NEWS
VSR TAKE THREE PODIUMS AT VALLELUNGA IN ITALIAN SPRINT OPENER
May 25, 2025
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Italian GT Sprint, Vallelunga - Italy
VSR kicks off Italian GT Sprint season with trio of podiums
The Italian GT Sprint Championship started this weekend with a double header race weekend at Vallelunga. VSR entered three cars, two Pro class Lamborghini’s as well as a Pro-Am entry for Michelotto and Zanon which bore race number 66. The Pro cars were driven by Deledda and Hutchison in the number 19 Huracan and Frassineti and Liberati in the 63.
Friday’s free practice sessions were run in vastly different conditions, the circuit dry in the morning and wet in the afternoon, but the sun was shining for Saturday morning’s qualifying sessions. Out in Q1 were Deledda, Frassineti and Michelotto. Michelotto put the Pro-Am VSR Lamborghini on pole position with a lap two tenths quicker than Alatalo’s BMW who would line up alongside for him race one. Frassineti was third fastest and Deledda set a time good enough for the fourth row.
Michelotto made a storming start when the lights went green for Saturday’s race. Behind him Frassineti got ahead of Alatalo’s BMW to slot into second as Deledda held eighth. On lap five Deledda put the 19 car ahead of Bowen to take seventh and Klingmann, who had passed the sister BMW of Alatalo started to put Frassineti under pressure. As the pair scrapped over second Michelotto pulled out an eight second lead which he maintained as Klingmann passed Frassineti and the pit window approached. On lap thirteen a sensor issue slowed Michelotto and he pitted together with Frassineti as soon as the window opened. Zanon and Liberati took over the two VSR cars as Deledda stayed out until the halfway point before pitting for Hutchison. On lap nineteen Liberati passed Caglioni to move into second, four seconds behind the BMW now driven by Krohn. Hutchison ran sixth and during his stint closed up and passed Badawi to bring the 19 car home fifth overall. Liberati took the chequered flag in second position and Zanon finished fourth in Pro-Am.
In qualifying for Sunday’s race Liberati took a front row start for the 63 Lamborghini, Hutchinson lined up on the fourth row and Zanon was sixth fastest in Pro-Am. Liberati rocketed away at the start, jumping pole-sitter Ferrari. An early Safety Car for Bracalente’s off eliminated the initial gap Liberati had made and when racing resumed with seven minutes to go until the pit window he set about rebuilding it. On lap eleven a technical issue for Caglioni promoted Zanon to fourth in Pro-Am and a lap later the pit window opened. Hutchison, who had been battling with Di Amato’s Honda, pitted for Deledda, followed by Zanon who handed the Pro-Am Lambo to Michelotto. The Italian made quick work of Colavita and Scholz to move into second in class. Liberati pitted on lap seventeen and after discounting a twelve second success penalty Frassineti rejoined in third place. He quickly caught up to Bowen in second but despite several brave attempts couldn’t find a way past. Second would eventually be his at the flag after Bowen picked up a time penalty for a pit-stop error. Deledda ran in fifth, the 19 car once more fighting with the Honda, before aggressive passes from Michelotto and Klingmann left him with damage. He limped to the flag with a slow-puncture to finish eight overall. Michelotto took the flag in fourth place but was penalised for his attack on Deledda and lost a place, finishing fifth overall and second in Pro-Am.
Two Vallelunga podiums put Frassineti and Liberati into the lead of the overall Championship whilst Michelotto and Zanon sit second in the Pro-Am standings. The Italian GT Championship continues next month with an Endurance event at Monza followed by the second round of the Sprint Championship at Mugello in July.
2025 Italian GT Sprint Calendar
Round 1 Vallelunga, Italy 24-25 May
Round 2 Mugello, Italy 12-13 July
Round 3 Imola, Italy 27-28 September
Round 4 Monza, Italy 25-26 October
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