Yazid and Cozzolino score their sixth victory in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia

 

The Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia is back in Japan, after the Suzuka round last June, and the pairing of Kei Cozzolino and Afiq Yazid are once again on the top step of the podium at the Fuji Speedway. For Clazzio Racing team squad, Race 1 represents their sixth win of the season as well as a solid points cache for the 2017 championship with only two rounds left before the end of the season.

 

Starting from the front row with Afiq Yazid behind the wheel, the #11 Clazzio Racing Team Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo was one of the major protagonists during the early part of the race, thanks to an exciting fight for the lead alongside the Dutchman Rik Breukers, who took pole position in car #37 of GDL Racing, and the Italian Edoardo Liberati at the wheel of #19 Huracán belonging to Emperor Racing Team. Breukers held the lead of the race for six dramatic laps, during which he was under almost continuous attack from behind, finally having to give way to Afiq Yazid and, three laps later, to Liberati.

From then on, the first positions remained the same until the opening of the pit window, with Afiq Yazid who, during his stint, earned precious seconds of advantage from the clear track ahead and battling drivers behind him, (1'41 "672 the fastest lap of the race) delivering the #11 Huracán to his teammate Kei Cozzolino with a solid margin of advantage.

 

After the mandatory driver change, Cozzolino had only to manage the accumulated advantage (22 seconds the win margin) and wait for the checkered flag, ahead of car #63 of Emperor Racing driven by Andrea Amici and Masmi Kageyama, which in the meantime gained positions thanks to solid stints of both drivers.

However, there was disaster for Emperor Racing's sister car, the number 19 of Liberati and Kaneishi: the latter, running in second position until a few laps from the end, was forced to retire due to contact with an car that he was lapping. The third place went thus to the Lazarus team, thanks to the excellent work of Artur Janosz and Toby Sowery.

A similar ending befell the #37 GDL Racing car, with Breukers and Farmer fighting for the top positions and for the Pro-Am class win: Nigel Farmer lost precious seconds due to a spin, handing the lead to the #38 HoJust Racing team’s Huracán, with the fast local duo formed by Matsumoto and Ochiai as the winners of the Pro-Am category. Behind them, a solid second place in Pro-Am class for the FFF Racing by ACM team, with car #50 driven by Carrie Schreiner and Richard Goddard.

 

In AM class, it was a sixth win of the season also for Andrew Haryanto, who’s grasp is tightening on the 2017 title, who with his teammate Doyun Hwang were untouchable this time out at the wheel of the Huracán Super Trofeo # 69 of X-One Racing team.

 

The Lamborghini Cup category was dominated again by Thai hero Supachai Weeraborwornpong (Top Speed Racing), also his sixth win of the season, ahead of his direct rival, the Italian Gabriele Murroni of Petri Corse, who showed some great pace during the race, and American driver Peter Aronsen, who took a podium on his first outing with Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia.

 

Race 2 at Fuji Speedway is scheduled on Sunday, August 20th, at 10:30 local time (03:40 CEST).