F1 legend Adrian Newey returns to race Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo
Newey will piloting the #1 VIP car amid a highly competitive grid split neatly between the established PRO-AM experience of series leader Cédric Leimer, Adrian Zaugg and Andrea Amici, who among others, were dominant in Monza and a rising crop of young amateur talent including Andrea Solimè, who stole a march on their senior rivals in the series’ first night race at Misano three weeks ago.
The young drivers will be joined by another 17 year old in Northampton to supplement the contribution of Italian racer, Alessandra Brena. She will be joined by Fabian Hamprecht, who will race in a Leipert-prepared Gallado for Automobili Lamborghini Racing Germany alongside one of five British drivers, Rupert Svendsen-Cook.
After the weekend in Misano, Composit Motorsport and Autocarrozzeria Imperiale have been working hard to rebuild no less than four cars damaged in various accidents, but both teams will make the grid in Silverstone with a full compliment of cars.
Adrian Newey ReturnsInfiniti Red Bull Racing’s CTO, Adrian Newey OBE returns the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo for a second year as the guest driver of the #1 VIP car alongside Alberto Sabbatini, Editor-in-Chief of Italian magazine, Autosprint. Adrian acknowledges that he became captivated by Lamborghini at the tender age of ten after a visit to his local cinema where he witnessed the Roger Beckermann character in the opening scenes of The Italian Job driving a distinctive orange Miura above Aosta in the Italian Alps to the soundtrack of Matt Munro before meeting his untimely screen-death in the Grand St Bernard tunnel.
Thus last year’s opportunity to compete in two races in a Lamborghini Gallardo fulfilled a long-held childhood dream, so much so that he returns in 2013 to the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo with racing partner and Italian motorsport journalist, Alberto Sabbatini. Alberto is no stranger to the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo, having raced twice previously and scored three podiums in Monza in 2011; Adrian, 54, is a keen and capable amateur race driver, having competed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and in 2010, he drove his own Red Bull Racing RB5 Formula One race car, a gift from the team, at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
The Englishman – winner of eight Formula One world championships – and the Italian might well be hoping for better conditions that the atrocious British summer weather of last June that saw both their races declared wet and saw them finish in 11th and 15th place respectively.
50th Anniversary CelebrationsThe anniversarial celebrations marking 50 years since Lamborghini’s establishment reached a high point between the last race at Misano and this weekend’s meeting at Silverstone; in the intervening period, Lamborghini headquarters at Sant’Agata Bolognese has been the focus for one of the most remarkable parades of no less than 350 Lamborghinis on a four day journey taking legs to Milan and Rome. The Grande Giro Lamborghini 50° Anniversario – 4km long and accounting for 190,000 horsepower - culminated in a gala celebration on the cavalcade’s return to Sant’Agata Bolognese.
Reflecting on the remarkable scenes of the Grande Giro, Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini said, “Since our founder Ferruccio Lamborghini first founded the company, a characteristic inherent in our DNA is to address the challenge and not overcome it, but to push boundaries to achieve something even more extraordinary. The Grande Giro Lamborghini 50° Anniversario, with more than 700 participants representing 29 countries, is evidence of the global dimension our brand enjoys today, and the strength of the Lamborghini myth that continues to grow.”
Squadra Corse takes Super Trofeo GlobalAs the European series gears up for its third round, Super Trofeo came alive in Asia this weekend with its first championship race at the Shanghai International Circuit, kicking off the second six round race series to be run the region.
Eleven different nationalities were represented on the grid in China and the early season spoils went to local driver Jiang Xing & Max Wiser, but it became an all-home driver affair when Chinese racer William Lok and partner Davide Rizzo claimed Sunday’s second race.
Lamborghini Squadra Corse
Lamborghini Squadra Corse is a specialist team within Lamborghini’s R&D department dedicated to motorsport including GT3, the Super Trofeo series, and a customer driving program.
From 2013, the Squadra Corse will provide an integrated approach to Lamborghini driving experiences. A new series of ‘Esperienza’ events provide enthusiasts and prospects with opportunity for a first test-drive and to experience the world of Lamborghini.
The Lamborghini Academies, on both track and ice, provide driver training and the initial steps towards racing.
The Super Trofeo series provides the perfect first race experience for young and gentleman drivers, with the Lamborghini GT3 for more experienced racers wanting to compete with the Lamborghini marque worldwide.
Meet the Driver: Jason Yeomans & MarkAhead of round three of the Lamborghin Blancpain Super Trofeo at Silverstone, meet two home drivers racing for the Lamborghini Racing Team UK, Jason Yeomans and team-mate, Mark Nichol. Jason hails from Dumfries in south-west Scotland, a cradle of Scottish motor racing and home to a crop of racing talent from Alan McNish to Dario & Marino Franchitti and David Coulthard. It was no surprise therefore that a younger Jason Yeomans plunged wholeheartedly into motorsport in 1986 and progressively graduating from karts to professional racing. After a long period of competitive racing in his 20’s, an accident and some mild frustration reduced his commitment to racing and ultimately led to an interlude away from the track.
But the allure of “big slicks, big wings and big brakes” on offer in the Blancpain Lamborghini Super Trofeo programme ultimately proved too much to resist. Jason has set sights on contesting Le Mans in the near future and regarded Super Trofeo as the ideal platform to reignite his racing career.
For his part, team-mate Mark Nichol has raced across the UK and Europe, contesting Carrera Cup races and even campaigning the Lamborghini Diablo in the SVR championship in the 1990s. Like Jason, Mark’s professional responsibilities reduced his racing programme, but both he and Jason have rekindled their enthusiasm with their shared Le Mans ambition. Entering the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo series is a stepping stone to that ultimate goal. Mark says, “I can’t think of a better way to aim for Le Mans but to start with Super Trofeo and maybe advance this programme to some GT3 racing next season.”
“We know each other well,” say the Automobili Lamborghini Racing Team UK drivers. “We were flatmates for a few years in Scotland, but while we share plenty of experience at Silverstone, we have not raced on the new circuit layout and that will be an interesting challenge this weekend,” they concluded.
Race Calendar for 2013In Europe, the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo will again partner the Blancpain Endurance Series.
Monza (ITA) 13/14 AprilMisano (ITA) 04/05 MaySilverstone (GBR) 01/02 JunePaul Ricard (FRA) 29 June/01 JulySpa (BEL) 25/28 JulyNurburgring (DEU) 21/22 SeptemberVallelunga (ITA) 23/24 November (Lamborghini Super Trofeo World Final)
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