Fabio Babini is one win away from sealing the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo Pro Drivers’ title following victory in round 13 of the 2011 season at Germany’s Hockenheimring on 1 October 2011.
??Autovitesse Garage R. Affolter’s Cédric Leimer clinched pole position in the morning’s qualifying session. The Swiss racer took early control with a lap time of 1:43.729 that none of his rivals managed to better during the 30-minute session.
A last-minute sprint from Autocarrozzeria Imperiale S.R.L.’s Babini registered a lap time of 1:43.897 to put the Italian on the front row in second. Behind Babini on the race one grid was his title rival Peter Kox, who set a time of 1:44.639 to earn third with his co-pilot Nico Pronk.
??Leimer held on to his lead at the start of the afternoon’s race, battling off competition from Babini’s co-pilot Matteo Zucchi behind him. Meanwhile, Erik Janiš charged through the field, climbing from 12th position to third over the opening eight laps, before overtaking Zucchi.
Zucchi pitted soon after, with Babini assuming control of the #22 entry. The Italian regained second from Janiš’ co-pilot Jakub Knoll when the Czech racer emerged from the pits behind the #22. Babini then inherited the lead when Cédric Leimer made a mistake and suffered a slow puncture, which caused him to slip down the order six laps from the end.
Babini maintained his lead to the chequered flag, while Gerhard Tweraser and Filip Sladecka finished in second place after the former overtook his team-mate Knoll in the closing laps.
“It was not easy for Matteo at the beginning of the race, Cedric was very fast,” said Babini. “It was difficult to close the gap, but we know that we can be faster than him, and have been many times. We closed a little and for us it was good that he made a mistake. It allowed me to pass without pushing the car too much. At this stage in the season it was a very good result for the team.”
Round 14 commences at 10.25 (CET) on Sunday 2 October 2011.
Qualifying results
1. Leimer C. (#63), Autovitesse Garage R. Affolter, 1:43.729
2. Babini/Zucchi (#22), Autocarrozzeria Imperiale S.R.L., 1:43.897
3. Pronk/Kox (#76), Reiter, 1:44.639
4. Charouz/Enge (#88), Gravity-Charouz Racing, 1:44.790
5. Sladecka/Tweraser (#77), Gravity-Charouz Racing, 1:45.153
6. Ragazzi/Carboni (#80), Autocarrozzeria Imperiale S.R.L., 1:45.217
7. Fassitelli (#11), Bonaldi Motorsport, 1:46.003
8. Seveso (#20), Autocarrozzeria Imperiale S.R.L., 1:46.081
9. Cerruti/Fasanetto (#1), Automobili Lamborghini, 1:46.168
10. Mamé/Zanardini (#3), Bonaldi Motorsport, 1:46.243
11. Übler/Öhlin (#2), Automobili Lamborghini, 1:46.711
12. Knoll/Janiš (#99), Gravity-Charouz Racing, 1:46.809
13. Leimer H./Jenny (#19), Autovitesse Garage R. Affolter, 1:47.338
Round 13 results
1. Babini/Zucchi (#22), Autocarrozzeria Imperiale S.R.L., 40:27.545
2. Sladecka/Tweraser (#77), Gravity-Charouz Racing, + 01.472
3. Knoll/Janiš (#99), Gravity-Charouz Racing, + 23.841
4. Ragazzi/Carboni (#80), Autocarrozzeria Imperiale S.R.L., + 29.320
5. Seveso (#20), Autocarrozzeria Imperiale S.R.L., + 52.138
6. Leimer C. (#63), Autovitesse Garage R. Affolter, + 52.517
7. Mamé/Zanardini (#3), Bonaldi Motorsport, + 1:28.235
8. Fassitelli (#11), Bonaldi Motorsport, + 1 lap
Not classified
Charouz/Enge (#88), Gravity-Charouz Racing, + 10 laps
Leimer H./Jenny (#19), Autovitesse Garage R. Affolter, + 14 laps
Übler/Öhlin (#2), Automobili Lamborghini, + 19 laps
Pronk/Kox (#76), Reiter, + 19 laps
Cerruti/Fasanetto (#1), Automobili Lamborghini, + 20 laps
Source: Lamborghini Super Trofeo
