
Pavlovic-Piscopo keep the lead
With the Race 1 win in Paul Ricard Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo Europe, the Milos Pavlovic-Edoardo Piscopo duo (Bonaldi Motorsport) still leads the PRO class standings with a one point over Jeroen Mul. The Dutchman (pictured), racing for Automobili Lamborghini RT Germany, took Race 2 claiming his third victory of the season after the double at Silverstone.
It was a turnaround for Sebastian Merchan (Bonaldi Motorsport) in the 28-car record breaking grid grid at the Le Castellet event. The Ecuadorian seized both PRO-AM class wins ahead of team mates Aristotelis Varvaroussis-Mirko Bortolotti, still leaders in the standings, and of the 18-year old Alberto Di Folco (Autocarrozzeria Imperiale).
Welshman Jake Rattenbury (Automobili Lamborghini Racing Team UK) put an end to the Simone Pellegrinelli rule in the AM Class, taking the Race 2 win. The Italian celebrated a Race 1 podium along with the Georgian Shota Abkhazava and the same Rattenbury, respectively second and third.
The fight for the titles is now runs even closer. All titles will be awarded during the World Finals to be held in Sepang on the weekend of 22-23 November. Like in 2013, this year as well, all trophies will be named in favor of the driver Andrea Mamè who lost his life one year ago in Paul Ricard.
Race 1. The polesitter Pavlovic defends the lead from Mul who is passed by both Bortolotti and Venturini with the latter soon forced to retire. Leimer is fourth and Di Folco fifth (from P8 on the grid). After the pit stops by the leading car Piscopo edges away with Varvaroussis (who took over from Bortolotti) closely chased by Mul. The Dutch slips by as does Merchan on the very last lap. I’ve pushed right from the beginning setting also the fastest lap. It wasn’t easy but we managed to win Race 1. – Milos Pavlovic commented.
Race 2. Once more Pavlovic keeps the lead ahead of Mul and Bortolotti, A poor start from Di Folco who spins after a minor collision. Behind the leading trio runs Amici. After the compulsory stops Varvaroussis is the new leader with Mul once more on his tail. Piscopo and Tanka duel for third. With less than 5 minutes to go Mul takes the lead on Varvaroussis later halted by a left rear puncture which cost him and Bortolotti the PRO-AM Class victory. It’s a similar problem for Pellegrinelli with the tenacious Rattenbury for the first time winner in the AM Class. In the early stages of Race 2 I kept a good pace but still Pavlovic, Amici and Bortolotti were upfront. – said Mul – I chose to bring forward my pit stop and it proved to be the right decision.
The next round of the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo Europe is in just a month at Spa-Francorchamps, on the weekend of 25-26 July.