European Sprint Cup Assault

Lamborghini Factory Driver Sandy heads to Italy to launch European Sprint Cup Assault with Barwell and Rob Collard.

Lamborghini factory driver Sandy kicks-off his Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup assault this weekend (May 17/18) when he tackles the two one-hour races at Misano in Italy. Sandy, the 24-year-old from Forfar, will be reunited with his former team-mate Rob Collard for the European campaign. The duo won the British GT Championship together in 2020. Once again the pair will drive the No78 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo 2 prepared by Barwell Motorsport and backed by Dama Fortuna Tequila.

“It’s going to be great to share a car again with Rob,” Sandy stated. “We were a seriously strong pairing together back in 2020, and I’m confident we can deliver race wins and podiums again this year.”

The sinuous 2.6-mile, 16-turn Misano circuit, which sits on Italy’s Adriatic Coast south-east of Rimini and east of San Marino, is a fast circuit which should suit Sandy’s Lamborghini. Both drivers head to Italy full of confidence, having each won a sprint race in the opening British GT double header at Oulton Park.
“We’ve both shown already this season that we’re quick, plus we know the Lamborghini is fast,” Sandy, personally-backed by Huntly-based Black Bull Scotch Whisky and Tunnocks, continued. “The guys at Barwell will deliver another quick car this weekend so we’re looking forward to battling it out at the front of the field.”

After the opening Sprint Cup round at Brands Hatch earlier this month, this will be the first weekend the ultra-competitive 11-car Bronze Cup field — which includes Sandy and Collard — will compete. Their inclusion increases the grid to 36 of the fastest GT3 cars in Europe. Misano is also unique this season as it’s the only venue which will host a night-time sprint race in darkness.

“Unusually, practice and qualifying are on Friday with both sprint races on Saturday,” Sandy explained. “The first starts at 2pm local, but the second doesn’t start till 9pm. I love racing in the dark. It’s something I have experience of in the Spa and Daytona 24-hour races, plus the six-hour race at Paul Ricard. It’s magical and demands a slightly different approach from daylight racing. I haven’t raced at Misano before, but Barwell have won there previously, most recently in 2021. I’ve spent hours on the circuit on the sim, so we head to Italy ready for action and targeting podiums.”