NEWS
LEWANDOWSKI CROWNED PRO-AM CHAMPION
Nov 17, 2023
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PRESS RELEASE: 17th November 2023
Lewandowski crowned Pro-Am Champion
Michelotto and Stadsbader narrowly miss out on Pro title
European Lamborghini Super Trofeo – Round 6, Vallelunga
The Lamborghini Super Trofeo Finals kicked off with the European title decider in which VSR entered four cars. Two cars were in the Pro class, the number 6 for Michelotto and Stadsbader and the 95 for Artem Petrov, returning to the series after a one-off appearance at Valencia. Lewandowski and Spinelli continued in the Pro-Am 16 car and Anapoli and Randazzo were unchanged in the number 60 Am entry.
All classes ran together for free practice and with fifty-two Huracans on track traffic was a significant issue for everyone. The classes were split for qualifying and out first in the Am session was Randazzo. He qualified on the third row. In the Pro and Pro-am qualifying Michelotto took pole once again, Petrov qualified on row four and Lewandowski was fifth fastest in Pro-Am.
The first Am race started just after eight o’clock on Thursday morning. Randazzo was seventh at the end of the first lap, sandwiched between Lewandowski Junior and Feligioni. By the time the pit window opened on lap eleven the top seven cars were covered by just six seconds and had pulled out an eleven second gap to the rest of the field. Randazzo pitted just before the window closed and Anapoli took over, gaining a place in the stops over Rindone. The Italian was quick to take it back but then Anapoli passed Moczulski for sixth. By the end of the race he had caught Dubelly in fifth. Their battle was the closest on track but Anapoli couldn’t find a way past.
At the start of the Pro and Pro-am race Michelotto shot off into the lead and Lewandowski made up a handful of places to run sixteenth whilst Petrov was hit and the contact dropped him out of the top ten. A short Safety Car period closed up the field and when racing went green Petrov was quickly past Mainetti and Eaton as Michelotto once more pulled away out front. A puncture for Au left Lewandowski with an unbeatable points lead in the Pro-Am standings and the new Champion pitted on lap eleven for Spinelli. Two laps later Petrov was in and then Michelotto followed him just before the pit window closed. Stadsbader took over the 6 car and a slender five second lead over his Championship rival Leitch. As the race entered the last ten minutes Leitch had caught Stadsbader. The Belgian held off a couple of Leitch’s wild attempts to pass before the Leipert driver shoved his Lamborghini down the inside at the hairpin hitting the rear of the VSR Huracan and causing damage to both cars. He briefly got ahead of Stadsbader but the Belgian quickly repassed him and both cars limped to the chequered flag. The result left Michelotto and Stadsbader ahead in the Championship with a slender one and a half point lead. Spinelli came back through the field from fifteenth to ninth, passing class rivals Ryba and Colombini to take the Pro-Am win. Petrov had a torrid second stint and finished twelfth just missing out on the last Pro points scoring place.
Anapoli started the final Am race from row four. The race was delayed for fog and eventually started behind the Safety Car with the cars on slicks on a damp and slippery track. Anapoli was quickly past McIntosh and then Privitelio to move into fifth. On lap seven he passed Badaway for fourth and was all over Rindone when the pit window opened. Pitting for Randazzo on lap sixteen put the 60 just ahead of Rindone. He and Randazzo battled together until the final laps when Rindone touched the back of the VSR Lambo and both cars spun around. Randazzo was the quickest to restart and took the chequered flag in a well deserved second place.
With the Pro Championship still to be decided Leitch lined up on row two and Stadsbader on row seven. Spinelli started from the front row but a gearbox problem reduced his pace and he was unable to stay with pole-sitter Schandorff when the race got underway. Petrov started from the third row and ran well in the pack headed by Leitch that was backed up behind Spinelli. Stadsbader passed his stint battling with Cabirou and Segu and pitted for Michelotto as soon as the window opened. Spinelli came in for Lewandowski on lap fourteen and Petrov pitted two laps later. By lap eighteen Michelotto was up to fifth place and four laps later had caught and passed Bonduel. The Safety Car was then called out to recover a car and racing resumed with five minutes on the clock. At the front of the field Au was quick to move out of the way of the Pro cars and then fell back allowing Lewandowski to once more take the Pro-Am win. After running together for several laps Michelotto passed Leitch on the final lap, taking the chequered flag ahead of his rival. It should have been enough to take the title but a time penalty imposed by the stewards on the number 6 car ultimately gave the Championship victory to Leitch. Petrov took the chequered flag in fifth place, just over a second off a podium finish.
The Lamborghini action continues at the weekend with the World Finals.
ENDS
