DOUBLE POINTS FINISH FOR BOTH VSR CARS AT PAUL RICARD
Jun 05, 2022
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PRESS RELEASE: 5th June 2022
Double points finish for both cars at Paul Ricard
European Lamborghini Super Trofeo - Round 2, Paul Ricard
After a two month wait the European Lamborghini Super Trofeo Championship continued this weekend with a double header at Paul Ricard. VSR entered an unchanged line-up with D’Auria and Tribaudini competing in Pro and Colombini and Zonzini in Pro-Am.
The first session of free practice was a wash-out after heavy rain on Friday morning left the track soaking wet. It was hot and sunny for the afternoon session and both cars showed good pace with D’Auria setting the fourth fastest time overall. Qualifying early on Saturday saw Tribaudini and Colombini set the times for the first race grid. Tribaudini was fourth fastest, taking a spot on row two whilst Colombini was the fourth quickest Pro-Am entry and lined up on row eight. Tribaudini made a flying start to grab third and Colombini emerged from the first lap chaos in nineteenth. A lap later and he had made up a place and was in the midst of a gaggle of Pro-Am cars. The race quickly settled down and there was little action through the field until the pit-window opened on lap ten. The leader Weering pitted immediately and was followed in by several drivers including Colombini who handed the VSR Pro-Am car to Zonzini. Two laps later Tribaudini stopped and D’Auria took over. The pair were looking set for another strong finish when a technical issue slowed the car. D’Auria limped through his stint and managed to take the flag in thirteenth place. Zonzini made progress in his stint and just missed out on a Pro-Am podium, finishing fourth in class.
Sunday morning’s race saw D’Auria start from row three and Zonzini from row six. At the start D’Auria got squeezed as the cars filed into the first corner and lost two places whilst Zonzini moved up to ninth overall before the Safety Car was called out for Scheier’s crash. Racing went green again on lap three and Zonzini quickly made up another place to run eighth, third in Pro-Am, before catching up to the group of cars where D’Auria was battling with Bonduel. On lap seven he passed Berjamo’s Pro car and on lap ten the pit window opened. D’Auria was the first of the leading group to stop and Tribaudini took over the 6 car. The Frenchman was the quickest man on track but a gearbox issue three laps into his stint caused him to lose time and eventually return to pit-lane. Zonzini handed the Pro-Am car to Colombini on lap thirteen and ran well in fifth place overall, second in Pro-Am, enjoying a battle with Formanek that was cut short when the Micanek driver pitted for a drive through penalty. A class podium finish looked a certainty for the Eccentrica liveried car until Colombini was hit by Petelet as he attempted an overtake. The Target car was eventually penalised for the manoeuvre but the time lost by Colombini as he rejoined the track left the San Marino car placed fourth in Pro-Am.
Despite a difficult weekend for both cars the team heads to the next round at Misano with D’Auria and Tribaudini placed third in the Pro standings and Colombini and Zonzini fourth in Pro-Am.
ENDS
