Two new victors for the Super Trofeo Series
The Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo series set the pace at Silverstone, UK, on 15-16 August 2009, with the Italian marque providing the fastest sportscar race action. The one-make series contested its 10th, 11th and 12th rounds on the British circuit, welcoming Reiter Engineering’s Peter Kox and Marc A. Hayek as well as Autovitesse’s Jonathan Cochet and Alexander Frei onto the top step of the podium for their maiden Super Trofeo victories.
Having completed four of this season’s six race weekends, the Super Trofeo series has seen 23 drivers of seven different nationalities secure podium finishes.
Qualifying
Petri Corse’s Fabio Babini secured his second pole position of the season at Silverstone, having lapped the track in 1:23.150 during the 30-minute session. Kox completed a flying lap in the final 30 seconds to put the #24 Reiter Engineering Super Trofeo race car on the front row of the grid, while Cochet set the third fastest lap in the #11 Autovitesse car.
In his first competitive outing in the Gallardo LP 560-4 derivative, VIP guest driver and sportscar veteran Andy Wallace secured a sixth-place start for team Automobili Lamborghini having set a fastest time of 1:26.479.
Round 10
Babini’s team-mate, Claudio Rossetto, took the lead at the start, but was pursued by determined Swiss driver Frei in the #11, who managed to pass for first place before the end of the second lap.
Lamborghini Racing Eastern Europe’s Michael Scheublein had a strong start to improve his position from 10th to fourth, which he maintained until the pits opened for the drivers’ mandatory stops. Ahead, Bonaldi Motorsport’s Ferruccio Bellini passed Rossetto for second place and reeled in Frei’s lead.
At the end of the pit window, Babini took over from Rossetto and claimed the lead, holding onto it until the chequered flag. Cochet secured second place in the #11, with Bellini claiming the final podium position.
“It was a good result for us. The weather today has been incredible after this morning’s cloud; it was so hot!” said Babini. “I’m extremely happy with the car today, it has again been perfect, and I’m very happy for Lamborghini for hosting yet another excellent race.”
Round 11
Kox stormed into a strong lead from the green flag, with the #88 piloted by Scheublein behind. Yet as Kox crossed the start line for the 10th time, the safety car was deployed, as Wallace had left the track in the #2 team Automobili Lamborghini VIP car.
The on-track safety car coincided with the start of the pit window, with Hayek taking over from Kox and emerging in the lead. Behind, Hérve Leimer was chasing in the #63 Autovitesse car, with Leonardo Maddalena’s #6 Petri Corse in pursuit.
The 40-minute race ended with Hayek taking advantage of Kox’s excellent stint, and both were rewarded with the #24 taking the chequered flag. Maddelena secured second place in the #6, followed by Hérve Leimer who completed the top three.
“Peter [Kox] put in some incredible times in the beginning of the race,” said Marc A. Hayek, President and CEO of Blancpain, the series’ title partner. “It was really disappointing to see the safety car come out, but Peter had a fantastic strategy. He has helped me a lot this weekend, giving me good information.”
Round 12
Pole-sitter Kox took the lead at the start of round 12, with Babini chasing hard in second place. Behind, Giorgio Bartocci passed Frei for third, while Bellini charged after fifth-place man Hérve Leimer, putting pressure on the Swiss driver.
With the pit window open, Frei handed over the fourth-placed #11 Super Trofeo race car to Cochet, charging after Rossetto, who was now behind-the-wheel of the #22. Cochet soon passed Rossetto before catching Kox’s team-mate Hayek and passing for the lead with four laps to go.
With less than three minutes left on the clock, Maddalena in the #6 Petri Corse, went straight on at Becketts, allowing Jarek Janiš through for fourth and Bellini for fifth. At the front of the field, Cochet charged on to secure the win from Hayek in second and Rossetto taking third.
“I was so motivated for this race,” said Cochet. “Alex [Frei] did a good job and gave me the car in perfect condition. I was on maximum attack and got the lead, but kept pushing as the car felt so good and you never know what might happen in the last few laps. I’m very happy to get our first win in the Super Trofeo, and I like Silverstone even more now!”
Having watched the weekend’s racing, Manfred Fitzgerald, Lamborghini’s Director of Brand and Development said, “Today’s track action, with the Super Trofeo on excellent pace, supports our stance as the world’s fastest one-make series, and as the season continues, the drivers go on improving and the competition becomes even more competitive.”
Round 10 results
1. Babini/Rossetto (#22), Petri Corse 40:00.820
2. Frei/Cochet (#11), Autovitesse 40:13.093
3. Bellini (#3),Bonaldi Motorsport 40:22.868
4. Hayek/Kox (#24), Reiter Engineering 40:24.516
5. Janiš/Winter (#77), Lamborghini Racing Eastern Europe 40.37.920
6. Scheublein/Charouz (#88), Lamborghini Racing Eastern Europe 41:16.099
7. Fasanetto/Giordanelli (#1), Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A 41:17.420
8. Green/Wallace (#2), Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A 41:29.651
9. C. Leimer/H. Leimer (#63), Autovitesse + 1 Lap
10. Bassetti/de Plano (#66), Petri Corse + 2 Laps
Not classified
Bartocci/Maddalena (#6), Petri Corse
Round 11 results
1. Hayek/Kox (#24), Reiter Engineering 40:52.286
2. Bartocci/Maddalena (#6), Petri Corse 40:53.449
3. C. Leimer/H. Leimer (#63), Autovitesse 41:01.944
4. Frei/Cochet (#11), Autovitesse 41:12.264
5. Babini/Rossetto (#22), Petri Corse 41:12.680
6. Bellini (#3), Bonaldi Motorsport 41:38.125
7. Fasanetto/Giordanelli (#1), Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A 41:57.672
8. Scheublein/Charouz (#88), Lamborghini Racing Eastern Europe 41:58.000
9. Bassetti/de Plano (#66), Petri Corse + 1 Lap
Not classified
Green/Wallace (#2), Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A
Janiš/Winter (#77), Lamborghini Racing Eastern Europe
Round 12 results
1. Frei/Cochet (#11), Autovitesse 40:01.960
2. Hayek/Kox (#24), Reiter Engineering 40:26.279
3. Babini/Rossetto (#22), Petri Corse 40:29.612
4. Janiš/Winter (#77), Lamborghini Racing Eastern Europe 40:37.962
5. Bellini (#3),Bonaldi Motorsport 40:40.593
6. C. Leimer/H. Leimer (#63), Autovitesse 40:55.240
7. Scheublein/Charouz (#88), Lamborghini Racing Eastern Europe 41:11.809
8. Green/Wallace (#2), Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A 41:21.969
9. Fasanetto/Giordanelli (#1), Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A 41:23.077
10. Bartocci/Maddalena (#6), Petri Corse + 2 Laps
11. Bassetti/Plano (#66), Petri Corse + 2 Laps
Pro Drivers’ Standings
Fabio Babini (ITA) Petri Corse 125
Jarek Janiš (CZE) Lamborghini Racing Eastern Europe 80
Peter Kox (NED) Reiter Engineering 79
Jonathan Cochet (FRA) Autovitesse 73
Maximilian Götz (GER) Lamborghini München Team Holzer 41
Davide Amaduzzi (ITA) Bonaldi Motorsport 38
Jens Klingmann (GER) Lamborghini München Team Holzer 30
Erik Janiš (CZE) Lamborghini Racing Eastern Europe 26
Arjen van de Zwaan (NED) Schoolmaster 22
Johannes Stuck (GER) Automobili Lamborghini 10
Giorgio Venica (ITA) Petri Corse 6
Andy Wallace (GBR) Automobili Lamborghini 6
Marco Apicella (ITA) Petri Corse 1
Uwe Alzen (GER) Lamborghini München Team Holzer 1
Teams’ Standings
Petri Corse 136
Lamborghini Racing Eastern Europe 90
Autovitesse 88
Bonaldi Motorsport 87
Reiter Engineering 79
Lamborghini München Team Holzer 56
Automobili Lamborghini 51
Schoolmaster 22
Igor Pasta Racing 4
Lechner Racing Team 0
