Italian GT3 Sprint Championship
Lamborghini factory driver Sandy, returns to action this weekend (Oct 25/26) when he contests the final double-header in the Italian GT3 Sprint Championship title decider at Monza with VSR.
The 25-year-old from Forfar will again drive a Lamborghini Huracan EVO2 GT3 prepared by top Italian team Vincenzo Sospiri Racing. But whereas he raced the team’s No63 car at Imola last month, bagging pole position and winning on his debut in the championship, this weekend Sandy is in the #6 Lamborghini.
The former British GT champ will also swap co-drivers this weekend. Having partnered Italian Andrea Frassineti at Imola, Sandy will team up with fellow Lamborghini factory driver Loris Spinelli in the #6 car at Monza.
“It was great to get pole position and win last time out with Andrea, but this weekend his regular partner Edoardo Liberati is back in the #63 car with him,” Sandy, personally-backed by Tunnocks and Dama Fortuna Premium Tequila, explained. “Andrea heads into the final two races leading the championship by just nine points, so this weekend it’s all about the team doing everything it can to ensure he lifts the title.”
But the team, all four drivers and both cars face a challenging weekend in the super-competitive Italian GT3 Sprint Championship. Having finished 1-2 last time out at Imola, the #63 car has a 15-second success penalty at its mandatory pitstop in the opening 50-minute race, with the #6 car also having to sit stationary for an additional 10secs.
“It’s crucial we qualify both cars well, and then maximise the best result we can in Race 1,” Sandy continued. “Achieve that and then we can really focus on a plan in Race 2 to ensure Andrea lifts the title. Team work is going to be crucial this weekend.”
And the Scot is looking forward to returning to race at the ultra-fast 3.6-mile, 11-turn Monza circuit, which hosts the F1 Italian Grand Prix. “I’m fortunate to have raced at Monza before, most recently at the start of June when we finished sixth in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Pro Cup with the VSR Lamborghini,” Sandy continued. “Everyone in the team knows the Lamborghini really suits the high-speed demands of Monza, so we’re fired up to deliver a strong package of results and ensure Andrea is crowned champion.”
After a Free Practice session on Friday, the action gets underway on Saturday with two 15-minute qualifying sessions, followed by the first 50-minute +1-lap race starting at 4.10pm (local). Race 2 starts on Sunday at 1.30pm. (All times one hour ahead of UK.)
