Brendon Leitch and Gerhard Watzinger partnered up in a Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo EVO 2 for the final round of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe series yesterday, the duo finishing 14th in both races.
The event, at Portimao, precedes the World Series where the European and North American fields will combine for the global title.
Whilst out of contention for the Pro-Am title, Leitch and Watzinger still left little on the table as they produced a storming drive in Race 1 to gain 19 places after starting 33rd.
Race 2 was unfortunately the opposite, Leitch impressing in qualifying for the second row of the massive 40 car field, moving up to second in the race before handing over to Watzinger. The pace of the car then dropped off, with Watzinger also pressured by the pros behind. He continued to drop down the order, finishing 14th after beginning his stint in third.
In the Pro-Am class, they finished Race 1 ninth, and Race 2 eighth.
Race Reports
Race 1 began under unusual circumstances following the announcement of two formation laps. That announcement obviously failed to reach everyone, the field jumping after the first lap as the Safety Car exited the track.
A red flag was brought out, the race restarted correctly second time around after a further formation lap.
A damp circuit from earlier rain left the majority of the field to start on wet tyres, whilst a few braved slicks in the hope of quick track evolution That never happened, the wet-tyre runners pulling away as the cars on slicks struggled in the conditions.
Watzinger, starting 33rd on the grid after taking the wheel in qualifying, took the the first stint to work his way forward to sit 27th after the first lap.
A car stopped on circuit brought out the cautions mid-way through the race, the field using the opportunity to come in for their stops. Watzinger was one of those to follow, handing over to Leitch to see the race home.
Following the stops, the team had worked their way up to 20th.
The Kiwi continued where the German left off, picking off cars ahead to come home in 14th place, a massive gain of 19 places for the duo in the race. The duo were the ninth Pro-Am team to cross the line.
Race 2 saw Leitch begin proceedings, a massive qualifying effort from the Kiwi seeing him start on the second row, in third. This was the highest placed Pro-Am outfit.
The track had dried, a quick start seeing Leitch pressure for second overall, the move sticking early in the lap.
A crash on Lap 1, at Turn 5, saw the Safety Car brought out to clean two stranded cars.
After 10 minutes under caution, Leitch immediately went about pressuring the leader from the restart. A rhythm set in, with the leading four pulling slightly away from the pack.
With just 20 minutes remaining, the leading cars all came in for their mandatory stops right as the pit window closed, Leitch handing over to Watzinger to bring the race home. The German returned to the track in fourth, quickly gaining third back after a car ahead spun.
He came under pressure quickly from the Pro cars behind, dropping to fifth but still leading Pro-Am. He then lost this the next lap to sit sixth overall with 13 minutes remaining.
Unfortunately the drop continued, Watzinger tumbling down the order to finish 14th, and eighth out of the Pro-Am competitors.
The race concludes the Super Trofeo Europe series for 2022, however the World Series will round of Leitch’s 2022 campaign later this weekend.
