Leipert Motorsport achieved numerous strong finishes at the fourth event of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe (LSTE) at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia (Spain). The MOTUL-supported team from Wegberg fielded five Lamborghini Super Trofeo EVO 2 cars and took overall victory in the first race and two further class wins over the weekend. In total, there were five podium finishes for the Leipert squad, which extended its lead in the team standings. Brendon Leitch as well as Gabriel Rindone left Valencia as championship leaders in their respective categories.
After a pre-event test, the team and the drivers of the five Lamborghini Super Trofeo EVO 2 arrived in Spain well prepared. The practice sessions and qualifying went satisfactorily. Both races then took place in good external conditions – sunshine and dry track.
The New Zealander Brendon Leitch (Pro classification, # 86) presented himself in top form again. In Spain, he put the Lamborghini in second position on the grid twice in the two qualifying sessions. In the first race, the New Zealander still managed to jump into first place with a spectacular overtaking manoeuvre on the last lap. With his second overall win of the season, he extended his lead in the Pro standings. In the second race, several safety car phases before the opening of the pit stop window ensured that Leitch was only in 7th place after the mandatory pit stop, which stipulates a three-second longer standing time for solo drivers. After some interesting duels, he improved to 4th position again in the second half of the race and consolidated his lead in the pro classification.
Luxembourg’s Yury Wagner and Denmark’s Patrik Matthiesen (Pro classification, #99) experienced a weekend to forget in Valencia. The Lamborghini Juniors both put their cars on the 13th grid position in the PRO class. Wagner retired in race one shortly before the halfway point of the race after an accident that was not his fault, while partner Matthiesen had to retire on the first lap of the second race after a collision that was also not his fault. This meant that the two young hopefuls had to return home without scoring any points.
The weekend of Italian Gabriel Rindone (AM classification, #21) had ups and downs. In the first qualifying session he only finished 11th in class, as on his fastest lap the practice had to be stopped after a competitor had an accident. In the race, Rindone showed a fantastic recovery and finished on the podium in third place, thus consolidating his lead in the AM standings. The Italian started the second race from position 2. But already in the first lap he had to retire after an accident. Rindone is still the leader of the AM standings.
US-American Jean-Francois Brunot (AM classification, #88) drove the Leipert Lamborghini alone this time, as regular partner Kerong Li (CHN) had to miss out for health reasons. In both races he started from position 4. In race one he shone with a faultless performance and crossed the finish line in second place. In race two victory was within reach for Brunot if he hadn’t been given a drive-through penalty after a contact. Nevertheless, he crossed the finish line in a strong 4th place.
Jürgen Krebs from Switzerland (LC Cup, #65) had a fantastic weekend. In race one, he started from position 3, fought his way to the finish in first place and took his first win of the season. In race two, the Swiss started from pole position for the 50-minute distance. Once again he showed strong leadership and finished 2nd, only one second behind. As a result, Krebs improved to third place in the LC Cup standings and is still within striking distance of the top places.
Managing Directors Marcel Leipert & Marc Poos:
“We had a great weekend in Spain, even though we were a bit unlucky in race two. We were able to take our second overall win of the season and saw convincing performances from the drivers and the team. We are currently leading in the Team, Pro and AM classifications. We also occupy a top position in the LC Cup. We will definitely give everything at the next Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe events and the World Final in Vallelunga to top the good results and win the championship.”
Leipert Motorsport’s next race weekend will be at Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium, 22-23 September). There, Gabriel Rindone (I)/Patrick Kujala (FIN) will compete in the Le Mans Cup with the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO 2. As Gerhard Watzinger (USA) is unable to attend, he and his partner Brendon Leitch (NZ) will have to do without a start. The fifth event of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe will take place in Vallelunga (Italy, 12-13 November).
