Prestige Claims Lamborghini ST Round 2 Victory in Monterey

Prestige Performance used quick driving and strategy to earn dual wins in the overall and Pro-Am divisions in Race 2 of the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North America season Sunday at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

New Automobili Lamborghini CEO Stefano Domenicali spent the weekend in Monterey at his first Super Trofeo event, presenting trophies to the overall Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North American finishers and meeting several United States and Canada Lamborghini dealers, strengthening the relationship between the automaker and its evolving racing programs.

Shinya Michimi produced a breakthrough performance in the No. 1 Prestige Performance Huracán LP 620-2 Super Trofeo representing Lamborghini Paramus, earning a 1.918-second victory over Corey Lewis for his first overall Super Trofeo victory.

“I’ve really got to thank all of my guys at Prestige Performance/Lamborghini Paramus,” Michimi said.

“They put together a really good car all weekend. We’ve been right on pace, and we finally really brought it out in the race. To have a good race car is really important.”

Michimi’s Prestige Performance teammates, Trent Hindman and Craig Duerson, made a spirited drive to climb from 10th to third overall and first in the Pro-Am division in the No. 1 Huracán representing Lamborghini Paramus.

Michimi, a Pro-Am championship contender in Super Trofeo Europe last season, took the green flag in second position for the second day in a row, following Madison Snow in the No. 48 DXDT Racing entry representing Lamborghini Palm Beach.

Snow had a clean start and gradually built a lead while Lewis and Michimi battled for second position. Lewis got the jump on the first lap, with Michimi following closely.

At the 10-minute mark of the 50-minute race, a car went off course in Turn 10, leaving dirt on the track surface. Snow crossed the dirt and slid off course, opening the door for Lewis and Michimi.

The two stayed within one-half of a second of each other over the next 30 minutes, but pit strategy decided the outcome.

Michimi pitted early while Lewis stayed out, trying to extend his lead. Once Lewis pitted, Michimi laid down some quick laps to come out in front once the field cycled through the mandatory pit stops.

After taking the lead, Michimi managed the race and his tires to win.

“After the pit stop, our guys did a really good job timing it perfectly, and we were able to get out in front and give me a good lead,” Michimi said.

“From there, it was just kind of timing things. I didn’t want to push too hard and kill the tires. It was just keeping the gap at a safe distance.”

James Sofronas finished fourth overall and second in the Pro-Am division for his third podium finish of the weekend after finishing third overall and first in Pro-Am in Race 1 in the No. 14 GMG Huracán representing Lamborghini Newport Beach.

The TRG-Lamborghini duo of James Davison and Derek DeBoer rounded out the Pro-Am podium, finishing third in their series debut weekend in the No. 66 Huracán representing Lamborghini Los Gatos.

Damon Ockey was the top Amateur finisher, improving his second-place finish from Race 1, in the No. 09 US RaceTronics Lamborghini representing Lamborghini Calgary.

The father-son duo of Jim and Josh Norman found the podium for the first time this season with a second-place finish in the Amateur division in the No. 71 Change Racing entry representing Lamborghini Carolinas.

Rob Hodes rounded out the Amateur podium in the No. 51 DAC Motorsports machine representing Lamborghini Palm Beach with his second third-place finish of the weekend.

Ross Chouest swept the new Lamborghini Cup division, earning his second win of the weekend in the No. 3 DXDT Racing entry representing Lamborghini Dallas.

Shawn Lawless was the second-place finisher in the division in the No. 27 Dream Racing Motorsports entry representing Lamborghini Dallas. eXclaim Racing’s Will James rounded out the podium finishers in the No. 11 Super Trofeo representing Lamborghini Paramus.

The next Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North America event will be June 29-July 1 at Watkins Glen International.

RESULTS: Round 2