VIR Lamborghini ST Weekend Notebook

Photo: Jamey Price/Lamborghini

***Richard Antinucci (Round 7) and Shinya Michimi (Round 8) scored overall poles for the pair of 50-minute races this weekend. Antinucci took his No. 17 US Racetronics entry to a quick lap of 1:44.799, edging out Michimi by 0.841 seconds in the first qualifying session. Michimi improved to a 1:45.395 in the second session. Qualifying 1 Results / Qualifying 2 Results

***A pair of Lamborghini Huracán LP 620-2 Super Trofeo cars are back in action after weekend-ending accidents last time out at Road America. The No. 11 eXclaim Racing/Migliore Motorsports was rebuilt at a shop in Chicago, with Kevin Conway completing a successful shakedown at Autobahn Country Club in Joliet, Ill. on Monday.

***The No. 23 Prestige Performance Lamborghini, which crashed out in the promoter test at Road America, has been re-tubbed, with a replacement chassis having been air-freighted in from Italy. The Wayne Taylor Racing-run crew rebuilt the car in two days. Stefan Wilson and David Seabrooke are again behind the wheel.

***Yufeng Luo has replaced Brian Thienes in the No. 17 US Racetronics entry. The 18-year-old Los Angeles-based Chinese driver makes his sports car racing debut, having tested with the team last week at Buttonwillow. Reigning North American champion Antinucci will again co-drive, with the same lineup expected for the next round at Circuit of The Americas.

***Ferrari Challenge driver Steve Johnson makes his Super Trofeo debut, in the No. 33 DAC Racing Lamborghini. Jake Rattenbury had driven the car at Road America. DAC again fields a total of five Huracán LP 620-2 Super Trofeo entries this weekend.

***After co-driving at Road America with Gerry Kraut, Joel Janco is joined by his driving coach, Jonatan Jorge, at the wheel of the No. 66 TRG-Lamborghini entry this weekend in the Am class. The Kevin Buckler-led team makes its third Super Trofeo start of the year, with an eye towards an expanded effort in 2017.

***Joe Courtney is driving solo this weekend in the No. 77 Courtney Racing car. Peter Argetsinger was initially listed as his co-driver in the Am class entry.

***Paul Miller Racing’s Super Trofeo program came together in just the past week, with a dedicated crew having been assembled. While operating separately this weekend, team manager Mitchell Simmons told Sportscar365 its Super Trofeo and GTD cars will be under the same tent at COTA.

***A decision on the Paul Miller Racing’s participation in the final North American rounds and World Final in Valencia has yet been made.

***VIR marks the home race for Change Racing. The Concord, N.C.-based operation, led by Robby Benton, carries the support of Lamborghini Carolinas on its two entries for Luis Rodriguez Jr. (Pro-Am) and Jim and Josh Norman (Am).

***While the season has featured a steady 21-car field, Super Trofeo North America Series Coordinator Chris Ward told Sportscar365 that he expects further growth in 2017. A total of 31 Huracán Super Trofeo cars are currently in North America, with additional cars set to be allocated to the continent for next year.

***The 2017 Super Trofeo North America series schedule will be announced at COTA next month. It’s believed to be a similar calendar to this year, but with two date changes following the revised WeatherTech Championship schedule that was released earlier this month.

***Andy Blackmore has expanded his IMSA Spotter Guide portfolio to include Super Trofeo this year. Click Here to download the guide for this weekend’s races.

***Watch Round 7 live on Motor Trend and Demand and IMSA.tv Saturday at 10:45 a.m. ET. Round 8 gets underway Sunday at 9:50 a.m. ET. Tape-delayed coverage will air on CBS Sports Network on Sunday afternoons. Check your local listings.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John