The impressive series of consecutive victories of Kei Cozzolino and Afiq Yazid, which yesterday secured the 2017 Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia title, was interrupted in Race 2 in Shanghai. And the crew who ended this run, by taking a deserved victory, was in fact the crew of Lazarus team formed by Artur Janosz and Toby Sowery. The first win of the season for the two young drivers came thanks to excellent teamwork: fast and solid race-pace for both and a perfect pit-strategy that allowed them to move from the third position on the grid to take the victory.
The race started behind the safety car due to heavy rain, and the main protagonists in the early laps were as usual the newly crowned champions Yazid and Cozzolino (Clazzio Racing # 11) having started from pole position. Right behind, however, was a wide open battle between Rik Breukers (GDL Racing # 37), leader of the Pro-Am class, and Artur Janosz (Lazarus # 3).
Ultimately, Breukers had to relinquish his position due to a short off-track excursion, rejoining the group in fifth place. At that point Janosz managed to chase down leader Afiq Yazid with perfect timing, just before the pit-window opening for the drivers change.
After the pit stop, the Huracán Super Trofeo # 3 of Lazarus team maintained the race lead from Clazzio Racing's # 11 car, now with Cozzolino behind the wheel.
Right behind, Cozzolino had a great fight for the second and third place with Patrick Kujala (Emperor Racing # 63). But just 15 minutes before the chequered flag, the race ended for Kujala with an excursion into the barriers at turn twelve. Whilst the driver was uninjured, and the car was quickly removed, damage to the tire wall meant that the race was to ultimately finish behind the Safety Car.
The Pro class podium was made up of Janosz-Sowery on the highest step, Cozzolino-Yazid in second place and finally the Italians Amici and Liberati on third with the second car of the Emperor Racing team.
It was a strong fourth place overall, and first of Pro-Am class, for Nigel Farmer and Rik Breukers, now closer than ever to 2017 championship title with a round in hand. An excellent race by the GDL Racing crew, with Farmer the author of a solid second stint and Breukers one of the fastest on track during the whole weekend.
With a fifth place overall and first in AM class, the 2017 title-winner Andrew Haryanto (becoming 2017 AM champion in Race 1 on Saturday) and Doyun Hwang took another well-deserved victory in the series.
In the Lamborghini Cup comes a well-deserved first win for the Italian Gabriele Murroni of Petri Corse, in front of the series leader Supachai Weeraborwornpong.
The last two titles still to be awarded in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia, those of the Pro-Am and Lamborghini Cups, will be decided during the sixth and final round in Imola from November 16th to 19th. The Italian track will also host the final round of the other continental series of Lamborghini (Europe and North America), as well as the Lamborghini World Finals to decide the 2017 Super Trofeo World Champions.