WATKINS GLEN, NY. (July 2, 2016) - Mark another one down in the win column for Shinya Michimi as he triumphed in Round 4 of the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North America series championship July 2 at Watkins Glen International.
Michimi earned a dominating, 28.124-second victory over the duo of Patrick Kujala and Brian Thienes to sweep the double-header event in the No. 1 Prestige Performance Lamborghini Huracán LP 620-2 representing Lamborghini Paramus. The victory was almost a carbon copy of his Round 3 win Friday.
"Today was more or less the same as yesterday," Michimi said. "It was managing the tires and the gap and the car and keeping everything under control the entire race. It's never easy when you take a victory, but the guys have definitely done a good job with setting up the car and making it really fast. It's made my job a lot easier, that's for sure."
For the second race in row, Michimi started second, this time behind Luca Persiani in the No. 07 Dream Racing Motorsports entry representing Lamborghini Las Vegas. Michimi settled into second position laying down consistent laps behind Persiani, just like on Friday.
And Michimi let the race run its course and come to him - just like on Friday.
Persiani pitted late in the 10-minute mandatory pit window, trying to build a gap in clean air before handing off the No. 07 Huracán off to his co-driver, Larry DeGeorge. Persiani built a 96-second gap over the front of the field, but another flawless pit stop strategy call and perfect execution from Michimi were too much for Persiani to overcome.
Michimi came out on top and built a three-second lead within one lap of the pit window closing. Michimi put on a clinic of precision and skill over the remaining 20 minutes, extending his gap each lap and ultimately coasting to his third win in four races this season
"Consistency comes from staying calm in the car," Michimi said. "The car doesn't really seem to like being forced to do things, and when you go easy on it, it really likes it."
Kujala and Thienes ran a clean race to finish second in the No. 17 US RaceTronics entry representing Lamborghini Beverly Hills. It was the duo's first podium finish of the season. They were also the first place Pro-Am division finishers.
This was the first event in Super Trofeo North America for Kujala, the 2015 Super Trofeo Europe and World Final champion. He missed the opening weekend in May at Laguna Seca.
Series rookie Luis Rodriguez Jr. finished third overall and first in the Amateur division in the No. 29 Change Racing Huracán representing Lamborghini Carolinas. It was his first overall podium and second class win.
Brandon Gdovic made another strong drive today to finish sixth overall and second in the Pro-Am division after starting at the back of the grid in the No. 46 DAC Motorsports Lamborghini entry representing Lamborghini Palm Beach. He picked off the field one-by-one and finished only .123 of a second behind fifth place overall.