The Lamborghini Super Trofeo got underway again at Laguna Seca, where the first round of the Sant'Agata Bolognese-based manufacturer's one-make championship was held from 12 to 14 May. The star-studded series is a side event to the IMSA race, the main event of the weekend. This one, which took place at the famous Californian track, represents the season opener for the competition with drivers taking to the track to battle it out in order to bring home the first points of the year and the first cups to put in the trophy cabinet.
Leading the way was the duo of Danny Formal and Kyle Marcelli in the red Huracan ST EVO2 of Team Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport. The two reigning Pro Class champions picked up where they left off, dominating the weekend. Victory came in both Race 1 and Race 2 with the No.1 car proving fast throughout the event from Friday.
In the first race held on Saturday Formal took the lead immediately at the first corner after the green flag, overtaking poleman John "JCD" Dubets in the No. 46 Precision Performance Motorsports car. From that moment on, the first position was never in danger except at the end when some crashes and pile-ups occurred at the exit of the last caution, i.e. a neutralisation of the race that would allow action to be taken in the event of a slow or stationary vehicle on the track. Marcelli managed to keep his position over his team-mate Ryan Norman, making his series debut, and thus win the first race of the season. On the podium in third place were Nico Jamin and Sebastian Saavedra for Team Ansa Motorsport.
In the other classes, Johannes van Overbeek and Chris Bellomo, in the No. 68 Flying Lizard Motorsports Lamborghini, won the ProAm; Ron Atapattu, a Lamborghini driver since 1990, and Kevin Madsen in the Am for Team Ansa Motorsport, building an incredible comeback from last on the grid to sixth overall and first in class. Finally Mark Wilgus triumphed in the LB Cup bringing home his first win in the series, all starting from class Pole in qualifying.
In Race 2 on Sunday, the previous day's winners were again victorious over all, but this time with a safety gap of over five seconds. Formal and Marcelli, having won five races in the last championship, seem to be in better shape than ever this year. Nothing Norman could do in the No. 84 Huracan to counter the strength of two teammates who also started from Pole Position. The bronze medal went to Taurino and Petersson for the TR3 Racing Team.
In the ProAm class Dubets and Capizzi, who were deprived of Saturday's podium for a post-race penalty, won by climbing from fourth in class to first and finishing sixth overall. In the Am category, last year's runner-up Staab won in the No. 48 Huracan ST EVO2, while in the LB Cup Wilgus triumphed again, taking home a golden one-two.
The next round will be at the end of June on the weekend of 22-25 for round two at Watkins Glen, New York.