15.07.2019 – A very technical appointment affected by unstable weather conditions saw Imperiale Racing on the podium again at the third round of Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe 2019 in Zandvoort (NL).
The Italian team confirmed to be the absolute protagonist of the Series and fielded three Lamborghini Huracàn Super Trofeo Evo for the PRO lineups made by Vito Postiglione (ITA) and Kikko Galbiati (ITA) on the #44 car, Karol Basz (PL) and Bartosz Paziewski (PL) on the #8 while Hans Fabri has been competing on the home circuit in LC on the #88 car.
The round on the Dutch circuit did not betray expectations and the two races have been particularly spectacular and eventful. Imperiale Racing’s drivers displayed the potential to fight for the top since free practice thanks to their great feeling with the Lamborghini Huracàn Super Trofeo Evo.
Galbiati put in a good performance in Q1 on the #44 car, posting a 1:39.080s that earned him P2. He led Basz by just a few hundredths as the latter was third in 1:39.121s on the #8 car. Fabri claimed the fifth place in LC on the home race. Imperiale Racing’s drivers produced spectacle also in Q2 on the dry and Postiglione secured the pole position in 1:39.121s. Paziewski also run a good session ending eighth in 1:40.303s, while Fabri was fifth again in LC.
Race one was run on cloudy but dry conditions and Galbiati put in a perfect start on the #44 car as did Basz on the #8 and both kept their starting position driving through their stint without making mistakes. Galbiati was the first to pit handing the car over to Postiglione, but at the end of the round of pit stops Paziewski rejoined ahead of the #44 car and the two Imperiale Racing’s lineups started an exciting fight. A few laps to the end a hesitation by Paziewski allowed Postiglione to get P2. The latter tried to overtake Afanasiev for the win in an exciting finale but crossed the finish line in second place. Paziewski ended very close to the podium in P4 instead.
Fabri also put in a positive performance on the home circuit and used all his grit to take P3 in LC, celebrating this result on the podium in front of a lot of Dutch supporters.
Race two has been more challenging due to the bad weather and a double safety-car. Postiglione kept the lead of the race at the start but the rain close to the opening of the pit window and a quite hectic phase with lapped drivers made him pit from P2. Relegated to P3 after the pit stop, Galbiati drove with focus but while restarting from a safety car neutralization shortly before the chequered flag a spin slowed him down on the drying up circuit. The #44 car ended sixth in PRO.
A spectacular stint by Paziewski on the #8 Lamborghini allowed him to fight in the first part of the race and to get three places back before the pit stop when he was fifth. Basz rejoined behind teammates and used all his experience in these difficult conditions crossing the finish line in fourth place, again very close to the podium.
In LC, Fabri managed the race well and ended fourth, not far from the podium of this category.
Luca Del Grosso (Imperiale Racing, Team Manager):
“We have always been very fast also on a circuit that we did not know much and in particularly tough conditions, therefore I am quite happy. The weekend has been trickier than expected but we collected important points for the classification and claimed two podiums also with Hans in his home race. Nothing has ever to be taken for granted, races are won after the chequered flag, therefore, we will immediately focus on the aspects that we need to improve to be on top again in two weeks time at Spa”.
Imperiale Racing will get back on track from July 26th to 27th for the weekend at the legendary circuit of Spa-Francorchamps (B), the event that will start the closing part of the season.
