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Von Moltke: Lamborghini Super Trofeo a “Good Place to Be”

Dion von Moltke on Lamborghini Super Trofeo, future prospects…

Photo: Jamey Price/Lamborghini

Dion von Moltke believes Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America is a “good place to be” as the GT racing ace looks to continue making gains in the competitive single-make series this weekend at Watkins Glen.

Von Moltke has again rejoined Stevan McAleer at the wheel of the No. 11 Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing Lamborghini Huracán LP 620-2 Super Trofeo, following a late call-up after making his series debut at Circuit of The Americas last month.

Sportscar365 caught up with von Moltke to get his thoughts on acclimating to the series and his long-term goals. 

How has the transition to Super Trofeo been for you?

“It’s actually a lot of fun. Super Trofeo is very unique in that it’s been so long since I’ve been in a spec-car series, and I honestly forgot how fun that is to drive.

“You don’t have to worry about the politics of Balance of Performance or who has the quick car where. You get to just go drive. It’s been nice to just focus purely on that aspect of it.

“The cars are monsters, I mean they’re straight-line power way more than the GT3/GTD cars. Where they differ are some of the suspension pieces and downforce, so they’re actually really difficult to drive.

“I’d go so far as to say they are more difficult to drive than the GT3 cars.

“It’s a really great place for anyone to get used to driving, TC, ABS, and GT-style racing to prep for the IMSA-style series: making driver changes, the tires are a little bit more grippy but you don’t have the downforce.

“It’s been fun. There’s some really good drivers, some good competition, it’s a good place to be.”

How did the season-opener at Circuit of The Americas go for you?

“COTA was a difficult weekend for us at Prestige Performance and Wayne Taylor Racing. Stevan McAleer and I just learned the car and everyone else tested there and we didn’t.

“We showed up with a setup that worked really well from last year, and it just wasn’t the right spot, the right place to be at COTA this year.

“It just shows you how quickly everything is developing over there. It’s the same car but everyone is learning really quick.

“We did a good job at figuring things out and getting points at the first race, unfortunately we had an incident in the second race.

“I’m really encouraged at how we’ve been able to take a step forward coming into here.

“Our car, we have not put new tires on it at all and have been pretty close to the pace, right where we need to be considering Stevan and I didn’t test here before. I think, as a team, we’re learning.

“We’re growing. The engineers are trying to understand us, we’re trying to understand the car, and they’re trying to engineer four cars which is a difficult challenge, but if anyone can do it it’s them.

What are you hoping to achieve this weekend?

“We want to win. Between Stevan and I, we’re competitive. It’s been really great to work with him. He’s a really impressive driver, absolutely. It’s been fun to work with him in a team aspect as well.

“It’s going to be tough, especially going up against some of the single driver lineups out there.

“That makes it sort of a little bit more difficult to go against, but I don’t see why we can’t be battling for a win here.

The Pro class has seen an increase in entries this year. What do you think about the level of competition?

“It’s super competitive right now. Richard Antinucci seems to be a little bit ahead of the rest of us but he has quite a bit of time in these cars.  

“But between Trent [Hindman], myself, Stevan, Richard, [Riccardo] Agostini, there’s Ashley Freiberg, she’s doing a great job… [Austin] Versteeg, who is Pro-Am but might as well be in Pro, there’s a lot of really good drivers, good competition, and teams there.

“I think it’s just going to keep going that way because it’s a fun place to be and when you get a group of talents together, it seems to attract more coming in. I think we’re going to see that increase even throughout the year.

“As the rest of us kind of catch up a little bit, learn the car, and get confident in the car, I think you’re going to see some fierce battles the rest of the year.”

Do you think this opportunity with Prestige and WTR could lead to future drives in other series?

“It’s definitely a bit attraction of coming to race here was the potential for that. I’ve never shied away from saying how difficult the last couple of years have been since my last really good, full-season ride where we finished third in the championship that year.

“I’m really thankful to Prestige and the support that they’ve been giving me. It’s been fantastic.

“Also, looking at what Max [Angelelli] and Wayne [Taylor] have been able to support personally as well, the interest they’ve taken, it’s been really nice and it’s given me an atmosphere that reminds me of the Paul Miller days or the Flying Lizard days where I really felt a part of something for a longer duration.

“I know they want to work with me and I want to work with them, so I’m hopeful that it all works out, but there’s so many factors in motorsports so you never know what’s going to happen.

“It’s definitely a big focus of trying to get to that next level, especially with the [plans] they’ve made with their program for next year with GTD, I’d love to be a part of it if things work out.”

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

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