Valencia Thursday Notebook

Photo: Lamborghini

***The nearly 60-car field of Lamborghini Huracán LP 620-2 Super Trofeos and drivers assembled Thursday morning for a group photo on the start/finish straight of Circuit Ricardo Tormo, site of this weekend’s Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo season finales and World Final.

***A 13th car has been added to the North America series this weekend, with Marco Mapelli in a third Prestige Performance-entered Huracán. The No. 138 entry, which will compete for Pro class honors, had served as a spare for the team’s Nos. 101 and 110 entries of Shinya Michimi and Trent Hindman/Craig Duerson, respectively.

***It’s unclear if Mapelli will be allowed to take part in the World Final on Saturday and Sunday, as Super Trofeo rules require drivers to complete at least one weekend, or two races, in the continental series, which the 29-year-old Italian has not achieved.

***The No. 110 Prestige Lamborghini had an odd moment in Free Practice 2 when both rear wheels fell off the car, almost simultaneously, when Trent Hindman was driving. It resulted in a lengthy red flag period, as workers had trouble getting it onto a wrecker. The cause of the issue was traced to a faulty air gun.

“As soon as I got to Turn 11, the right-rear went flying past me and then I pulled off on the grass.Then the left-rear came off. It wasn’t scary but nothing but strange,” Hindman told Sportscar365.

***There’s been a handful of other changes to the initial entry list, with the addition of the No. 28 M-Tech Lamborghini for Tim Richards (Lamborghini Cup) and withdrawal of the No. 90 Raton Racing car that was listed for Antonio D’Amico, both in the Europe series.

***Will Moore has replaced Alain Valente in No. 3 Bonaldi Motorsport Lamborghini (Pro-Am), while Artur Janosz has moved to the No. 26 Lazarus entry with Nicola De Marco (Pro), with Riccardo Agostini now in No. 27 car (Pro-Am).

***In the Asia series, Max Wiser has been added to the No. 269 FXprimus Aylezo entry (Pro-Am), with no other changes made to North America beyond the late addition of Mapelli.

***To differentiate between the North America, Europe and Asian series, different numbers have been added to the front of cars, to avoid any overlap. All European entries have two-number cars (4 to 98), while North America and Asian entries have three-number cars (North America 101 to 157, and Asia 212 to 299).

***Click Here to view Andy Blackmore’s Spotter Guide for the event, featuring all cars and teams from Super Trofeo North America, Europe and Asia that will compete in Friday’s season-ending rounds, as well as the World Final.

***Free Practice began on a wet track, before drying out by the late morning. Both FP1 and FP2 were declared wet, although teams switched to slicks for the second session. Richard Antinucci topped the time charts in both sessions.

***Both the North America and Asian teams are utilizing the garages on the pit straight, with European teams working out of tents alongside their transporters. Cars and equipment were sea-freighted from overseas for the North America and Asia teams.

***Live streaming coverage will be available for all Super Trofeo races this weekend. Round 11 for North America/Asia gets underway Friday at 8:50 a.m. local time (2:50 a.m. ET), followed by Round 12 at 1:35 p.m. local (7:35 a.m. ET). Click Here for the streaming link.

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