MONTEREY, Calif. (Sept 9, 2018) – Sunday’s Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America race was a perfect example of “there is always something to race for.”
JC Perez and Loris Spinelli (No. 71 P1 Motorsports, Lamborghini Broward), who wrapped up the class championship following the results of Saturday’s race, used a late pass to earn the overall victory at the 2.238-mile WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca circuit.
After the mandatory pit window ended, Spinelli took over for Perez and slowly closed the gap on the No. 1 driven by Trent Hindman (Wayne Taylor Racing, Lamborghini Paramus). With three minutes remaining, Spinelli passed him in Turn 2 and then increased his lead to almost three seconds to take the checkered flag.
The victory was the duo’s eighth of the season. After a third-place finish in the first race of the season at Mid-Ohio, Perez and Spinelli has won all eight of the races they have finished since then.
Hindman, along with his teammate Jonathan Cecotto, managed to get his team the PRO class win which was their third of the season. The result came on the heels of them not being able to finish Saturday’s race.
The race was less than a minute old when contact between Stevan McAleer in the No. 10 Wayne Taylor Racing, Lamborghini Paramus and Alex Popow in the No. 69 Wayne Taylor Racing, Lamborghini Paramus brought out a full field caution. The caution period lasted almost 13 minutes and the race resumed with 36 minutes remaining.
In that incident, the No. 50 US RaceTronics, Lamborghini Beverly Hills at the time driven by Taylor Proto suffered damage to its right front and while they were able to return later in the race, they were several laps down. The team of Proto and Edoardo Piscopo ran to extend their lead and finished fourth.
With the results of the day in the PRO class, Proto and Piscopo now hold a one-point lead (118-117) over Corey Lewis and Madison Snow (No. 29 Change Racing, Lamborghini Charlotte) heading into the final two races of the year in Italy in November. Brandon Gdovic and Shinya Michimi (No. 46 PPM., Lamborghini Palm Beach) are third with 109 points.
Damon Ockey (No. 9 US RaceTronics, Lamborghini Calgary) returned to the top of the AM class podium with his third victory of the year, holding off class leader Ryan Hardwick (No. 2 Dream Racing Motorsport, Lamborghini Atlanta) for the win. The victory was the third of the season and his first since the first race of the weekend at Road America in August.
Those results tightened the race for the class championship which will be decided in Italy. Hardwick still leads the points, but his lead is now six (124-118) over Ockey.
Brett Meredith (No. 66 P1 Motorsports, Lamborghini Newport Beach) won for the fourth time this season. He has not participated in each weekend this season, but when he has been involved, his record has almost been spotless. He has been behind the wheel for six races in 2018 and has four wins and two second place finishes.
With the results of the race, Parris Mullins and Mark Proto in the No. 88 US RaceTronics, Lamborghini La Jolla wrapped up the class title as they have an insurmountable, 34-point lead heading into the last two races of the year.
The final two races of the year will take place in November in Vallelunga, Italy on the weekend of Nov. 15-18. Those races can be streamed on squadracorse.lamborghini.com/super-trofeo/north-america.
DRIVERS QUOTES
JC Perez
“This weekend was great, actually yesterday we deserved to win, but unfortunately it was just things with luck I guess. This is the second year I’ve clinched the championship. We were here to compete overall and just getting on the top step overall means a lot because I was an LB Cup guy last year. Just remember that all of the LB Cup guys, you can make it here with the right amount of time behind the wheel, just put in the hard work.”
Loris Spinelli
“I don’t have words for that race today. Today we won overall and this is fantastic. We finished the job here, but we will keep working hard for the final two races.”
Trent Hindman
“Jonathan got off to a great start and there was a little bit of a melee but we keep the nose clean and that is always our goal. His first stint was great. When I got in the car we were struggling to keep the rear end under us and it is what it is. Congrats to the 71 got to thanks Wayne Taylor Racing and Prestige Performance for their efforts today.
Jonathan Cecotto
“The final will be a track that I know. All year long the tracks were new to me here. I am excited that we were able to get the win today.”
Damon Ockey
“This weekend is great, and this venue is really fun. The team had the car prepared perfectly for me. After a disappointing race yesterday, I was able to come home in first. I am looking forward to getting to Italy and trying to win both races and winning the championship.”
Parris Mullins
“It couldn’t have been a better place to win (the championship). This is my home track. My dad and friends were here today. I had great support today. Mark did a great job and I did the best I could. I am looking forward to driving in Italy and the all the competitors out there. It will be nice to not have to concentrate on the championship and just have a nice race over there.”