| The Opening Race of the 2021 North American Season Rolls off Later Today May 22, 2021 By Mark Robinson IMSA Wire Service  Race 1 Qualifying Results AUSTIN, Texas – Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America drivers faced some of the most challenging conditions in qualifying Saturday morning for the season-opening doubleheader round at Circuit of The Americas (COTA). Despite a persistent rain the soaked the 3.4-mile, 20-turn circuit, impressive performances were turned in for all four classes. Nico Jamin threw in a last lap of 2 minutes, 21.875 seconds (86.272 mph) to earn the overall and Pro class pole position for Race 1 in the No. 13 Ansa Motorsports, Lamborghini Broward Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVO. Stevan McAleer followed suit in Race 2 qualifying, with a 2:21.477 flyer (86.515 mph) as the checkered flag waved, to take top honors for Sunday’s race in the No. 16 Change Racing, Lamborghini Charlotte Huracán. Jamin is making his Lamborghini Super Trofeo debut as a one-off effort this weekend after spending recent seasons competing globally in Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) events. Ansa team principal Alain Nadal called on Jamin to team with Australian Scott Andrews, another LMP2 standout, to help get the No 13 Huracán off to a solid start in 2021. “We were really off the pace (in Friday practice) and the car was difficult to drive,” Jamin said. “We worked like crazy hard last night with the engineers, trying to figure out what was wrong with the car, and they worked like all night long. To come out here this morning and put it on pole for that, it was really good and I’m really happy for them.” Despite the treacherous conditions, Jamin felt comfortable in the car and ran clear of reigning Pro class champion Madison Snow in the No. 16 Huracán by more than three-tenths of a second. “It wasn’t too bad, there was no aquaplaning or any of that,” Jamin said. “Actually, the Pirelli tires were really good in the wet. I had a lot of grip out there, which was nice, giving me a lot of confidence. I love driving in the rain anyway, so it was good.”  Race 2 Qualifying Results McAleer was able to take the No. 16 Change Racing Huracán to the top spot in Race 2 qualifying, edging Richard Antinucci (No. 27 Dream Racing Motorsport, Lamborghini Las Vegas Huracán) by 0.128 seconds. Like Jamin in the No. 13, McAleer said the No. 16 crew struggled in Friday practice. “I was kind of hoping it was going to rain to even the playing field a little bit,” said McAleer, who finished fourth in last year’s Pro standings. “After seeing Madison out there in the Q1, I knew the car was good. “I think I was sitting P4 on the last lap and there was one corner I was having some trouble with, so I tightened that up and it gave me a lot more time than I thought it was going to do. So, I was like, ‘Don’t mess up, let’s just complete the lap.’ We’re obviously super excited.” Other class pole winners for Races 1 and 2, respectively, were: · ProAm: Luca Persian, No. 22 Dream Racing Motorsport, Lamborghini Las Vegas (2:24.312) and Loris Spinelli, No. 51 Taurino Racing, Lamborghini Palm Beach (2:21.775) · Am: Trevor Andrusko, No. 38 TPC Racing, Lamborghini Sterling (2:24.623) and Giano Taurino, No. 88 Taurino Racing, Lamborghini Palm Beach (2:24.286) · LB Cup: Michael Mennella, No. 4 MCR racing, Lamborghini Miami (2:30.979) and Terry Olson, No. 47 Precision Performance Motorsports, Lamborghini Palm Beach (2:29.919). This weekend marks the first of six rounds for the North American championship – five held in the United States and the last in Misano, Italy, ahead of the World Final there. It’s also the series’ first visit to COTA since 2017. Race 1 streams live at 6:55 p.m. ET Saturday on IMSA.com and Lamborghini.com. Race 2 will stream on the same sites at 12:05 p.m. Sunday. |
