so to be in this position is fantastic.”

Round 16

Before the end of the first lap, Bernard in the #1 team Automobili Lamborghini Super Trofeo passed Rossetto and PURESPORT’s Andrea Invernizzi for the lead and began to pull away from the field. However, Kox was charging through the field in the #24, having started from very last place. On lap five, the Reiter Engineering driver passed Bernard for the lead. At the mandatory pit-stop, Sanna took the wheel from Bernard, with Hayek being handed the #24 from Kox. Back on track, Sanna passed Hayek for the lead, with Rossetto’s team-mate Babini following through for second place. Behind, Davide Amaduzzi in the #69 Bonaldi Motorsport race car was reeling in Hayek, but was unable to reach him before the chequered flag. Sanna crossed the line first to claim with win, with Babini second and Hayek third.

“I’m a car journalist not a racing driver so I’m very pleased with the result,” said Bernard. “I didn’t have a lot of confidence yesterday, but Giorgio [Sanna] and the team helped me to look through the data and learn where I could find extra time under braking, and their advice worked!”

Round 17

From second on the grid, Babini took the lead at the start, with Kox close behind and team Automobili Lamborghini VIP guest driver Albert von Thurn und Taxis running in third. PURESPORT’s Venturi had managed to climb through to third place by the opening of the pit window, but got a puncture on lap 10. Venturi guided the #23 back to the pits and his team-mate Invernizzi rejoined the field, climbing up to ninth before the chequered flag. At the front of the field, Rossetto, now leading in the #22, made a mistake under braking on the penultimate lap and spun. Kox’s team-mate Hayek passed the recovering Rossetto, crossing the line first. Rossetto finished second with Bonaldi Motorsport’s Eugenio Amos third. Having claimed 12 points in round 17, Petri Corse’s Babini and Rossetto secured the 2009 Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo Pro and Pro-Am drivers’ titles.

Round 18

With third in the Pro-Am Drivers’ standings, and second and third in the Teams’ standings yet to be decided, the final round of the season was extremely close. At the start, Babini tried to take the lead, but Reiter Engineering’s Peter Kox, who started from pole, managed to keep his lead. Behind, Bonaldi Motorsport’s Davide Amaduzzi maintained third-place. At the pit-stop, Hayek took the wheel of the #24 Super Trofeo, while Amos took over in the #69. However, both were given drive-through penalties for pit-stop infringements, just four laps before the end of the race. On the penultimate lap, Amos passed Rossetto for second place. With Hayek serving his drive-through penalty, Amos took the lead. As the cars came around the track for the final time, Amos pitted, allowing Rossetto to take the win. Amos claimed second place with Hayek third.

With the final points awarded, the top three in each of the standings were concluded. After yet another podium on Saturday, Rossetto secured the Pro-Am drivers’ title, with Hayek second and Bonaldi Motorsport’s Ferruccio Bellini third. In the Pro drivers’ standings, Babini claimed the title, with Kox second and Jarek Janiš for Lamborghini Racing Eastern Europe third. Petri Corse secured the Teams’ title after claiming an impressive eleven podiums during the season. Reiter Engineering was its closest rival, finishing second, while Bonaldi Motorsport secured third.

“To be the first Super Trofeo Champions is fantastic for Rossetto and me,” said Babini. “This is a great result for Petri Corse, and the series has been excellent thanks to Lamborghini and Pirelli…I think we will be celebrating with the team!”

“I’m very very happy!” added Rossetto. “The series has been very exciting. I don’t think that I was physically fit enough at the start of the season, but I have improved a lot during the year.”

Simone Petri, Team Manager of Petri Corse said, “I’m very happy with the season. Winning the last race was very important but difficult after Barcelona, as we felt a lot of pressure. We will definitely be back next season…with four cars.”

“We’ve had a fantastic season with some extremely close racing,” said Manfred Fitzgerald, Director of Brand and Design at Lamborghini. “The race format has definitely been a success, bringing the title chase right to the last race weekend. We are in discussions for next year’s calendar, and have already received strong interest, so the competition will only get tougher!”

Round 16 results

1. Sanna/Bernard (#1), Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A 41:56.217
2. Babini/Rossetto (#22), Petri Corse +10.790
3. Hayek/Kox (#24), Reiter Engineering +16.821
4. Amos/Amaduzzi (#69), Bonaldi Motorsport +17.144
5. von Thurn und Taxis/Saurma (#2), Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A +20.692
6. Charouz/Lacko (#88), Lamborghini Racing Eastern Europe +35.170
7. Bellini (#3), Bonaldi Motorsport +46.419
8. Dijkstra/van de Zwaan (#16), Schoolmaster +58.983
9. Venturi/Invernizzi (#23), PURESPORT +1:15.717
10. C. Leimer/H. Leimer (#63), Autovitesse +1:49.506
11. Janiš/Winter (#77), Lamborghini Racing Eastern Europe +1:54.267
12. Jenny (#007), Lamborghini Racing Eastern Europe + 1 lap
13. Bassetti (#66), Petri Corse + 1 lap
Not classified
Bartocci/Maddalena (#6), Petri Corse

Round 17 results

1. Hayek/Kox (#24), Reiter Engineering 42:01.943
2. Babini/Rossetto (#22), Petri Corse +2.378
3. Amos/Amaduzzi (#69), Bonaldi Motorsport +5.223
4. Charouz/Lacko (#88), Lamborghini Racing Eastern Europe +26.703
5. Dijkstra/van de Zwaan (#16), Schoolmaster +28.359
6. Bellini (#3), Bonaldi Motorsport +29.513
7. von Thurn und Taxis/Saurma (#2), Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A +44.721
8. Janiš/Winter (#77), Lamborghini Racing Eastern Europe +52.982
9. Venturi/Invernizzi (#23), PURESPORT +59.567
10. Bartocci/Maddalena (#6), Petri Corse +1:03.576
11. Jenny (#007), Lamborghini Racing Eastern Europe +1:53.576
12. Bassetti (#66), Petri Corse +2:00.277
13. C. Leimer/H. Leimer (#63), Autovitesse + 2 laps
Not classified
Sanna/Bernard (#1), Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A

Round 18 results

1. Babini/Rossetto (#22), Petri Corse 41:59.502
2. Amos/Amaduzzi (#69), Bonaldi Motorsport +1.064
3. Hayek/Kox (#24), Reiter Engineering +7.618
4. Bellini (#3), Bonaldi Motorsport +15.282
5. Charouz/Lacko (#88), Lamborghini Racing Eastern Europe +17.375
6. von Thurn und Taxis/Saurma (#2), Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A +22.911
7. Bartocci/Maddalena (#6), Petri Corse +45.413
8. C. Leimer/H. Leimer (#63), Autovitesse +54.399
9. Janiš/Winter (#77), Lamborghini Racing Eastern Europe +54.407
10. Dijkstra/van de Zwaan (#16), Schoolmaster +1:04.135
11. Sanna/Bernard (#1), Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A +1:15.243
12. Jenny (#007), Lamborghini Racing Eastern Europe +2:20.043
13. Bassetti (#66), Petri Corse + 3 laps
Not classified
15. Venturi/Invernizzi (#23), PURESPORT

Pro Drivers’ Standings

1. Fabio Babini (ITA) 179
2. Peter Kox (NED) 156
3. Jarek Janiš (CZE) 110
4. Jonathan Cochet (FRA) 73
5. Maximilian Götz (GER) 63
6. Davide Amaduzzi (ITA) 46
7. Arjen van de Zwaan (NED) 41
8. Jens Klingmann (GER) 38
9. Erik Janiš (CZE) 26
10. Johannes Stuck (GER) 10
11. Giorgio Venica (ITA) 6
12. Andy Wallace (GBR) 6
13. Ivan Capelli (ITA) 6
14. Mirko Venturi (ITA) 4
15. Marco Apicella (ITA) 1
16. Uwe Alzen (GER) 1

Pro-Am Drivers’ Standings
 
Claudio Rossetto (ITA) 179
Marc A. Hayek (SUI) 156
Ferruccio Bellini (ITA) 97
Eugenio Amos (ITA) 86
Alexander Frei (SUI) 73
Achim Winter (GER) 61
Albert von Thurn und Taxis (GER) 53
Cedric Leimer (SUI) 51
Herve Leimer (SUI) 51
Petr Charouz (CZE) 45
Adam Lacko (CZE) 41
Siebrand Dijkstra (NED) 39
Michael Scheublein (GER) 38
Giorgio Bartocci (ITA) 34
Leonardo Maddalena (ITA) 34
Stephan Dostal (CZE) 21
Giovanni Bassetti (ITA) 19
Mario Fasanetto (ITA) 18
Benoit Galand (BEL) 17
Tim Schrick (GER) 17
Romain Bernard (FRA) 15
Horst von Saurma (GER) 15
Salvatore De Plano (ITA) 12
Christina Surer (SUI) 10
Juan Collin (ESP) 10
Gianluigi Piccioli (ITA) 10
Roberto Giordanelli (ITA) 10
Louis Machiels (BEL) 9
Holger Eckhardt (GER) 9
Luigi Mocchia (ITA) 8
Martin Westerhoff (GER) 6
Roger Green (GBR) 6
Jaime Hernandez (ESP) 6
Andrea Gardelli (ITA) 4
Matteo Grassi (ITA) 4
Niek Hommerson (NED) 4
Andreas Invernizzi (ITA) 4
Oliver Morley (GBR) 0
Maximillian Werndl (GER) 0
Laurent Jenny (SUI) 0

Teams’ Standings

Petri Corse 196
Reiter Engineering 156
Bonaldi Motorsport 149
Lamborghini Racing Eastern Europe 139
Autovitesse 103
Automobili Lamborghini 87
Lamborghini München Team Holzer 56
Schoolmaster 49
Igor Pasta Racing 4
PURESPORT 3
Lechner Racing Team 0