29.10.2019 – Imperiale Racing’s season in the exciting single-make series reserved to the cars made in Sant’Agata Bolognese ended with the Pro-Am World title and the second place in the Super Trofeo Europe 2019 at the end of a spectacular challenge at the circuit in Jerez de la Frontera (ESP).
The Mirandola-based team fielded three Lamborghini Huracàn Super Trofeo Evo in the long Spanish weekend. Vito Postiglione (ITA) and Kikko Galbiati (ITA) were in the #44 car in PRO, Karol Basz (PL) and Andrzej Lewandowski (PL) in the #6 in Pro-Am and Hans Fabri (NL) in LC in the #88.
The racing action kicked off with the closing round of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe 2019, series in which Postiglione and Galbiati were fighting for the drivers’ title. Postiglione posted the third fastest time in Q1 in 1’42.038s, while Lewandowski was the quickest of Pro-Am in 1’44.120s. Fabri posted the fourth fastest time in LC instead. In Q2, Basz put in the third overall time (1’42.380s), that was the second of Pro-Am, while Galbiati was fifth (1’42.655) and Fabri was fourth again in LC.
Postiglione recovered one position straight away at the start of race one, but the gaps have been quite small and the Italian driver pitted together with Schandorff (#31) and Di Folco (#9). Galbiati rejoined in P3 but kept himself very close to Venditti (#9) trying an attack on several occasions. The safety car in the closing stages reshuffled the cards: a gap between the first two and the rest of the group was formed at the restart when only one lap was left. In the closing stages Galbiati had to concede one position and ended fourth, defending himself from the attacks moved by his rivals.
Lewandowski-Basz put in a good performance and recovered up to overall P5 claiming a splendid win in Pro-Am.
Fabri closed the race in fourth place in LC.
Race two, the final race of the season, has been less positive. Gabiati started the race resolute to play all his cards to fight for the win, but a puncture in the closing stages of his stint slowed down the #44 car stripping it from its chances to take the win. Despite the great job done by the drivers, as Postiglione also pushed hard in the second part of the race, the lineup ended in ninth place which placed them second in the drivers’ classification.
Things did not go much better to the #6 car that, after a good stint put in by Basz and the great timing for the pit stop, saw Lewandowski taking the lead. In the closing minutes, while defending the lead from the attacks moved by Bartholomew (#32), Imperiale Racing’s car suddenly went off under braking ending his race in the gravel trap.
Fabri secured the third place in LC thanks to a constant race instead, which was the third podium in his season.
The weekend continued on Saturday and Sunday with the Lamborghini World Final. Imperiale Racing dominated the Pro-Am category with Basz-Lewandowski, that claimed a splendid double win that earned them the world title.
The PRO finals were especially hard-fought. Postiglione and Galbiati had to face the challenge of a very high level set of rivals. In Q1 Postiglione was ninth in 1.42.116s, while Galbiati was seventh in the second session in 1’42.854s.
The battle in race one has been intense and Imperiale Racing’s lineup has been the protagonist of spectacular battles. At the end of the race, Postiglione and Galbiati crossed the finish line in seventh place after recovering two positions.
Race two has been positive. Galbiati started to recover since the first stint and the perfect timing for the pitstop made Postiglione rejoin in a good moment, which allowed him to push hard to secure the fifth place at the flag.
The race of Pro-Am has been absolutely positive. In Q1 Basz posted the third-fastest time of Pro-Am in 1’42.176s, while in Q2 Lewandowski was seventh in Pro-Am with a best lap of 1’44.371s.
Imperiale Racing’s lineup pushed hard since the beginning of race one. Basz put in a perfect pace in his stint and Lewandowski converted the comeback into a victory of Pro-Am.
The starting position in race two could make it tricky to repeat such a strong result, but the #6 lineup converted its grit into another stunning performance. Lewandowski and Basz recovered eight places and secured the second win of the category, which crowned them Pro-Am Champions of the World Final.
In AM+LC Hans Fabri ran a great season finale confirming his growth. Started in eleventh position of LC in race one (his fastest lap in qualifying being a 1’47.675s), the Dutch driver of Imperiale Racing managed an eventful race keeping his cool and completed a great comeback race crossing the finish line in fifth place of LC.
The weekend ended with the ninth place in race two at the end of a flawless race started in tenth place.
Luca Del Grosso (Imperiale Racing, Team Manager):
“It is difficult to summarize all that happened over this weekend. I do not like talking about bad luck, as in motorsport a lot of factors have to fall in place and to get the win you need to dare, raising the bar higher and higher taking into account that everything can happen.
I believe we showed a great growth during the season: we took 7 pole positions, 6 wins and 4 class wins, 8 podiums including overall results and the different categories and, considering also the World Final, we added the spectacular Pro-Am title to this haul.
In the Super Trofeo Europe we confirmed to be on top, we fought for the win until the final meter for the third season in a row, which is a great team effort.
One never stops learning and therefore I have to thank all the staff of the box, our drivers and all the supporters. A season has ended, but Imperiale Racing’s challenge will resume soon”.
