NEWS
SUPER TROFEO EUROPEAN FINALS: TITLES, VICTORIES AND PODIUMS FOR THE VSR BOYS
Nov 16, 2024
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European Lamborghini Super Trofeo, Round 6 – Jerez, Spain
Randazzo and Tribaudini crowned 2024 Am champions
Frassineti and Zanon finish the European season with a Pro-Am win
The 2024 European Lamborghini Super Trofeo Championship concluded this week with a double header at Jerez in Spain. The VSR cars were raced by Michelotto, driving alone in the number 6 Pro car, Frassineti and Zanon together again in the Pro-Am number 16 entry and Am Championship contenders Randazzo and Tribaudini behind the wheel of the number 66 Huracan. Two days testing preceded the European finals and the VSR drivers were all on form, topping the Pro, Pro-Am and Am sessions on Monday afternoon.
The European Finals got underway in earnest on Wednesday with free practice on a wet but drying track before qualifying on Thursday morning. The teams woke to more rain and first out were the Am drivers. Q1 was immediately red flagged when Guerin skated off the track but after that it was plain sailing for Tribaudini who took pole for the first race by over two seconds. On track in the Pro and Pro-Am session were Michelotto and Frassineti. In a super-close session which saw the top four covered by less than two tenths Frassineti took third and Michelotto a place on row four.
The track was dry for the start of the first Am race and polesitter Tribaudini was jumped by Lemeret as the lights went green. Halfway round the lap rain began to fall again and then Ortega in the gravel bought out the Safety Car for two laps. On lap five Tribaudini retook the lead and, as the rain stopped, rapidly pulled out a ten second gap to the rest of the field. The pit window opened on lap nine but Tribaudini stayed out until the end of the window, pitting on lap thirteen. Randazzo took over and held a sixteen second advantage as the race entered the final fifteen minutes and the track began to dry out. With seven minutes to go the rain resumed but Randazzo had everything under control and cruised to the chequered flag, sealing the 2024 Am title for himself and Tribaudini.
It was fully wet for the start of the first Pro and Pro-Am race which began with two laps behind the Safety Car. On lap four Leitch stole third from Frassineti and Michelotto moved up to sixth, just behind Bonduel. It took him just a lap to pass the Championship contender and take fifth. The pit window opened on lap nine and Michelotto stopped a lap later. Frassineti stayed out until lap fourteen before pitting for Zanon who rejoined just as the Safety Car came out for a crash from Perolini. The VSR cars were running third and fourth overall when the race was red-flagged due to damage to the tyre wall. In their respective classes it was second in Pro for Michelotto and second in Pro-Am for Frassineti amd Zanon.
Qualifying for Friday’s races saw Michelotto line-up on row five for the Pro and Pro-Am race whilst Zanon was seventh fastest in class. Both of Friday’s races took place in dry, sunny conditions. A technical issue for Michelotto at the start caused him to pit and lose a lap whilst Zanon maintained his position. On lap ten the pit window opened and the Safety Car came on track. Zanon dived into the pits for Frassineti and was followed in by Michelotto, running last but the fastest man on track. Racing resumed when the pit window closed and by the end of the first green lap Frassineti was up to fourth in class and a lap later ran third. A spin from class leader Gilardoni promoted Frassineti to second just before the Safety Car came back out. At the restart there were seven minutes left to run and Frassineti was immediately past Pisani to take the Pro-Am lead. A final Safety Car for a crash from Lucchetti meant the race was red-flagged. Frassineti and Zanon took the Pro-Am win and Michelotto showed what might have been by setting the fastest lap of the race.
For the final Am race of the European season Randazzo took a place on the second row and a great start saw him move up to third at the first corner. He was quickly challenging Han for second and on lap seven took the place cleanly and decisively and set about chasing down race leader Valkre. On lap eleven the pit window opened and Randazzo pitted for Tribaudini. Valkre stayed out until the end of the window and when his team-mate rejoined he was immediately monstered by Tribaudini who took the race lead and pulled away. The VSR driver had created a twenty-five second gap before Doms parked his Huracan in the gravel and the Safety Car came on track with just over five minutes to go. At the restart Tribaudini kept ahead easily and celebrated his new title with Randazzo with a second win at Jerez.
Lamborghini Super Trofeo action continues this weekend with the World Finals.
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