Wegberg, 15.04.2025 – Leipert Motorsport entered four cars for the season opener of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe. At the season premiere in Europe at the Circuit Paul Ricard (France) the drivers could already make a name for themselves. A pole position, two podium finishes and further top ten results showed that the team from Wegberg, Germany, supported by PROFI-CAR, is well positioned.
Good training results
Manz Thalin/Calle Bergman (both SWE, #44, Pro classification), Gerhard Watzinger (USA, #70, LC Cup), Pablo Schumm/Lola Lovinfosse (SUI/FRA, #88, Pro classification), Silas Rytter/Anthony Pretorius (DEN/SA, #99, Pro classification) prepared themselves perfectly for the races in the free practice sessions in the 33-car field.
#44 Thalin/Bergman Pro-Ranking
The two young Swedes, running under the banner ‘Leipert Motorsport with Exion Racing’, showed their potential right from the start. With a flawless performance they scored points in both races. Bergman put the Lamborghini in 3rd place in the first qualifying session, while Thalin started the second race in 8th place. In both races the Swedes finished in 6th and 5th place respectively.
#70 Watzinger LC-Cup
After a two-year break in the Super Trofeo, Watzinger showed himself to be in splendid form. He took second place in the LC Cup in each of the qualifying sessions. In race one, he finished fourth after a tough battle for position. Race two was held on a wet and damp track. The American remained focussed and secured P3 on the podium.
#88 Schumm/Lovinfosse Pro-Ranking
After good test results, Schumm/Lovinfosse were beaten in qualifying and finished 9th and 11th. In the first race the Lamborghini #88 retired early due to a technical defect. In the wet second race the pair finished 10th after losing time due to a spin.
#99 Rytter/Pretorius Pro-Ranking
The driver duo from Denmark and South Africa, supported by PROFI-CAR, were extremely fast right from the start. In qualifying, Pretorius finished 7th and Rytter took the pole position. In the first race Pretorius made a great start and came out of the first lap in 4th position. From this position he handed over to Rytter, who quickly took the lead of the field on the track and crossed the finish line first. But the dream of a first win of the season was soon dashed. The team received a 10-second penalty for the Lamborghini leaving the track at the start. Nevertheless, the drivers were able to celebrate second place in the Pro classification and a podium finish. The second race was a tyre poker. Unlike the rest of the field, Rytter and the team opted for slicks in the damp conditions. A risk that unfortunately did not pay off. On the second formation lap before the start, heavy rain started to fall. The Dane immediately decided to change tyres and found himself at the back of the field. The ensuing chase was interrupted by a safety car period. Rytter/Pretorius, who switched back to slicks at the mandatory pit stop as conditions improved and the pair had nothing to lose, were among the fastest in the field and finished 7th in the Pro Cup.
Statement from Managing Directors Marc Poos & Marcel Leipert:
“We are delighted to be back on the grid this year with four well-run cars and to have extended our commitment in Europe once again. However, we leave Paul Ricard with mixed feelings. Overall, the season opener was strong for our entire team, albeit with some minor setbacks. We were competitive right from the start. The performances in practice and the races were very good. We are in a great position this season and are confident that we can not only build on our results in the upcoming events, but also improve even further.
The next racing event for Leipert Motorsport will take place in the middle of May 2025, when the team from Wegberg, Germany will compete with two cars in the second round of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia in Shanghai (China, 16th – 18th May).
