About in Racers <-> Olds and News

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Early season start in Australia
Ross Lilley in upward trend
Ross Lilley contested the first round of the Australian GT Championship
in Eastern Creek as sole Lamborghini representative. As part of the A1
GP Series supporting programme three sprint races were scheduled for
the mixed GT field. Lilley, who only entered the series at the end of the
2007 season with the GT3 Gallardo, claimed sixth position on the grid for
the first race.
Lilley also finished the first 12 lap sprint race in this position. The second
race of the weekend was held over the slightly longer distance of 17 laps.
Ross Lilley’s improving form in his Koala Furniture Lamborghini Gallardo
saw him take fourth place at the flag. In the final 12 lap race on Sunday
afternoon he repeated his race two performance. Ross Lilley recorded his
fastest lap of 1:36.0946 minutes during the first race on Saturday. As a
result he was only nine tenths off his best qualifying time.
In almost two weeks the second Australian GT Championship event the
Clipsal 500 in Adelaide is held. Ross Lilley now holds fourth place after
three races.

1st Allan Simonsen Ferrari 430 GT3 117 points
2nd Craig Baird Ferrari 360 GT 92 points
3rd John Kaias Aston Martin DBRS9 88 points
4th Ross Lilley Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 71 points

5th Peter Lucas Lotus Elise 69 points

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Two Gallardo now in thick of the action
A significantly larger field arrived at the second round of the Australian
GT Championship in Adelaide for the Clipsal 500. Although Ross Lilley
was the Gallardo camp’s lone fighter in Eastern Creek, he received
support this time from debutant Mark Eddy, who had acquired the car of
Bryce Washington. In qualifying the two matadors positioned themselves
at the front of the field in 4th place (Lilley) and 6th place (Eddy).
In the first race over 11 laps Eddy showed that he is a quick learner. In
front of 82,200 spectators on early Saturday morning the Australian
finished fourth closely followed by brand team mate Ross Lilley.
However, there was little time to relax between races as the second race
of the weekend followed in the afternoon. Eddy and Lilley repeated their
solid performances from the morning and finished in the same order in
fourth and fifth positions respectively.
On Sunday the event organisers counted 91,700 motorsport fans filling
the grandstands. A 12 lap sprint at 9:25 a.m. local time was on the
Australian GT Championship agenda. The huge numbers of spectators
would not be disappointed. Mark Eddy was able to improve on his
excellent results harvested on his debut weekend and claimed the first
podium finish in 2008 for Lamborghini in Australia. Ross Lilley held
station behind and took the chequered flag in fourth position.
After two events and six races Ross Lilley now holds second place
overall in the championship behind 2007 title holder Alan Simonsen in a
Ferrari. Mark Eddy enters the series in sixth place.
The current standings:
1st Allan Simonsen Ferrari 430 GT3 240 points

2nd Ross Lilley Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 144 points

3rd Scott Bargwann Lotus Elise 96 points

4th Craig Baird Ferrari 360 GT 92 points
5th John Kaias Aston Martin DBRS9 88 points
6th Mark Eddy Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 81 points

7th Peter Lucas Lotus Elise 69 points

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Four podium finishes boost Lamborghini
The Australian GT Championship grid continues to grow. Twenty-eight
GT3 cars appeared for the third event of the 2008 season which was part
of the Formula 1 GP support programme. Mark Eddy and Ross Lilley,
second in the Drivers’ Championship prior to the Melbourne, represented
the colours of the Lamborghini bull.
Qualifying gave cause for optimism. Both Gallardo GT3 cars were
classified in the top ten. Mark Eddy claimed third position on the grid only
four tenths-of-a-second off pole, Ross Lilley qualified ninth.
Four sprint races were on the agenda this time for the drivers. Mark Eddy
took his second successive podium for Lamborghini with third position in
the first eight lap race. Lilley finished the race in 20

th place. Eddy
continued the upward trend in the second race. After the competition at
the head of the field had a slight territorial disagreement, Mark Eddy
forced his way to the front and claimed second position. Ross Lilley was
credited with a retirement.
The weekend’s third race was a turbulent affair. The safety car was
deployed twice to neutralise the race after accidents. Mark Eddy kept a
cool head throughout and fought his way steadily to the front during the
green racing laps. At the flag Eddy clinched his first victory in the
Gallardo and the first Lamborghini victory in the Australian GT
Championship in 2008. Ross Lilley completed the successful race with
seventh place. Lilley was in top form and fought his way to the front after

having retired from the second race.

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The European racing season started with mixed fortunes for Lamborghini
in the national GT3 championships in France, Great Britain and Italian.
FFSA GT3: Victory and panel damage part 1
The 2008 race season opened for First Racing and James Ruffier Racing
in Nogaro. A total of 23 cars appeared with the aim of scoring the first
points of the year. However, the race was over in the first corner for the
most successful Gallardo team Dubreuil / Briche (First Racing). In
qualifying the two drivers were able to clinch a slot on the front row,
unfortunately, however, Bruno Dubreuil’s race on Saturday ended in
retirement after an accident.
David Tuchbant in the sister First Gallardo took the role and held position
in the leading group. After Antoine Leclerc took the controls he increased
the pressure on the leader and eventually took victory for Lamborghini in
the opening FFSA GT3 race of the season. The Ruffier Gallardos finished
the race in 14th place (Miloe / Miloe) and 19th (Cabanne / Sourd).
In race two it appeared as if Antoine Leclerc would repeat his win.
However, after race long hard but fair battles the First Racing driver lost
four places to the strong competition. Tuchbant / Leclerc claimed fifth
place in the 20 strong GT3 field at the flag. The James Ruffier Gallardos
of Miloe / Miloe and Cabanne / Sourd took the chequered flag in 18th and
20th positions respectively.
Championship standings after two races:
1st Ruffier / Peyroles Dodge Viper 36 points
2nd Campbell / Jakubowski Ferrari 430 34 points
3rd Leclerc/ Tuchbant Lamborghini Gallardo 34 points
4th Rosier / Morel Dodge Viper 30 points
5th Largere Roux / Brandela Ferrari 430 30 points

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http://www.italiaspeed.com/2008/moto...ardo/1604.html

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GT3 Newsletter 06/2008 – 15.04.2008
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Two podiums in Belgium, top-ten result in England
Belcar:

Two podiums mark opener

Danny de Laet in the JD by Astromega Gallardo clinched the best
qualifying position of the four Lamborghini Gallardo during the first
Mediagroep van Dyck Belcar Series race weekend in Zolder. On his
debut in the Gallardo de Laet took third position on the grid for the first
race only two-tenths behind pole position. The JD by Astromega squad
also recorded the fastest Lamborghini time in second qualifying with Tim
Verbergt taking sixth position.
In wet conditions at the start Tim Verbergt held a position in the leading
group, but dropped out of the top-ten after the pit stops. A stop-and-go
penalty as a result of the pit-stop falling below the minimum permitted
time was the cause. Cautious driving brought Haane / van Hool slowly
but surely to the front and they ended the opening Belcar round in an
incredible second place. De Laet / Verbergt were 12

th, Dockerill /
Greensall /Chad Racing) crossed the line in 14th place.
Of the top five competitors in race two on Sunday afternoon only
van Hool (#10 Astromega Gallardo) survived the start undamaged. His
team mates landed in the gravel bed after the free-for-all entering the first
chicane. During the 60 minute race van Hool / Haane were able to fight
their way up to third place to claim another podium finish. After escaping
from the gravel bed the other three Gallardo teams chased the field and
claimed 11th (de Laet / Verbergt), 14th (Vollebergh / Thiers) and 19th

(Dockerill / Greensall) at the chequered flag after 350 laps.

British GT:

Disasters in Great Britain

Spectators on the hillside surrounding Knockhill were treated to a
turbulent first race. A total of four Safety Car periods caused by various
spins and slip-ups resulted in the field bunching-up on several times. Tom
Ferrier in the Tech9 Gallardo had a short race. A spin at the first corner
threw Ferrier, who had started from seventh on the grid, to the back of
the field, a second ‘off’ on lap 8 signalled the end for the “Scotsman”.
The Tech9 crew couldn’t shake off the bad luck. After the round of
mandatory pit stops Jason Templeman held 2

nd place but received a
stop-and-go penalty as his team sent him back into the race too early. At
Knockhill the minimum pit-stop time was 45 seconds, however, the Tech9
stop was too short. As a result, Templeman / Machitski dropped back to
6th position. The two new drivers, Ben de Zille Butler / Guy Harrington, in
the Team Modena Lamborghini Gallardo crossed the line two places
further back.
The Safety-Car driver was in action once again on Sunday, various
accidents on the slippery track kept him busy. Unfortunately, two Gallardo
drivers were the cause of one Safety-Car period. Just before entering the
pit lane to complete the mandatory pit-stop Guy Harrington (Team
Modena) tried to pass Leo Machitski (Tech9). The two Gallardo touched,
Harrington’s race ended in the gravel, and Machitski was able to continue
after losing a lot of time.
At the flag Machitski / Templeman occupied 12th position. Ferrier / Morley
in the second Tech9 Gallardo had an uneventful race on the way to
eighth position. Tom Ferrier and Oliver Morley are the best placed
Lamborghini drivers in the British GT Championship with 11 points in

eleventh position.

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FFSA GT: Almost a perfect 10 for Lamborghini
After Tuchbant / Leclerc (First Racing) set the fastest time in free
practice, it was clear that the GT3 victory at the second round of the
French GT Championship at Ledenon would go the way of a Lamborghini
driver.
First Racing’s brace of Gallardo ended first qualifying in 3rd and 4th
positions, Ruffier Racing also kept up the symmetry by claiming thirteenth
and fourteenth start positions. The best Gallardo in second qualifying was
the Leclerc / Tuchbant driven example in second place.
The first of the two races was on the agenda for Saturday afternoon and
was easy prey for the First Racing squad which celebrated a perfect onetwo
victory. Leclerc / Tuchbant crossed the finish line as winner just after
the hour mark from team mates Briche / Dubreuil and Moureu / Parisy
(Ferrari 430). Ruffier Racing was credited with 9th and 12th at the finish for
its two Gallardo.
The spectators enjoyed a close finish on Sunday. Leclerc / Tuchbant
missed taking another victory by a mere second and had to be satisfied
with 2nd position behind Moureu / Parisy. Briche / Dubreuil finished race
two in fourth place. Ruffier Racing rounded off the second weekend in the
French GT Championship with 11th and 13th.
The Championship standings after Ledenon:
1st Leclerc / Tuchbant Lamborghini Gallardo 88 points
2nd Moreu / Parisy Ferrari 430 76 points
3rd Jakubowski / Campbel Ferrari 430 50 points
4th Brandela / Lorgere Roux Ferrari 430 48 points
5th Peyrolles / Ruffier Dodge Viper 42 points
6th Briche / Dubreuil Lamborghini Gallardo 38 points
7th Morel / Rosier Dodge Viper 30 points
8th Lelievre / Polette Porsche 997 Cup 19 points
9th Yvon / Cayrolle Aston Martin DBRS9 16 points
10th Pont / Bacheler Porsche 997 Cup 15 points
Asia Supercar Challenge: One-two in Shanghai
Premiere in the Asia Supercar Challenge. The Lamborghini Gallardo GT3
developed and built by Reiter Engineering made its debut in Asia. The
first weekend in Shanghai was totally dominated by Eddie Yau Jr. who
claimed pole position before taking victory from various Ferraris and
Porsche competitors in both races.
Further races on the calendar of the six year old series, organised by the
Supercar Club Hong Kong, are held in China, Malaysia and Singapore.

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http://www.italiaspeed.com/2008/moto...ba/report.html

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New team in ADAC GT Masters
"team flatex-reiter", a new name for the three Lamborghini Gallardo of Reiter Engineering. Form the second race weekend of the ADAC GT Masters at the Nuerburgring the GT3 will race und their new entry. Flatex, Germanys cheap online-broker, was active as a Sponsor of Christopher Haase. Now they made the step to enter an own team. "Fast handling and fast reactions are the main aspects", says Flatex chairman Ralf Mueller. "And that are the reasons why motorsport fits to our Marketing strategy. Also in car racing only the fastest team can win."
This project has no restriction in runtime and contains especially the drivers Christopher Haase and Albert von Thunr und Taxis. The champion (Haase) and Vice-champion (von Thurn und Taxis) of 2007 will share the #1 Gallardo. The second car will be driven Gianni Morbidelli and Dennis Retera. Marius Ritskes and Jan Lammers are racing the #11 Lamborghini of team flatex-reiter.
Reiter Engineering will provide the technical service of team flatex-reiter.

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http://www.italiaspeed.com/2008/moto.../race_gt1.html

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3 victories in France and Italy
FFSA GT

: Lamborghini remains atop the table

While First Racing defended the championship lead with Leclerc /
Tuchbant in the French GT Championship, Ruffier Racing, the second
Lamborghini team contesting the series, was able to celebrate its first
podium position.
Already during the first race of the third round it looked as if the
Lamborghini would score another victory. Julien Briche (First Racing) led
the GT3 field before a tyre failure cost him victory within sight of the
chequered flag. The drivers and team were rewarded with a disappointing
12

th position and thoughts of what might have been. Smiles in
comparison for Ruffier Racing where Helary / Cabanne claimed their first
podium position for Ruffier with third place.
The revenge for Briche / Dubreuil followed in Sunday. They won by a
fabulous 27 seconds from the Dodge and Ferrari competition. Helary /
Cabanne were again in excellent form and secured 4th place. Tuchbant /
Leclerc in the First Racing Gallardo defended their lead at the head of the
FFSA GT GT3 table lead with 6th (race 1) and 12 (race 2).
Championship standings after Dijon:

1

st Leclerc / Tuchbant Lamborghini Gallardo 94 points

2

nd Moreu / Parisy Ferrari 430 94 points
3rd Jakubowski / Campbel Ferrari 430 74 points

4

th Briche / Dubreuil Lamborghini Gallardo 68 points

5

th Brandela / Lorgere Roux Ferrari 430 62 points
6th Peyrolles / Ruffier Dodge Viper 62 points
7th Morel / Rosier Dodge Viper 58 points
8th Ballay / Scheier Ferrari 430 48 points

9

th Cabanne / Helary Lamborghini Gallardo 32 points

10th Lelievre / Polette Porsche 997 Cup 28 points

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Telefonica Speedy GT3 Brazil:

Close contact to leaders

Paulo Bonifacio and Ingo Hoffmann made the podium twice at Sao Paulo
with their Gallardo. With 2

nd place in the first race and 3rd in the second
they once again scored points and now lie third in the championship
standings. Alceu Feldmann and Thiago Marques, who finished in tenth
and eighth position, can be found two places further back.
Championship standings after four rounds:
1. Rosset / Salles Ford GT 28 points
2. Mattheis / Negrao Dodge Viper 26 points

3. Bonifacio / Hoffmann Lamborghini Gallardo 24 points

4. Ricci / Derani Ferrari 430 16 points

5. Marques / Feldmann Lamborghini Gallardo 11 points

-. Losacco / Derani Ferrari 430 11 points
-. Stumpf Dodge Viper 11 points
8. Ebrahim / Ebrahim Dodge Viper 10 points
9. Matias Dodge Viper 9 points

10. Neto / Catalini Ferrari 430 8 points

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Italian GT:

Two wins at Mugello!

Giacomo Piccini and Matteo Grassotto scored two flawless victories at
Mugello. As a result, they secured their MIK Corse and Lamborghini the
second and third wins in four rounds of the Italian GT Championship. The
weekend’s first race saw Piccini / Grassotto ably supported by team
mates Marzo Romano and Cedric Sbirazzuoli. Fifth place in the second
race saw enough points collected to stay in the leading group. Caccia /

Garofano claimed 7th and 6th positions with the third MIK Corse Gallardo.

The standings after two rounds:
1. Perlini / Ardigo Dodge Viper 36 points
2. Sangiuolo / De Pasquale Dodge Viper 35 points

3. Romano / Sbirazzuoli Lamborghini Gallardo 34 points
4. Piccini / Grassotto Lamborghini Gallardo 30 points

5. Earle / Kessel Ferrari 430 22 points
6. Giraudi / Bonaldi Aston Martin DBRS9 21 points
7. Romagnoli / Biacno Dodge Viper 9 points

-. Caccia / Garofano Lamborghini Gallardo 9 points

ADAC GT Masters

: Podiums just out of reach

A full grid greeted the opening round of the ADAC GT Masters at
Oschersleben. The Lamborghini Gallardo drivers narrowly missed
podium finishes in both the 60 minute races. In the first race on Saturday
afternoon defending Champion Christopher Haase and last year’s runnerup
Albert von Thurn und Taxis were fourth in the Reiter Engineering
Gallardo followed by Frank Schmickler / Sebastian Asch (ARGO Racing)
and Harald Becker / Frank Kechele (ARGO Racing). Two further Gallardo
driven by Mike Hezemans / Marius Ritskes (Reiter Engineering) and
Rainer Stiefel / Michael Raja (MRP Motorsport) were classified in the topten.
In the second race on Sunday afternoon it was Becker / Kechele who
took the chequered flag in fourth place. Haase / von Thurn und Taxis
were sixth followed closely by Schmickler / Asch. Ninth position for
Ritskes / Hezemans in #11 Reiter Engineering Gallardo saw them once
again in the top-ten.
The standings after two rounds:
1

st Mutsche / von Gartzen Ford GT 18 points
2nd Bergmeister / Bergmeister Porsche 997 Cup S 14 points
3rd Heyer / Hennerici Ford GT 10 points

4

th Haase / von Thurn u. Taxis Lamborghini Gallardo 8 points
-. Kechele / Becker Lamborghini Gallardo 8 points

5

th Rodrigues / Accary Aston Martin DBRS9 7 points

6

th Schmickler / Asch Lamborghini Gallardo 6 points

7

th Rodrigues / Dumas Aston Martin DBRS9 5 points

8th Skula / Matzke Corvette Z06 2 points

Belcar:

Second event at Dijon

The Belcar Lamborghini Gallardo travelled to the second meeting at Dijon
with 40 kg less on board. The three Lamborghini crews nevertheless had
a hard time around the roller-coaster circuit. Danny de Laet had to
spectate after crashing in free practice; Henk Haane / Mikke van Hool
were 13

th in race 1, Kurt Thiers and Joost Vollebergh 19th. After finishing
in 11th position Thiers / Vollebergh were the best Gallardo team in race 2

on Saturday.

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http://www.gtmasters.org/results.php?event=1&season=2008&session=Entry%20Li st

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Lamborghini shines in weather chaos
FIA-GT3 EM

: Podium for Haase / Deverikos

Highs and lows were order of the day at the second round of the FIA GT3
European Championship in Monza. Tech9 lost a car in an accident during
practice, however success followed in the first 60 minute race.
Christopher Haase and Dimitrios Deverikos, sharing a cockpit for the first
time at Tech9, claimed a sensational podium finish in this extremely hard
fought championship after finishing second. The duo left over 30
competitors from Ferrari, Aston Martin, Corvette, Porsche, Jaguar and
Morgan in their wake. Another Lamborghini Gallardo fielded by S.Berg
Racing and driven by Luca Polato and Vadim Kuzminykh was classified
in 23

rd position.
A rewarding Saturday was followed by a tragic Sunday. This time
Christopher Haase started the race and brought the Gallardo up to 10th

from 15

th. Dimitrios Deverikos held the position and was on his way up
the leader board thanks to excellent tyre strategy before a torn drive-belt
unfortunately ended the race prematurely. Both S.Berg Racing Gallardo
GT3 saw the chequered flag this time. Knauss / Krailhamer were
classified in 17th position and Polato / Kuzminykh 19th.
The standing after two events:
1. Khan / Mutsch Ford GT 26 points
2. Peyroles / Ruffier Corvette Z06 24 points
3. Ellis Ford GT 22 points
4. Mortimer Ford GT 20 points
5. Forsten / Loix Porsche 997 Cup S 14 points
6. Balbiani Ferrari 430 11 points
7. Lesoudierr / Scheier Morgan Aero 8 10 points
8. Lunardi / Vannelet Dodge Viper 9 points

9. Haase / Deverikos Lamborghini Gallardo 8 points

10. Giraudi / Zani Aston Martin DBRS9 6 points

International GT Open:

Wins 3 and 4 for Racing Box

Crazy weather in Spain too! The ProAm race on Saturday provided
everything from dry to wet. Andrea Ceccato and Marco Visconti held their
nerves and displayed true class by not only winning in the GTS class with
the Racing Box Gallardo but also by finishing in fifth place overall among
the more powerful GT2 cars.
The two Italians also won Sunday’s race in front of a crowd of 46,000.

With three wins in four races Ceccato