De Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo serie bezocht het Circuit de Catalunya, Spanje, op 18-20 september voor het voorlaatste raceweekend van de 2009 kalender.
Hier een korte samenvating en verslag van de race.
REITER ENGINEERING REELS IN PETRI CORSE’S LEAD
The Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo series visited the Circuit de Catalunya, Spain, on 18-20 September for its penultimate race weekend of the 2009 calendar.
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.
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.
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 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 Ivan Capelli and team-mate Jaime Hernandez claimed seventh, with fellow VIP drivers Christina 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
Pro Drivers’ Standings
Fabio Babini (ITA)
Petri Corse
140
Peter Kox (NED)
Reiter Engineering
106
Jarek Janiš (CZE)
Lamborghini Racing Eastern Europe
93
Jonathan Cochet (FRA)
Autovitesse
73
Maximilian Götz (GER)
Lamborghini München Team Holzer
41
Davide Amaduzzi (ITA)
Bonaldi Motorsport
38
Arjen van de Zwaan (NED)
Schoolmaster
33
Jens Klingmann (GER)
Lamborghini München Team Holzer
30
Erik Janiš (CZE)
Lamborghini Racing Eastern Europe
26
Johannes Stuck (GER)
Automobili Lamborghini
10
Stephan Dostal (CZE)
Lamborghini Racing Eastern Europe
8
Giorgio Venica (ITA)
Petri Corse
6
Andy Wallace (GBR)
Automobili Lamborghini
6
Ivan Capelli (ITA)
Automobili Lamborghini
2
Marco Apicella (ITA)
Petri Corse
1
Uwe Alzen (GER)
Lamborghini München Team Holzer
1
Pro-Am Drivers’ Standings
Claudio Rossetto (ITA)
Petri Corse
140
Marc A. Hayek (SUI)
Reiter Engineering
106
Alexander Frei (SUI)
Autovitesse
73
Ferruccio Bellini (ITA)
Bonaldi Motorsport
71
Achim Winter (GER)
Lamborghini München Team Holzer
56
Eugenio Amos (ITA)
Bonaldi Motorsport
48
Cedric Leimer (SUI)
Autovitesse
47
Herve Leimer (SUI)
Autovitesse
47
Albert von Thurn und Taxis (GER)
Lamborghini Racing Eastern Europe
38
Michael Scheublein (GER)
Lamborghini Racing Eastern Europe
38
Giorgio Bartocci (ITA)
Petri Corse
26
Leonardo Maddalena (ITA)
Petri Corse
26
Petr Charouz (CZE)
Lamborghini Racing Eastern Europe
26
Siebrand Dijkstra (NED)
Schoolmaster
23
Mario Fasanetto (ITA)
Automobili Lamborghini
18
Giovanni Bassetti (ITA)
Petri Corse
18
Benoit Galand (BEL)
Automobili Lamborghini
17
Tim Schrick (GER)
Automobili Lamborghini
17
Salvatore De Plano (ITA)
Petri Corse
11
Gianluigi Piccioli (ITA)
Bonaldi Motorsport
10
Roberto Giordanelli (ITA)
Automobili Lamborghini
10
Louis Machiels (BEL)
Lamborghini Racing Eastern Europe
9
Holger Eckhardt (GER)
Automobili Lamborghini
9
Luigi Mocchia (ITA)
Automobili Lamborghini
8
Christina Surer (SUI)
Automobili Lamborghini
8
Juan Collín (ESP)
Automobili Lamborghini
8
Martin Westerhoff (GER)
Automobili Lamborghini
6
Roger Green (GBR)
Automobili Lamborghini
6
Stephan Dostal (CZE)
Lamborghini Racing Eastern Europe
5
Andrea Gardelli (ITA)
Igor Pasta Racing
4
Matteo Grassi (ITA)
Igor Pasta Racing
4
Niek Hommerson (NED)
Lamborghini Racing Eastern Europe
4
Jaime Hernandez (ESP)
Automobili Lamborghini
2
Teams’ Standings
Petri Corse
154
Lamborghini Racing Eastern Europe
110
Bonaldi Racing
107
Reiter Engineering
106
Autovitesse
99
Automobili Lamborghini
59
Lamborghini München Team Holzer
56
Schoolmaster
33
Igor Pasta Racing
4
*Lacko’s team-mate, Michael Scheublein, did not compete in rounds 14 and 15 due to illness.
Source: Lamborghini Super Trofeo
