Champions Crowned as Super Trofeo North America season comes to end
LEWIS, ANTINUCCI WIN PRO CLASS
JEREZ, Spain (Oct. 25, 2019) -- The Andalucía region of southern Spain is known for its rich culture and strong identity, and Friday it was championship day for the 2019 Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America series.
Three of the four class titles were decided in the two 50-minute races contested on the 13-turn, 2.751-mile Circuito de Jerez.
Corey Lewis and Richy Antinucci (No. 129 Change Racing, Lamborghini Charlotte) had to wait to celebrate until the second race ended their Pro Class championship as their third-place finish was good enough for them to hold on to their lead.
“This was a total team effort,” Lewis said after the race. “We were able to keep the points where they needed to be, and it came down to the wire. Richy did a great job today, and all season long.”
“I tried to stay focused my entire stint,” Antinucci said. “There was a lot to manage while I was in the car, and Corey left me with a lot of tire. I want to give a big thank you to Change Racing and Lamborghini Charlotte.”
Two titles were decided earlier Friday in the first race as McKay Snow in the No. 163 Change Racing, Lamborghini Charlotte entry finished off the Am Class title by finishing second.
“This season was about being consistent,” Snow said. “We had a lot of bad luck this season, but we knew what we needed to do today, and that’s what we got with our second-place finish. We ended having enough points to win the championship, and that’s what matters.”
The championships by the No. 129 and No. 163 also gave Change Racing and Lamborghini Charlotte the Team and Dealer titles.
“It has been an amazing year,” Eddie Littlefield, owner of Change Racing and Lamborghini Charlotte, said. “They hung in there all season and it came down to the end. No matter what might have gone wrong during the year, they stayed the course and kept us going in the right direction. I am proud of everyone involved with the teams.”
Mel Johnson (No. 108, GMG Racing, Lamborghini Newport Beach) finished off the LB Cup crown after his fourth-place finish.
“It’s been a fun year,” Johnson said. “I got off to a great start as I won the first four races, and then with Tom’s help in the second half of the season managed to sneak in for the championship.”
The Pro Am Class title was already wrapped up before the teams descended on Jerez by the duo of Damon Ockey and Jacob Eidson in the No. 109, US RaceTronics, Lamborghini Vancouver.
“We were clean out there again today in both races, and that is what we have tried to do all season long,” said Eidson. “Hopefully, we can continue that in the World Finals in the next two days and we can see where we can finish.”
Now it is time for all 16 Super Trofeo North American entries in Spain to compete in the World Finals which will be held tomorrow and Sunday in Jerez.
Saturday’s schedule has the first Am and LB Cup race set for 9 a.m. EDT with the Pro and Pro AM Class race set for 11 a.m. EDT. The Am and LB Cup race Sunday starts at 5:30 a.m. EDT while the final for the Pro and Pro Am gets started at 9 a.m. EDT. They can be streamed on the Lamborghini Squadra Corse YouTube page.
Race 2 (Round 12) Race Report
The No. 127 Dream Racing, Lamborghini Dallas entry co-driven by Cedric Sbirrazzouli and Paolo Ruberti led from start to finish to win for the second time in 2019.
Sbirrazzouli opened a five-second lead as the pit window opened for the Pro Class and overall lead and held off Brandon Gdovic (No. 146, Precision Performance, Lamborghini Palm Beach) for a four-second victory.
“We did a good job today and I tried not to stress the tires too much,” Sbirrazzouli said. “Paolo had a great end to the race. It’s nice to get a win but now what counts is the next two days.”
Gdovic needed to pass the No. 127 and have Antinucci finish in third, or worse, to win the class title, but that did not come to fruition for him and the No. 129 was the class champion for the season.
Sandy Mitchell (No. 101 Prestige Performance / Wayne Taylor Racing, Lamborghini Paramus) was unable to start the race from the pole as the car entered the circuit to start the race, it developed an oil pressure issue. It had to be towed back into the paddock. The car was able to start the race from the back of the field but lost it’s one point for not starting on the pole. Mitchell and his teammate Andrea Amici were able to finish fourth but could make up the points to push the No. 129 for the class championship.
Ockey and Eidson won their 11 race of the season by over a minute from their nearest class competitor as they finished fifth overall.
Steven Aghakhani (No. 106, US RaceTronics, Lamborghini Beverly Hills) finished off a sweep of the day by winning the Am Class over Sheena Monk (No. 107, Dream Racing, Lamborghini Palmyra) and Cameron Cassels (No. 133, Prestige Performance / Wayne Taylor Racing, Lamborghini Paramus). The victory was the 16-year-old’s fifth of the season.
Johnson and his teammate Thomas Lovelady finished off the year in style by recording the car’s seventh win in the 10 races they were part of in LB Cup.
Race 1 (Round 11) Recap
Sandy Mitchell took over for teammate Andrea Amici in the No. 101 Prestige Performance / Wayne Taylor Racing, Lamborghini Paramus entry following the mandatory pit window and drove the car to the overall victory and the team’s second Pro Class win of the season. They won by almost 10 seconds over the No. 127 from Dream Racing, Lamborghini Dallas driven by Paolo Ruberti and Cedric Sbirrazzouli.
“Andrea had a good first stint and was able to stay with the front two for the first half hour,” Mitchell said. “I then managed to jump in the car with a great pit stop. We were able to jump ahead of the 127 car, and I was able to take the lead of the PRO Class. An excellent feeling!”
“The start was quite chaotic,” Amici added. “It seemed everyone didn’t know what they were supposed to do. Whether it was a rolling start or not. There was no way to pass Paolo Ruberti in the beginning. I tried to stay with the team. We did a great job overtaking them with the pit stop.”
Damon Ockey and Jacob Eidson won the Pro Am Class in their No. 109 US RaceTronics, Lamborghini Vancouver entry. The win was their 10th in 11 races on the season.
Steve Aghakhani (No. 106 US RaceTronics, Lamborghini Beverly Hills) won for the fourth time in 2019 as he captured the Am Class. Chad Reed and Justin Price (No. 122 Dream Racing, Lamborghini Atlanta) earned their fifth win of the season, in just seven races, as they came from the back of the field to win the LB Cup race.