All the Categories

Lamborghini and other cars(pics) in Lacuna Seca:
www.motorsportvisions.com/ls00wc_ta

www.gtracing.net/lambotrophy2/

Document contains:Interiew,flash Race,in Factory,...
http://www.canalweb.net/cwsite/diffs/c/cw/default.asp?une=gtracingtv&d=cw
Go to " Emissions" and 20/06/2001
26'30"

Two cars
http://temp.harmony.be/hibn3/live_broadcasting.html#

Nurburghring Gallery
http://www.autobuzz.com/roadracing/gallery1.cfm?EventID=241&manu=

http://www.tbm-f1.de/larilambo.html
http://www.tbm-f1.de/poele.html
http://www.tbm-f1.de/fus/nlarini91.html

http://perso.club-internet.fr/vroom/images/scan64.jpg
http://perso.club-internet.fr/vroom/images/scan57.jpg
http://perso.club-internet.fr/vroom/images/scan53.jpg
http://perso.club-internet.fr/vroom/images/scan55.jpg
http://perso.club-internet.fr/vroom/images/scan65.jpg

http://www.proaction.co.uk/StartRace1.JPG
http://www.proaction.co.uk/Spa_Gianni.JPG
http://www.proaction.co.uk/Spa_Santaniello.JPG
http://www.proaction.co.uk/Monza_start.jpg
http://www.proaction.co.uk/zoboli.jpg
http://www.proaction.co.uk/Santaniello_Spa.jpg
http://www.proaction.co.uk/Magny02.jpg
http://www.proaction.co.uk/Magny_Arnoux.jpg
http://www.proaction.co.uk/don_Gianni_05.jpg
http://www.proaction.co.uk/don_Schirle_02.jpg
http://www.proaction.co.uk/nurb_charriol.jpg
http://www.proaction.co.uk/nurb_frei.jpg
:jump:

http://www.c1woc.com/team.cfm?teamID=18
Victory , Lamborghini engines V12 - 8.2 L
2001 Word offshore championship - 1º
http://www.c1woc.com/team.cfm?teamID=21
Spirity of Norway , Lamborghini engines V12 - 8.2 L
2001 Time trial Championship - 1º

http://bigbenpage.free.fr/DiabloSV.JPG
rear

Lamborghini Marine, ADIM SpA, Via Fermi 30 ZI, 24043 Caravaggio BG, Italy. Tel no: 39 (0)363 53333. Fax no: 39 (0)363 53140.

http://cgi.hpi-europe.com/cgi-bin/kits/main.php?lang=en&partNo=961
:jump:

Model

History of the Diablo


In the mid 1980’s Automobili Lamborghini decided that the time was right to start thinking about a successor to the legendary Countach. After five years of development the new supercar was unveiled in Monte Carlo during January 1990. The Lamborghini Diablo was born.

The name ‘Diablo’ was taken from a ferocious fighting bull that was raised by the Duke of Veragua in the 19th Century. In 1869 it fought an epic battle with the famous matador ‘El Chicorro’ in Madrid and became legendary for its aggression and power. These qualities were exactly what Lamborghini had produced in its new sportscar.

The car was styled by the same man who penned the Countach, Marcello Gandini. However, the Diablo went through several design alterations, first of all by Gandini himself and also by the Chrysler styling centre, as Chrysler had taken control of Lamborghini during the design process of the car. Despite the alterations, the Diablo was still a true Lamborghini - low, wide and extremely fast with the 5.7-litre engine giving it a top speed of 325km/h from a healthy 492bhp.

The first cars were delivered to customers in June 1990 and the Diablo was finally unleashed on the motoring public around the world. Over the next ten years Automobili Lamborghini made a number of different versions of the Diablo, including the four-wheel drive VT and the popular Roadster.

It was at the 1999 Geneva Motor Show where the company unveiled the limited edition Diablo GT. Only 80 cars were to be made of this special Diablo, a car capable of carrying you to a speed of 335 km/h. Later that year, at the Bologna Motor Show, Lamborghini launched the evolution of the GT, the race-ready Diablo GTR.

The GTR model was launched specifically for the Lamborghini Supertrophy as a replacement for the SVR model, which had been used since the series began in 1996. Production was limited to only 40 units.

The GTR model takes the Supertrophy and the Diablo to a higher level. The power output of the 6-litre V12 engine is increased with small modifications to the fuel inlet system. The addition of titanium connecting rods, a lightened crankshaft, specially race-tuned exhaust system and an improved engine management program have all helped to produce an extra 50bhp over the outgoing SVR. The Diablo’s power was raised to an impressive 590bhp, increasing the maximum speed to 338km/h.

July 2001
Ref: gtr038

For information: Lamborghini GTR Supertrophy Media Office, ProAction, Kings Hall,
Parsons Green, St Ives, Huntingdon, PE27 4WY, England
Tel: +44 1480 494060 Fax: +44 1480 494062
e-mail: [email protected]
website: www.lamborghini.com

On event contacts: Steve Fellows +44 7831 868496
Rachel Ingham +44 7771 705950

" is looking for corporate sponsors for the One Lap of America Race. We are presently preparing our Lamborghini Diablo for this "Cannonball" style race. Looking for sponsorship in return for corporate appearances throughout the United States with racing team for promotional use. We currently have several large corporate sponsors and still have a few spaces available for advertising as well as time frames for promotions. Please contact Tanner Racing @ (954) 605- 6164"

The Lamborghini Diablo SVR is the trimmed-fat race version of the already blisteringly quick SV Diablo. And with all of its purposeful tweaks, it's proving to be a very solid match for the Porsches and Ferraris running in the Australian GT-P Nation's Cup Championship!

Italian automotive exotica. There's nothing quite as stirring as getting up close to a prancing horse or a Lambo. You just can't help getting stomach butterflies when you're pouring over one of the fastest and most expensive production cars on the planet. It's often enough to bring grown men to their knees - and, believe us, this black Diablo has caused more than a few grass-stained kneecaps!


Right now, you're looking at the earth-shattering Lamborghini Diablo SVR - the lightweight racing development of your "average" Diablo - if there really is such a thing... It's being driven in the series by former national open wheel champion Paul Stokell.

The everyday current $435,000 Diablos you often see cruising down to the shop for bread are the base SV models - a rear wheel drive "entry level". The next rung up sees the VT, with its four wheel drive system making for better traction off the line and cornering surefootedness. And then, of course, is the attitude-packed SVR. Feast your eyes on it...


Japanese performance car fans can think of the Diablo SVR as sort of a Honda NSX-R equivalent. Well, in principle at least - but definitely not in stature or performance. It's a racecar stripped of anything deemed superfluous in the standard 1385kg SV. For example, the headlights are omitted to make way for front brake cooling ducts (which are also fed by additional lower front ducts as well!), Perspex windows come as standard and so too does the sparsely appointed cockpit. But it also carries a comprehensive aerodynamic downforce package, a low ratio diff, centre-locking wheel hubs, and it impressed us greatly with its up-spec'd 355mm slotted Brembo front brakes and 335mm rears.


And the SVR sits so unbelievably bloody low to the hot-mix that it even comes with air-jacks fitted to its underside - there's just no way you could squeeze an average trolley jack under it!

Team Lamborghini Australia recently imported this car with the intention of drumming up some promo for the new Diablo (that's now selling at a much reduced price). And it's a car that's already had a most interesting racing history. It's competed very successfully in the pan-European Lamborghini Supersport Challenge driven by F1 ace Jean-Mark Gounon - now how's that for instant cred!


Being a late '97 model, this vehicle lets out an angry snarl from its 5.7 litre DOHC V12 powerplant that spins out about 362kW at 7000 rpm and 580Nm of torque at 5200. It also generates 280Nm at only 2000 revs, which makes it quite flexible for a true race-bred car.

Oh, and get this, the SVR never actually came factory fitted with any real exhaust system! In Europe, it was raced with an un-muffled megaphone system that was extremely loud. But since it's arrival here, a pair of custom fabricated mufflers has gone on to help the car comply with the GT-P regulation noise limit. And the bonus is Paul can actually hear himself think inside the cabin!

Now, all tech stuff aside, how fast is it? Well, considering the normal SV can sprint to 100km/h in 4.1 seconds and cover the standing kilometre in 20.7, we'd guess that the lighter, lower geared SVR would be a fraction quicker again. Bye, bye Porsche!


Taking a poke around under the hydraulically suspended engine cover, you can see Lamborghini has done a lot of development in airflow management. Two big diameter ducts run from the top of the cowling to a rear-mounted engine radiator, lower side scoops direct fresh air into the rear wheel arches, there's a serious looking rear diffuser, a front splitter and an adjustable dual element rear wing. And that big V12 breathes through twin airboxes, located on each side of the engine compartment - and these too are fed air by inset scoops in the rear quarters.


Under the current rules in GT-P Nation's Cup, you're allowed to fit the largest possible tyre to the factory rim. So it's just as well the Diablo is plump with 18 inch OZ Racing alloys ex-factory, coz otherwise those steamroller-like 325/650 and 240/645 Pirelli P-Zeros wouldn't have fitted! Incidentally, these tyres are purpose developed for the Diablo racecars in Europe. In keeping with the car's track set-up, the suspension is set to around double the stiffness of the average SV. Hard it most certainly is. It uses beefy linear rate springs (Paul is currently after some progressive rate ones though), and damper wise there're Koni 28-12s on the front and 28-11s on the back.


Those big Brembo brakes have also been teamed up with Pagid RS14 pads at both ends (to replace the standard carbon/metallic pads). High temperature fade is still the team's biggest concern though.

Swing up those gracious doors and lurking inside is the standard bare-ish SVR interior - save for Sparco seats, harnesses, steering wheel and polished gearknob. The roll cage that the car arrived with has also recently been replaced by a welded steel one to improve occupant safety. Factory instrumentation extends to a 360km/h speedo (!) and you might notice the trademark supercar aluminium gate of the standard 5-speed gearbox.


So to squeeze it all into a few words, this fully prepared SVR is probably the most lethal, race-dedicated of all Diablos. Ever. It represents just part of the one-upmanship in the on-going war of metal between the Aussie production car racing.

So let the fighting begin!

Round 1. Ding, Ding...

We caught up with Aussie driver Paul Stokell at the Y2K Clipsal Adelaide 500 for the first round of the Championship - and the SVR's maiden competition outing in Australia. Paul has stepped up from a Lotus Elise, and is fortunate enough to be driving the Italian stallion for the whole Championship. He seemed pretty relaxed about driving the big car though, stating, "Yeah it's quite nice. It's not hard to drive, but it can be a bit oversteery when you put the power down and you light them up exiting a corner." Discussing the car's handling a little further, he adds "Its turn-in is amazing - it does it almost too well, because you can get it to oversteer at that stage." And finally he adds "Oh, and the power is awesome..."

On the Friday of the three-day Adelaide event, the Diablo qualified in 3rd position, some brake fade preventing any real quick laps towards the end of the session. "I just couldn't keep attacking," said a regretful Paul. But things changed come race day. The black devil (numbered 666!) muscled its way through to first position and took the chequered flag in convincing style. But on the second day brake fade problems again sprouted and spoiled the Diablo's reign. "I kept in touch with the Porsches through the twisties and it was going very well, but then fade set in. I had to go down the escape roads twice, but it wasn't bad enough for me to stop racing." The best position he could hold was a desperate 4th - just missing out on a podium finish.


But it's the Championship standings that matter most; the Diablo is currently in 3rd and Paul's adamant that he'll catch the leader - that pesky red Ferrari. And because the Diablo naturally likes more open tracks than Adelaide's street circuit (tracks such as Eastern Creek, for example), that's easily possible. It just needs to stretch its legs. "It's very torquey from about 5000 rpm up - it feels almost like a V8 Supercar," smiles Paul. "It was always going to be a bit difficult here in Adelaide."

"Troy Corser proved that he is as good on four wheels as he is on two. In his first ever GTR race Corser gave the regular GTR Supertrophy competitors a good run for their money at the seventh and final round in Valencia, Spain.

The Monaco-based rider put his knowledge of the Valencia circuit to good use and was second quickest in qualifying. After a hair-raising dash to the first corner he found his rhythm and never looked anything other that comfortable for the duration of the first race.

"That was just something else going into the first corner," said Corser after his fourth place finish. "But once I got through I really started to have fun. It was great."

However, Corser's moment of glory came on Sunday when he took a brilliant and hard-earned third place. The Aussie superbike star is no Lamborghini rookie - he owns two of the magnificent machines himself - but just how much of a natural motorsport competitor he is was quickly obvious. He took great delight in powering the 590bhp, V12 Diablo GTR around the Spanish track (in race two) to put himself on the podium.

"What a great race! I felt very comfortable. I had a bit of a moment on the back section of the circuit in the second race but soon got it back. I had lots of fun and would certainly like to come back and do this again."

Earlier this year and on the other side of the world, another Aussie motorcycle legend was in action in a Lamborghini. Wayne Gardner took part in the Melbourne leg of the GTR Supertrophy when the race was run as a support class to the first F1 Grand Prix of the season back in April. Again the former world champion proved that if you can ride a motorcycle fast you can also drive well by taking a couple of third place and one second place finish."

Introduction
The Lamborghini GTR Supertrophy is perhaps the most exclusive monomarque championship in existence and is the only motor racing activity officially supported by Automobili Lamborghini. The series prides itself on its ability to provide racing for those who wish to recapture the passion and true spirit of motor racing. Genuine sportsmanship is at the heart of this championship.

Over the years, the Supertrophy has visited some of the most famous and challenging circuits in the world including Monza, Spa-Francorchamps and the Nurburgring in Europe, Laguna Seca and Daytona in the United States, Kyalami in South Africa and the Zhuhai International Circuit in the People's Republic of China.

Originally conceived in 1996 as the Lamborghini Supertrophy, the championship provided an opportunity for professional and gentlemen racing drivers to lock horns in one of the most stunning and powerful cars of all time, the Lamborghini Diablo SVR. A derivative of the Diablo SV, the SVR was specially adapted for racing. Not adapted however, was the engine and it is a tribute to the craftsmanship and reliability of an engine designed purely for road use that it provided four years of tough race action without any problems.

With the new millennium however, came a new era in the history of the Lamborghini Supertrophy and in the year 2000, the Diablo SVR was officially retired. Its replacement was the Lamborghini GTR, a car based on the most powerful Diablo in the series, the Diablo GT. Lamborghini also had a new parent company and it is with the support and guidance of the Audi Group that the renamed Lamborghini GTR Supertrophy heads into the future.


The Drivers: Professionals v Gentlemen Drivers
The Lamborghini GTR Supertrophy is one of the few championships which welcomes both professional and gentlemen racing drivers.

The professionals who participate in the Supertrophy are either drivers on the brink of stardom, those still in the throes of a long and distinguished career such as Emmanuel Clerico or those like Gerard Larrousse who now race solely for the enjoyment of racing a thoroughbred machine in magnificent surroundings and within a wonderful paddock atmosphere.

The Gentlemen drivers in the series are a delightful mixture of businessmen from all corners of the world united by their passion for Lamborghinis. Whilst all race for pleasure, it would be unwise to suggest that the Gentlemen drivers merely go through the motions.

All give their heart and soul to competing to their highest capabilities and there are a handful who could perhaps lay claim to being the motor racing community's best-kept secret. It is not all that unusual to see a gentleman driver going head-to-head with the professionals or to see them on the podium at the end of the day.


Driver Combinations
The rules of the championship stipulate that only three types of driver combinations are permitted:

1) a Professional alongside a Gentlemen driver,
2) a sole Gentleman driver or,
3) two Gentlemen drivers.

The classification of a driver as either "Professional" or "Gentleman" is at the discretion of a five-person panel consisting of the series organiser, a professional driver and three gentlemen drivers. Drivers are not able to change classes during the course of the season without first presenting their case before a second panel consisting of four different drivers.


Licences
The first driver of each car is considered as the "Competitor" and as such must hold a valid 2001 FIA International Competitors Licence. All second drivers must hold, at least, a valid 2001 FIA International Drivers C Class Licence.


Vehicles
The 2001 Lamborghini GTR Supertrophy is only open to Lamborghini Diablo GTR vehicles which have been manufactured and delivered by Automobili Lamborghini SpA. Each model carries a plate identifying it as one of only forty made.

Leaseplan is the official supplier of the Lamborghini Diablo GTR for the championship. All drivers must have an agreement in place with Leaseplan in order to participate in the Lamborghini GTR Supertrophy.

Tyres
Pirelli is the official tyre supplier for the Lamborghini GTR Supertrophy. Each competing car is permitted four slick tyres per race meeting. In the event of damage or excessive tyre wear during qualifying or the race, one tyre only may be replaced subject to the organiser's approval. In the event of a puncture, the damaged tyre only may be replaced in the presence of the scrutineer.


Fuel
Official fuel is Eurosuper 98 and refuelling is not permitted during qualifying or races.


Race Meetings
There are seven race meetings during the 2001 season each consisting of two races. Two, 45-minute free practice sessions take place on the Friday and single drivers are prohibited from leaving the pits for the first 15 minutes of the first of these sessions. Two, 15-20 minute qualifying sessions with a 5-15 minute gap between them take place on Saturday mornings. The first of the races takes place on Saturday afternoon followed by the second on Sunday morning.


Qualifying
Each driver must qualify with the fastest driver participating in the first session and the second driver taking over in the second session. The first driver should always be the fastest. In the case of ProAm pairings, the Professional shall be the No.1 driver and in the case of two Gentlemen drivers, the quicker of the two is No.1 driver. Single drivers should qualify in each session. Any car unable to qualify in either of the two sessions will be allowed to start the race from the last position on the grid.


Grids
The first qualifying session time sets the grid for the second race. The second qualifying session time sets the grid for the first race. Drivers must respect the No.1/No.2 driver nominations and start the race for which they set the grid position.


Races
Each race shall have a "rolling" start. The duration of each race is between 50 and 60 minutes depending upon the nature of the circuit. Jump starts are reported to the Sporting Commissioner and the drivers in question disqualified.

Driver Changes
A driver change or stop-and-go (single drivers only) is compulsory in both races. Between the 25th and 35th minute of each race, or 20th and 30th for 50-minute races, all vehicles must spend 45 seconds in a dedicated "Neutral Zone" in the pitlane for their compulsory driver change/stop-and-go. No mechanical intervention is permitted during a driver change although the assistance of a mechanic to ensure a driver is correctly strapped in is permitted.

Stops
A late stop made after the official stop-and-go period will incur a 60-second penalty which will be added to the total race time. Any stop made before the specified period will not be counted and the time only started at the beginning of the specified interval. Stops for mechanical work take place in a separate area as stipulated by the Technical Representative.


The Points System
All cars are eligible for points in the General Classification. The Gentlemen Driver classification is only for cars with two gentlemen drivers or a single gentleman driver.

Points for both categories are issued after each of the fourteen races as follows:

1st=16 points 6th= 5 points
2nd=12 7th=4
3rd=9 8th=3
4th=7 9th=2
5th=6 10th=1

Pole Position: + 1 point
Fastest lap: + 1 point


Season Classification
A new driver or team participating in the Championship for the first time from the fifth event onwards (11th race) will not score General Classification points. They are however, eligible for prize money and podium presentations.

A team which wishes to change its composition, ie. single Gentleman to Gentleman/Gentleman, from the eleventh race onwards will be able to score points in the General Classification as long as the replacement driver has been nominated as a third driver.

A team may only change its driver category once in the season and only before the fifth event (tenth race).

General Classification (Vehicle/Team)
A team/car's classification is based upon the total points tally over fourteen races from which the worst result is subtracted. This classification is by team and up to three drivers may contribute towards a team's tally as long as all the points were obtained in the same car.


Prizes
After each race gold, silver and bronze Lamborghini trophies are awarded to the first three drivers in each category. Prize money is awarded to the three overall top finishers as follows: 1st - €2,286.73, 2nd - €1,524.50, 3rd - €1,143.37.


July 2001
Ref: gtr033

For information: Lamborghini GTR Supertrophy Media Office, ProAction, Kings Hall,
Parsons Green, St Ives, Huntingdon, PE27 4WY, England
Tel: +44 1480 494060 Fax: +44 1480 494062
e-mail: [email protected]
website: www.lamborghini.com

Pos. Driver(s) Team Name Time Laps
___________________________________

1 Greg Murphy (NZ) Monarch 16:30.797 8
2 Michele Gianni (I)/Pietro Gianni (I) Mig Power 16:37.056 8
3 Michel Mhitarian (F)/Franck Sevin (F) Autovitesse 16:55.195 8
4 Michael Eschmann (D)/Patrick Spadacini (D) Classic Car 16:58.685 8
5 Frank Kremer (D)/Wido Roessler (D) Kremer 16:59.181 8
6 Jean Luc Boccara (F)/Frederic Puren (F) RIVERSIDE 17:21.043 8
7 Raoul Meyer (I) Mig Power 17:22.282 8
8 Alexander Frei (CH) Autovitesse 17:25.186 8
9 Bernanrd Simmenauer (F) Larbre 17:35.328 8
10 Philippe Charriol (F) RIVERSIDE 17:39.821 8
11 Patrick Brisset (F)/Roland Bervillé (F) Larbre 17:46.613 8
12 Stephane Ratel (F)/Robert Hissom (USA) Larbre 18:05.717 8
13 Ron Atapattu (USA) RIVERSIDE 18:09.223 8
14 Herbert Engel (D) Classic Car 18:11.737 8
15 R. Shaw (AUS) 16:40.055 7
16 Mhitarian (AUS)/Franck Sevin (AUS) 16:49.891 7
NC Stephane Lang-Willar (F) RIVERSIDE 4:27.149 2
NC Vincenzo Tirella (I)/Vittorio Zoboli (I) Mig Power 0 0
NC Wayne Gardner (AUS) Monarch 11:11.728 5
NC Vanvliet (AUS)/Laffite (AUS) 4:40.313 2

Race 2 - Melbourne, March 2

Pos. Driver(s) Team Name Time Laps
1 Greg Murphy (NZ) Monarch 20:27.135 10
2 Wayne Gardner (AUS) Lamborghini 20:44.489 10
3 Philippe Charriol (F)/Stokel (F) RIVERSIDE 20:59.728 10
4 Michele Gianni (I)/Pietro Gianni (I) Mig Power 21:04.880 10
5 Alexander Frei (CH)/Velay (CH) Autovitesse 21:07.742 10
6 Vanvliet (AUS)/Laffite (AUS) 21:20.553 10
7 John Williams (GB) Mig Power 21:39.171 10
8 Lemm (F)/Patrick Spadacini Classic Car 21:40.267 10
9 S. Newman (AUS) Larbre 22:02.006 10
10 Herbert Engel (D) Team Eschmann 22:04.118 10
11 Jean Luc Boccara (F) RIVERSIDE 22:31.127 10
12 R. Shaw (GB) Autovitesse 21:12.058 9
13 Michel Mhitarian (AUS)/Franck Sevin (F) Autovitesse 21:13.161 9
14 Puren (F)/Mollet (F) Larbre 21:43.533 9
NC Frank Kremer (D)/Wido Roessler (D) Kremer 18:34.295 9
NC S. Webb (AUS) RIVERSIDE 19:12.512 9
NC Stephane Ratel (F) CRC 19:13.740 9
NC Patrick Brisset (F)/Roland Bervillé (F) Larbre 12:57.630 6
NC Stephane Lang-Willar (F) RIVERSIDE 10:48.030 5
NC Meyer (I)/Santaniello (I) Mig Power 8:06.422 3

Michele Alboreto and Gerard Larrousse race again at Monza

Close racing action, thrills and spills, and sheer full-blooded horsepower signal the return of the Lamborghini GTR Supertrophy to the race tracks of Europe, when the Diablos take to the grid at Monza in Italy on April 22 for the second round of the seven race series following their Australian 2001 debut.

The V12 Lamborghini's bring their own flavour of racing to Monza, when professional racers face opposition from their non-professional rivals, the Gentlemen Drivers. The Gianni's, Micele and Pietro (Mig Power) from Italy, lead the overall tables after a maximum score in the first Melbourne race was backed-up by a podium place in the other race, leaving the Philippe Charriol (Riverside) second, six points adrift despite winning the second Melbourne race in March - but he has a secret weapon for Monza in the form of co-driver, Jean Marc Gounon.

The Gentleman Driver table is led by Frenchman Patrick Spadacini (Classic Car), winner of the first race in Melbourne, chased hard by compatriot Stephane Lang Willar ((Riverside) who took podium places in both races in Australia. Spadacini teams up with Germany's Micheal Eschmann for the two Monza races, hoping to improve on the pair of second places won on their previous visit to Monza

While the battle for points continues for the first time on European ground since last September's race at Monza, a pair of famous names joins the fray - Michele Alboreto and Gerard Larrousse.

Alboreto, now 44 years old and the veteran of 194 Formula One GP starts, visits the scene of a former relationship with Lamborghini power and with former double Le Mans winner, Larrousse. Alboreto raced a Lamborghini powered Lola chassis at Monza in the 1989 Italian GP, the team managed at the time by Larrousse.

Action begins on Friday with Free Practice, followed by Qualifying the first race on Saturday, with the second race on Sunday directly before the 1000Kms Sportscar race. The races are scheduled as 1 hour duration, but due to the high speed nature of Monza, as a full-throttle circuit, the races will be cut to 50 minutes duration for reasons of fuel consumption.

The two Lamborghini GTR Supertrophy races at Monza (April 20/22) produced one win apiece for the team pairings of Italy's Vincenzo Tirella/Vittorio Zoboli (Mig Power) and Michel Neugarten (B)/Paolo Rapetti (I) (Larbre Competition). Following the opening race in Melbourne, Australia and this first race in Europe, supporting the famous 1000kms of Monza Sportscar event, the championship is hotting up in both the Pro and Gentleman drivers categories.

Michele Alboreto and French ski star Luc Alphand produced an impressive pair of second places at Monza in the Lamborghini VIP car, with podium places won by Gentleman Driver, France's Stephane Lang Willar (Riverside) on Saturday and Zoboli/Tirella on Sunday - Britain's Lee Cunningham (Riverside) was the top Gentleman Driver in Sunday's race.

Monza opener to Tirella/Zoboli

On its return to Europe, first blood in this year's Lamborghini GTR Supertrophy went to Vincenzo Tirella/Vittorio Zoboli (Mig Power), winners of the Saturday race at Monza circuit in Italy. They were chased home by the celebrity pairing of Michele Alboreto and Luc Alphand in the Lamborghini works car, ahead of Stephane Lang Willar (Riverside), who took maximum points in the Gentleman Drivers category driving both stints of the 50 minute race by himself.

Tirella "made a bad start" and dropped to eighth at the first corner, but within four laps had clawed his way into fourth place. Another four laps and he sliced his way past French skiing legend Alphand into second place, challenging race leader, Michele Gianni (Mig Power), who qualified on pole and led from the rolling start.

Meanwhile, Philippe Charriol (Riverside) had a double spin - "all my own fault" - in lap four and recovered without losing his fifth place, but next lap he lost two places when he was punted into a spin on the grass by Patrick Spadacini (Classic Car) at the first chicane. Spadacini continued through into the driver change window (between 20 and 30 minutes race distance) when he had to endure a compulsory 45-second stop despite not changing drivers. He continued in sixth place as third highest Gentleman Driver until put out of the race after hitting a kerb hard and was stuck in the first chicane gravel trap. A similar fate for Stephane Ratel (Larbre Competition) on lap four - "big, big mistake, I spun and stuck fast in the gravel".

The compulsory 45-second stops for driver changes began at the end of lap 11, seeing Tirella change with Zoboli as one of the first and in a good tactical move, as it put them into the race lead two laps later while the Giannis were changing from Michele to Pietro. Alboreto took over from Alphand, by then in third place.

Once the driver changes were made the race order settled down with the Zoboli car initially leading from the Giannis, but Alboreto was on a mission and was all over the back of Pietro Gianni by lap 17. The former F1 star slipped through on lap 20, Gianni chasing for a couple of laps until his car slowed with a fuel pump electrical problem. The leading pair distanced themselves from the field to take the chequered flag at just over 51 minutes duration.

Second race to Neugarten/Rapetti

In the second race, on Sunday morning as a scene-setter for the 1000kms of Monza sportscar race, Michel Neugarten/Paolo Rapetti (Larbre Competition) enjoyed an almost lights to flag victory over Alboreto/Alphand and first race winners, Zoboli/Tirella - Alphand this time the hero of the pairing when he stormed past Tirella three laps from the end.

Twenty-six laps were on the cards for this 50-minute duration race which saw Franck Kremer (Auto Kremer) make an early charge up to fourth place behind the established leaders, Neugarten, Vincenzo Manenti (Autovitesse) and Alboreto. Emmanuel Clerico (Riverside) lost out to the Kremer charge and instead looked behind for the challenge from Jean Marc Gounon who was sharing Philippe Charriol's car. Gounon kept pressure on Clerico until he lost the power assistance to his brakes, then he coasted to a standstill in the entrance to pitlane on lap 12 - a broken driveshaft on the entry to the Parabolica was the reason for retirement.

Next to fall behind Kremer was Alboreto on lap 10, contact damage hampering the balance of his Lamborghini works VIP car. The compulsory driver changes began after 10 laps, but the leaders stayed out for another five laps before all choosing the same lap to enter pitlane. Frederic Puren changed places with Clerico and benefited from some confusion which saw Alphand delayed in pitlane after taking over from Alboreto. It let Puren through into second behind Paolo Rapetti (changed with Neugarten) with first race winner Tirella jumping to third place, followed by Robert Shaw (changed with Manenti), Wido Roessler (Kremer) and Alphand.

The Roessler car then steadily dropped place by place with a slipping clutch - eventually finishing 13th. Alphand really put on a charge to pass Puren for third on lap 19 with the Gianni car pushing past both Shaw and Puren for fourth place, although it was short-lived when a fuel feed problem stopped the car two laps from the end.

Supertrophy newcomer, Lee Cunningham (Riverside), surprised many when he took the top Gentleman Driver place on his first outing with the car, holding an eventual sixth place overall at the chequered flag - "pretty good from 18th on the grid and shame I missed out on fifth after Puren shut the door at the Parabolica".

When Alphand "really enjoyed the fight" and took second from Tirella, after they had swapped places many times each lap, it signalled no more action in the race, as the flag came out after 26 laps (51 minutes). The win went to Rapetti and Neugarten who "just kept our leading margin whilst conserving the car, as we know that Monza can be hard on the brakes".

2001 Lamborghini GTR Supertrophy
Monza - Race 1, April 21

1 Tirella/Zoboli Mig Power Pro 51m 35.391s
2 Alphand/Alboreto Lamborghini Pro 51:36.583
3 Lang Willar Riverside Gen 51:52.501
4 Sanna/Moccia Lamborghini Pro 51:52.724
5 Puren/Clerico Riverside Pro 51:59.583
6 Cunningham Riverside Gen 52:02.689
7 Charriol/Gounon Riverside Pro 52:15.137
8 ShawManenti Autovitesse Pro 52:24.521
9 Frei/Velay Autovitesse Pro 52:44.611
10 Ferreri/Schiatarella Fortec Italia Pro 53:04.502
Fastest lap: Sanna 1:53.626 (183.538 km/h)
26 laps - cold/dry

Monza - Race 2, April 22

1 Neugarten/Rapetti Larbre Competition Pro 51:44.377
2 Alboreto/Alphand Lamborghini Pro 51:47.345
3 Zoboli/Tirella Mig Power Pro 51:48.675
4 Manenti/Shaw Autovitesse Pro 52:01.674
5 Clerico/Puren Riverside Pro 52:06.104
6 Cunningham Riverside Gen 52:06.547
7 Lang Willar Riverside Gen 52:15.178
8 Spadacini Classic Car Gen 52:34.276
9 Velay/Frei Autovitesse Pro 52:34.649
10 Lorent/Dewinter Autovitesse Gen 52:36.000
26 laps
Fastest lap: Moccia 1:52.084 (186.064 km/h)

Points standings after 2 rounds:
Pro drivers:

1= Gianni/Gianni 28 points
Charriol/Gounon 28
Tirella/Zoboli 28
4 Lang Willar 27
5 Puren/Clerico 18
6= Spadacini/Lemm 17
Shaw/Manenti 17

Gentleman drivers:

1 Lang Willar 49
2 Spadacini/Lemm 35
3 Brisset/Larrousse 31
4 Cunningham 29

Timetable

Friday, June 8

09h00-09h45
Lamborghini GTR Supertrophy
Test Session 1

10h05-10h45
Renault Sport Clio Cup Elf International
Test Session

11h05-11h45
Renault Sport Clio Trophy
Test Session

12h05-12h45
Formula Renault International
Test Session

13h05-13h50
Lamborghini GTR Supertrophy
Test Session 2

14h10-14h55
Belcar
Free Practice

15h15-15h45
Mini
Qualifying 1

16h05-16h35
Renault Sport Clio Trophy
Qualifying 1

16h55-17h25
Renault Sport Clio Cup Elf (B)
Qualifying 1

17h45-18h15
Formula Renault International
Qualifying 1



Saturday, June 9

09h00-09h15
Lamborghini GTR Supertrophy
Qualifying 1

09h20-09h35
Lamborghini GTR Supertrophy
Qualifying 2

09h50-10h35
Belcar
Qualifying 1

10h50-11h20
Renault Sport Clio Cup Elf International
Qualifying 1

11h35-12h05
Toyota Yaris Cup
Qualifying 1

12h20-12h50
Renault Sport Clio Trophy
Qualifying 1

13h05-13h35
Mini
Qualifying 2

13h50-14h35
Belcar
Qualifying 2

14h50-15h20
Renault Sport Clio Cup Elf (B)
Qualifying 2

15h35-16h05
Formula Renault International
Qualifying 2

16h20-16h50
Renault Sport Clio Cup Elf International
Qualifying 2

17h15
Lamborghini GTR Supertrophy 1
Race 1 (50 mins)

18h40-19h10
Toyota Yaris Cup
Qualifying 2

19h40
Castrol Belcar 2001
Race 2 (4hrs)



Sunday, June 10

09h45
Dunlop Mini Challenge
Race 3 (8 laps)

10h45
Lamborghini GTR Supertrophy 2
Race 4 (50 mins)

12h20
Toyota Yaris Cup
Race 5 (30 mins)

13h05
2-seater Formula Renault Display


14h00
Renault Sport Clio Cup Elf (B)
Race 6 (8 laps)

15h00
Formula Renault International
Race 7 (11 laps)

16h00
Renault Sport Clio Cup Elf International
Race 8 (8 laps)

17h00
Renault Sport Clio Trophy
Race 9 (11 laps)

One win each for Piettro Gianni (Mig Power) and the Riverside team of Michel Neugarten/Kurt Thiers marked a good weekend of racing at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium, as the third round in this year's Lamborghini GTR Supertrophy. Two strongly fought races saw Gentleman Drivers honours shared between Britain's Lee Cunningham (Riverside) and Frenchman Stephane Lang-Willar (Riverside). Gianni strengthened his championship lead overall ahead of Neugarten/Thiers in second place, with Lang-Willar consolidating a strong lead of the Gentleman Drivers championship.

Gianni wins Spa opening race

Pietro Gianni consolidated his series lead when he won the 20-lap first race on Saturday. The Mig Power team driver stormed into an impressive lead during the opening laps, building a 20 second advantage over Kurt Thiers (Larbre Competition) and Stephane Ratel (Larbre).

"Thiers passed me at the end of the straight on the first lap, then he was slowing me for the next two. He made a mistake and that let me take second place," said Ratel, who later spun out into a gravel trap on the sixth lap.

Meanwhile Raoul Meyer (Mig Power) lost places each lap until he retired on lap four with suspension damage. Stephane Lang-Willar was next into the pits to retire with frontal damage caused by a coming together with a door-closing Wido Roessler (Auto Kremer) - the incident put Lang-Willar's Gentleman Driver's championship lead under threat.Driver changes began after eight laps, with Gianni leading from Thiers and lead Gentleman Driver, Lee Cunningham (Riverside). Whilst most changes had taken place, Gianni stayed out, building enough of a race lead to maintain overall control even during his own stop in the 28th minute. He exited pitlane with a healthy 19 second advantage.

Frank Kremer replaced Roessler and pushed hard, passing Cunningham for third place: "then the team told me to cruise as second placed Michel Neugarten was out of reach ahead of me." Behind the deposed Cunningham, Philippe Charriol (Riverside) moved up to fifth when handling problems took their toll of Vittorio Zoboli (Mig Power): "we suffered big set-up problems with understeer and just drove to finish - we will make some changes before Sunday's race."

After 20 laps (52 minutes) Gianni celebrated victory in his solo drive (brother Michele missing this race), with Neugarten/Thiers second and the Roessler/Kremer car third, one pace ahead of solo winning Gentleman Driver, Cunningham. "It was extremely tiring," said Gianni. "I pushed hard for the first few laps because I knew later in the race that Neugarten would put me under some pressure. The Diablo GTR was perfect and that let me ease off to enjoy my leading margin towards the end of the race and to save my tyres for Sunday.

Neugarten shows the way home

Sunday's 50 minutes race belonged to the Larbre Competition Diablo GTR of Michel Neugarten and Kurt Thiers, winning in front of a home crowd at a packed, sunny Spa circuit. Just like the Gianni car did the day before, the silver Lamborghini never left the number one spot throughout the 19-lap race, eventually seeing Fabio Santaniello/Raoul Meyer climb from the back of the grid to take second place after an impressive drive. Third went to Vittorio Zoboli/Vincenzo Tirella (Mig Power) with top Gentleman Driver position going to Stephane Lang-Willar (Riverside) in fourth position overall and allowing him to extend his series lead.

At the rolling start Neugarten led away and held a three second advantage by the end of the first lap, a lap which saw Lee Cunningham's race ending when something broke in his gearbox on the formation lap: "disappointing as it stopped me trying to draw level at the top of the Gentleman Drivers points." Already on a charge was Fabio Santaniello moving from the back of the 20-car grid to hold 13th place with one lap gone. He continued to pick his way through the field and held an impressive second place after just seven laps. Kremer meanwhile spun out of second place in lap four: "my mistake, Zoboli was behind and I was trying to pull more of a gap to him. I lost the rear of the car and I was into the barrier - that's what happens when you push too hard at the front of the field."

Zoboli lost second place to Santaniello and fell to fourth behind Jean Marc Gounon (Riverside). "The car is still not right," said Zoboli. "We made some changes which has cured the understeer but instead has given us oversteer - but it was worth fighting for third place."

Driver changes started in lap 9 and when they concluded on lap 12 Thiers swapped with Neugarten and lost time when the door would not close properly, but still had over 20 seconds in hand to Raoul Meyer who took over from Santaniello: "Fabio did a great race from last on the grid when our time was disallowed in qualifying. He gave me the car in second place and I just had to sit tight and wait for the chequered flag taking no chances at all."

Lang-Willar was quietly moving through the field after a spin on the second lap cost him seven places: "I just lost the front left and that put me down to 16th place. I had to fight hard to climb to fourth at the finish and make my lead of the Gentleman Drivers even stronger."

At the flag Thiers took the race win from Meyer, Tirella and Lang-Willar with opening race winner Pietro Gianni fifth after a race struggling having taken the best out of his tyres on his way to victory the previous day.

Race 1 - Saturday, 9 June - 20 laps
1 Pietro Gianni (I) 52:16.558
2 Kurt Thiers (B)/Michel Neugarten (B) 52:23.558
3 Franck Kremer (D) 52:33.717
4 Lee Cunningham (GB) 52:38.616
5 Philippe Charriol (F)/Jean-Marc Gounon (F) 53:09.775
6 Peter Wyss (CH)/James Ruffier (F) 53:10.237
7 Vincenzo Tirella (I)/Vittorio Zoboli (I) 53:18.585
8 Luc De Winter (B)/Cedric Lorent (B) 53:18.589
9 Patrick Brisset (F)/Gerrard Larrousse (F) 53:57.742
10 Alexander Frei (CH)/David Velay (F) 54:36.070
Fastest lap - Gounon/Charriol - 2:30.769 (166.379 km/h)

Race 2 - Sunday, 10 June - 19 laps
1 Neugarten/Thiers 50:00.788
2 Santaniello/Meyer 50:36.164
3 Zoboli/Tirella 50:50.944
4 Lang-Willar 51:05.347
5 Gianni 51:07.185
6 Lorent/De Winter 51:35.211
7 Gounon/Charriol 51:39.721
8 Stephane Ratel (F) 51:45.499
9 Michael Eschmann (D)/Patrick Spadacini (I) 51:56.202
10 Larrousse/Brisset 52:10.467
Fastest lap - Neugarten/Thiers - 2:29.715 (167.550 km/h)

Supertrophy Overall points:
1 Gianni/Gianni 51 points
2 Neugarten/Thiers 46
3 Zoboli/Tirella 42
4 Charriol/Gounon 39
5 Lang-Willer 34
6 Meyer/Santaniello 24

Supertrophy Gentleman Drivers points:
1 Lang-Willar 67 points
2 Brisset/Larrousse/Berville 47
3 Cunningham 45
4 Spadacini 44
5 Lorent/De Winter 38
6 Engel 24

any 1 know where u can get a race track day voucher to drive a lambo..?