01.07.2019 – Two one-twos, two pole positions and six overall podiums are Imperiale Racing’s haul of the exciting second round of Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe 2019 at the Misano World Circuit (ITA).
The Italian team competed in the home round resolute to leave its mark on the 4.226 meters of the circuit named after Marco Simoncelli fielding four Lamborghini Huracàn Super Trofeo Evo. In PRO, Vito Postiglione (ITA) and Kikko Galbiati (ITA) were on the #44 car, while Karol Basz (PL) and Bartosz Paziewski (PL) were on the #8. In Pro-Am, the #55 drivers pairing Loris Spinelli (ITA) and Piero Necchi (ITA) made their debut with Imperiale Racing, while Hans Fabri (NL) was confirmed on the #88 car in LC.
The great feeling with cars and circuit and the competitiveness of the lineups allowed Imperiale Racing to shine in free practice and qualifying. In Q1, Karol Basz posted a stunning 1’34.814s as the only driver breaking the wall of 1.35 taking a great pole position. Behind him, Postiglione rounded off the front row for Imperiale Racing in 1’35.850s. Necchi had a great debut and posted the seventh time overall in 1’37.306s, which was the first of Pro-Am. Fabri was fourth in LC with a best lap of 1’40.840s.
Imperiale Racing’s performance was confirmed in Q2 when a spectacular Spinelli took the pole position in 1’35.395s and was first of Pro-Am too. The second place was taken by Galbiati who posted a great 1’35.801s. Paziewsky was fourth in 1’36.493s, while Fabri confirmed LC’s P4 in 1’40.776s.
The fascinating race one started on Saturday night. Basz kept the lead of the race from Postiglione at the start and the two run a flawless stint with the driver of the #44 very close to the teammate. After the pit-stop, Galbiati took the lead getting the most of a little mistake of Paziewski and led the #44 car to the victory, as the Polish driver completed a great one-two for Imperiale Racing. Fabri ran a solid race in LC ending close to the podium in P4, while Necchi had to retire early on the #55 car.
Conditions were very different for race two on a boiling hot Sunday afternoon. Spinelli got off to a great start from the pole position on the #55 car and built a big margin on the rivals until when the safety car was deployed right before the opening of the pit window. In the second stint, Necchi has been very effective and managed to take a great win in Pro-Am and a fourth place overall.
Galbiati had to concede P2 to Middleton going into turn one on the #44 car, but then attacked again and managed to get back behind the leader Spinelli, keeping the position until the pit stop. Postiglione kept the lead of the race for the whole second stint and had to fend off Basz towards the end as the latter tried several times to find his way past Postiglione after overtaking the #8 car driven by a competitive Paziewski during the first stint. The two Imperiale Racing’s lineups crossed the finish line with Postiglione-Galbiati taking the second win in a row and Basz-Paziewski completing another great one-two.
Fabri also deserved a round of applause as he got on the LC podium for the first time this season in P3.
Luca Del Grosso (Imperiale Racing, Team Manager):
“This has been a fantastic weekend. All our drivers displayed a great pace and competitiveness, in a double race ran on very different conditions that highlighted the quality of the work done to set up the Lamborghini Huracàn Super Trofeo Evo. Leaving Misano with two one-two, six podiums and two front row lockouts is a great satisfaction for Imperiale Racing. I am personally a bit disappointed for the safety car in race two that voided the gap that Spinelli built and prevented us to score a one-two-three. The season is still long, we started on the right foot and we will continue in this direction with a lot of commitment and team-work”.
Imperiale Racing will get back on track next July 13-14th for the third round of Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe 2019 in Zandvoort (NL).