Michimi Sweeps VIR, Leads Prestige Performance 1-2 Finish in Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North America
Prestige Performance is making a habit of winning races. It was no different Sunday as Shinya Michimi swept the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North America weekend with a Round 8 win at VIRginia International Raceway.
Michimi earned the 1.457-second victory in the No. 1 Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo LP 620-2 entry representing Lamborghini Paramus over the duo of Trent Hindman and Craig Duerson, leading a 1-2 Prestige Performance overall finish.
“Trent (Hindman) and I are really good friends, but at the end of the day we’re within the same team, and we like to have inner-team battles,” Michimi said. “And they kept telling me he was running quicker lap times, so I wanted to prove I could still run the quick lap times. The guys have given me a great car to run. There’s never any issues, and it just gets quicker as the race goes on.”
Michimi led the field from flag-to-flag, but victory didn’t come easily in a race plagued by cautions.
The first caution was brought out six minutes into the race, just like Round 7 Saturday. The No. 29 Change Racing entry representing Lamborghini Carolinas driven by Luis Rodriguez Jr. went off in the Esses, triggering the caution.
On the restart four minutes later, Yufeng Luo in the No. 17 US RaceTronics entry representing Lamborghini Beverly Hills dropped a wheel through Turn 17 and spun. He made contact with the pit wall. That incident triggered the second caution of the day with 38 minutes remaining in the 50-minute race.
Michimi led the restart with 27 minutes to go, followed by Brandon Gdovic in the No. 46 DAC Motorsports entry representing Lamborghini Palm Beach, Damon Ockey in the No. 07 US RaceTronics entry representing Lamborghini Calgary and Duerson in the No. 10 entry representing Lamborghini Paramus.
Michimi had a flawless pit stop. He was required to stop for 1 minute and 24 seconds, and his Prestige Performance team completed a stop in 1:24.021 to help him retain first place. Hindman exited the pit stop in second behind his teammate, aided by the requirement to stop for only 1:21 as a co-driver team.
Michimi slowly built a 3.053-second lead on Hindman before the third caution of the race was triggered with 10:45 to go. On the restart with 3:55 to go, Michimi pulled a fantastic jump on Hindman. But Hindman was not deterred. He tried to reel in Michimi over the next three laps, getting as close as .790-of-a-second. But he was unable to close the deal, and Michimi earned his sixth win in eight races.
The win also extends Michimi’s Pro driver points lead to 114-71 over Emmanuel Anassis in the No. 26 DAC Motorsports entry representing Lamborghini Palm Beach with four rounds to go.
“We started out with the goal to win the championship, and we’ve done what we need to do in the order we need to do it,” Michimi said. “I think a few more races, and we can hopefully clinch it. But we’re looking to win races because if you’re winning up front, then they can’t catch you.”
The second-place overall finish for Hindman and Duerson was their fourth overall podium finish of the season. The duo was also the top Pro-Am finisher, the fourth class win of the season. Hindman and Duerson are three points in front of Gdovic, 94-91, for first place in the Pro-Am points standings. They entered Round 8 tied with 79 points.
Gdovic finished third overall and second in the Pro-Am class. Ockey held on to finish fourth overall after starting third. He was also the top Amateur class finisher and extended his Amatuer championship points lead.
The third Prestige Performance entry representing Lamborghini Paramus, driven by Stefan Wilson and David Seabrooke, finished third in the No. 23 Lamborghini. It was the duo’s first podium of the season.
Patrice Brisebois finished second in the Amateur division in the No. 24 DAC Motorsports entry representing Lamborghini Palm Beach. Rob Hodes rounded out the Amateur podium with a third-place finish in the No. 51 KR2 Motorsports entry representing Lamborghini Palm Beach.
Ross Chouest extended his win streak to eight races in Lamborghini Cup competition. He was won the class in every race this season in the No. 3 DXD Racing entry representing Lamborghini Miami.
Will James was second in Lamborghini Cup for the second race in a row in the No. 11 eXclaim Racing/Migliore Motorsports entry representing Lamborghini Paramus. Shawn Lawless rounded out the podium finishers with a third-place finish in the No. 27 Dream Racing Motorsport representing Lamborghini Las Vegas.
The next Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo America event will be Sept. 14-16 at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.
The weekend at Virginia International Raceway is a part of the worldwide race action for the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo championship, which continues to reach new levels of success at every round in Europe, North America and Asia.
Lamborghini and Blancpain provided world-class hospitality this weekend for clients and guests of Lamborghini dealers. Guests also participated in the IMSA Hot Lap Experience, high-speed rides around the circuit in a Lamborghini.
All media enquiries including requests for additional photography should be directed to:
Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North American Press Office
Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.
Founded in 1963, Automobili Lamborghini is headquartered in Sant’Agata Bolognese, in Northeastern Italy. The Lamborghini Huracán LP 610-4, which made its world debut at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show, is the successor to the iconic Gallardo and redefines the luxury super sports car driving experience with its innovative technology and outstanding performance. The Aventador LP 700-4, in Coupé and Roadster offerings, represents the reference point in the world of V12-powered, luxury super sports cars. With 129 dealerships worldwide, in half a century Lamborghini has created an uninterrupted series of extraordinary, exclusive cars that include the 350 GT, Miura, Espada, Countach, Diablo, Murciélago, and several limited series like the Reventón, Sesto Elemento and Aventador J. The Veneno Coupé, the Egoista and the Veneno Roadster, were created to celebrate the brand’s 50th anniversary year in 2013.
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