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Lamborghini takes lights-to-flag Italian GT victory - with VSR at Monza
Lamborghini clinched the first victory for the new Huracán GT3 EVO2 in the Italian GT Championship, as VS Racing’s Artem Petrov and Riccardo Cazzaniga dominated the race two of the second Sprint Cup round of the season.
From pole position, achieved during the second segment of Saturday qualifying, Cazzaniga maintained his advantage at the start of the race, building a gap before handing over to team-mate Petrov. From then on, Petrov continued the strong form of the #60 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 to claim a comfortable victory and securing more valuable championship points.
The weekend started modestly for the #60 crew, placing 12th and 11th in the two free practice sessions, but it was in the second qualifying session where Cazzaniga really stood out. The Lombardy driver set a best time of 1:47.338 to take pole position.
After a difficult opening race of the weekend on Saturday, fortunes improved significantly in race two, as Cazzaniga led off the rolling start. The #60 quickly built a slender but comfortable lead over the chasing field after an initial safety car period, with the margin increasing after the mandatory pit-stops.
Indeed, the strategy carried out by the VS Racing team was a key factor in securing the victory, as Cazzaniga peeled into the pit-lane to switch with Petrov with a mere 30-seconds left in the pit window. Despite cutting things fine, the #60 remained firmly in the lead and was barely challenged for the rest of the race.
Cazzaniga and Petrov, therefore, came home some 15.120s clear of the second-placed car, with the sister VSR Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 of Mattia Michelotto and Edoardo Liberati brilliantly recovering from a poor starting position to finish fifth.
“I had a great start, maintaining the lead and then managed to settle into a good pace. The VSR team did an excellent job and, when he got back on-track, Artem just had to hold onto the lead. I want to thank all the guys from Vincenzo Sospiri and Lamborghini Squadra Corse,” said Cazzaniga.
“Monza is one of my favourite tracks. I am happy to have achieved my first victory in the Italian GT Championship here and this is the first win for Lamborghini in the championship this season. Thanks go to Riccardo and the whole team,” added Petrov.
