The
third Lamborghini Super Trofeo season concluded last
weekend in Barcelona, Spain, where Swiss pilot Cédric
Leimer was crowned 2011 Pro-Am Drivers’ Champion in a
gentleman drivers’ title fight that went right to the
wire in the 18-race series. Italian Fabio Babini
celebrated a double victory last weekend: although
already declared Pro Drivers’ Champion at the Hockenheim
race weekend earlier in October, his team
Autocarrozzeria Imperiale also claimed the 2011 Teams’
Championship in Barcelona.
Lamborghini has confirmed the provisional 2012 calendar
and also announced a new series in Asia to run alongside
the established European competition. Building on the
series’ success, the Asian Lamborghini Blancpain Super
Trofeo will debut in Sepang, Malaysia in May 2012 with
five further race weekends across Japan, China and
Taiwan.
The provisional 2012 Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo
European calendar will comprise of six race weekends,
commencing in Italy and visiting legendary circuits such
as Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium, and Silverstone, UK.
The series format for next year is also currently under
discussion with sponsors, teams and drivers in order to
agree 2012 regulations for both Europe and Asia.
Additional track time during race weekends has already
been confirmed to ensure better familiarisation with
circuits, and a review of driver categories will also
take place. Currently, professional and gentlemen
drivers compete side by side with a minimum 30-minute
free practice, 30-minute qualifying session and three
40-minute races during race weekends.
Series participants will also have the opportunity to
experience the world of Super Trofeo through a series of
track and lifestyle events organised during the year by
Lamborghini.
The technical specification for the Super Trofeo race
car, a derivative of the Gallardo LP 570-4, will be the
same for Europe and Asia. Although tyre changes are not
permitted in the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo, the
car will be updated to feature a single wheel nut, which
will allow for faster pit stops when entered in
endurance races. The Asian Super Trofeo will also be
equipped with air conditioning.
“It has been a tremendously successful three years for
the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo, and we are
delighted to continue the series into 2012 and beyond in
both Europe and Asia,” said Stephan Winkelmann,
President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini.
“Motorsport provides a perfect platform for our extreme,
uncompromising and Italian brand, with the prowess of
our road cars demonstrated on track: not only in our own
single-make series but winning races and titles around
the world. As a global brand, our expansion into one of
our most important markets has been eagerly received in
Asia, and we look forward to building on the success of
the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo with new drivers,
teams, and fans.”
Alain Delamuraz, Blancpain Vice President and Head of
Marketing, added: “Lamborghini and Blancpain have
created an exceptional partnership that has gained
considerable momentum over the last three years, and we
are delighted to continue our support of the series in
not only Europe but also Asia, which is an equally
important market for us.”
2012 PROVISIONAL EUROPEAN CALENDAR
DATE LOCATION
April/May Italy
3 June Silverstone, UK
1 July Paul Ricard HTTT, France
29 July Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium
16/23 September Hockenheim/Nürburgring, Germany
October/November Barcelona, Spain
2012 PROVISIONAL ASIAN CALENDAR
DATE LOCATION
April (testing) Sepang, Malaysia
May Sepang, Malaysia
July Motegi, Japan
August Ordos, China
September Zhuhai, China
October Taiwan
November Shanghai, China
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