De La Torre Takes Title After Dominant Win in Monza Opener

Elias De La Torre has secured the overall Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America title with a race to spare after a dominant drive for him and TR3 Racing teammate Dennis Lind in the Monza opener.

Lind had claimed pole by over seven-tenths of a second and converted that advantage into the race as the Dane quickly pulled away from the field and had built a lead of over ten seconds by the time of the mandatory stops.

De La Torre picked up where Lind left off and cruised home to cross the line 16.629 seconds ahead and take the title in style.

He claimed the honors on his own after beginning the season with several different co-drivers, including Will Bamber — who became his closest rival.

Pro-Am Cup champion Danny Formal had also started on the front row but lost a clutch of places out of the first chicane on the opening lap.

Hampus Ericsson, who had faint hopes of wresting the title away from De La Torre, moved into second aboard the No. 133 Wayne Taylor Racing Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo EVO2.

Ericsson maintained that place to the stops, despite coming under pressure from the XONINE Racing machine of Bamber, the other driver who could take the title.

Nick Persing took over from Ericsson in second and kept that place to the flag, while Bamber fell to fourth during the pit stop phase.

That promoted James Wallis and Al Morey’s WTR car to the final podium spot with the latter facing extreme pressure from Bamber in the closing laps.

Formal and Graham Doyle were fifth to take a ninth class win of the season in the No. 110 WTR car.

Further back, Am Cup champion David Staab notched up another victory for Precision Performance Motorsports after jumping Anthony Bullock’s XONINE Racing entry during the stops.

The only title yet to be decided is the LB Cup and the opening Monza contest proved to be a dramatic one in the battle to top the class.

Points leader Rocky T Bolduc had a brake fluid leak with his Topp Racing Lamborghini before the start of the race and lost six laps while repairs were made.

He did then venture out and was classified fourth in the division, while title rival Philippe Touchette won for TB Autosports and has therefore moved to the top of the championship table ahead of Friday’s decider.

The second race of the weekend is due to be held on Friday at 12:30 p.m. CEST (6:30 a.m. EST).

RESULTS: Race 1