2009 Pro Drivers' Champion Babini leads the Super Trofeo field

Fabio Babini and Claudio Rossetto secured the 2009 Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo series Pro and Pro-Am drivers’ titles after claiming their second podium of the weekend at Paul Ricard HTTT, France.

It was team Automobili Lamborghini who claimed the round 16 victory this morning, with drivers Giorgio Sanna and AUTOhebdo journalist Romain Bernard. From third on the grid, Bernard passed Rossetto and newcomer PURESPORT’s Andreas Invernizzi to take the lead.

However, Bernard was passed on lap five, when Peter Kox in the #24 Reiter Engineering Super Trofeo race car took the lead, having fought his way through the pack from last place on the grid.

Sanna took over from Bernard at the pit-stop and managed to pass Kox’s team-mate Marc A. Hayek on lap 14 to take the win. Hayek finished second with the #22 of Rossetto third.

In round 17, from second on the grid, Babini took the lead, with Kox and team Automobili Lamborghini VIP driver Albert von Thurn und Taxis behind in second and third respectively.

As the pit window opened, Babini was still leading with Kox behind, while Mirko Venturi in the #23 PURESPORT entry was running in third. Babini handed the #22 Petri Corse over to team-mate Rossetto, who maintained the lead until the penultimate lap when he made a mistake under braking and spun.

Kox’s team-mate Marc A. Hayek passed a recovering Rossetto to cross the finish line first. Rossetto finished second with Bonaldi Motorsport’s Eugenio Amos third.

Rossetto and Babini celebrate another podium finish and the series titles

Having secured 12 points, Babini and Rossetto not only secured the Pro and Pro-Am titles, but also the Teams’ title for Petri Corse, ahead of Reiter Engineering’s Kox and Hayek, who secured second place in both the drivers’ and teams’ standings.

“”We had a really good race,” said Babini. “Although Rossetto made a small mistake, we have secured two podiums today and to be the first Super Trofeo Champions is fantastic. This is a great result for Petri Corse, and the series has been excellent thanks to Lamborghini and Pirelli…I think we will be celebrating with the team tonight!”

“I’m very very happy!” added Rossetto. “The series has been very exciting. I don’t think that I was physically fit enough at the start of the season, but I have improved a lot during the year.”

Round 16 results1. Sanna/Bernard (#1), Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A 41:56.2172. Babini/Rossetto (#22), Petri Corse +10.7903. Hayek/Kox (#24), Reiter Engineering +16.8214. Amos/Amaduzzi (#69), Bonaldi Motorsport +17.1445. von Thurn und Taxis/Saurma (#2), Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A +20.6926. Charouz/Lacko (#88), Lamborghini Racing Eastern Europe +35.1707. Bellini (#3), Bonaldi Motorsport +46.4198. Dijkstra/van de Zwaan (#16), Schoolmaster +58.9839. Venturi/Invernizzi (#23), PURESPORT +1:15.71710. C. Leimer/H. Leimer (#63), Autovitesse +1:49.50611. Janiš/Winter (#77), Lamborghini Racing Eastern Europe +1:54.26712. Jenny (#007), Lamborghini Racing Eastern Europe + 1 lap13. Bassetti (#66), Petri Corse + 1 lapNot classifiedBartocci/Maddalena (#6), Petri Corse

Round 17 results1. Hayek/Kox (#24), Reiter Engineering 42:01.9432. Babini/Rossetto (#22), Petri Corse +2.3783. Amos/Amaduzzi (#69), Bonaldi Motorsport +5.2234. Charouz/Lacko (#88), Lamborghini Racing Eastern Europe +26.7035. Dijkstra/van de Zwaan (#16), Schoolmaster +28.3596. Bellini (#3), Bonaldi Motorsport +29.5137. von Thurn und Taxis/Saurma (#2), Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A +44.7218. Janiš/Winter (#77), Lamborghini Racing Eastern Europe +52.9829. Venturi/Invernizzi (#23), PURESPORT +59.56710. Bartocci/Maddalena (#6), Petri Corse +1:03.57611. Jenny (#007), Lamborghini Racing Eastern Europe +1:53.57612. Bassetti (#66), Petri Corse +2:00.27713. C. Leimer/H. Leimer (#63), Autovitesse + 2 lapsNot classifiedSanna/Bernard (#1), Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A

Pro Drivers’ Standings – top eight1. Fabio Babini (ITA) 1642. Peter Kox (NED) 1463. Jarek Janiš (CZE) 1044. Jonathan Cochet (FRA) 735. Maximilian Götz (GER) 416. Davide Amaduzzi (ITA) 517. Arjen van de Zwaan (NED) 1648. Jens Klingmann (GER) 146

Pro-Am Drivers’ Standings – top eightClaudio Rossetto (ITA) 164Marc A. Hayek (SUI) 146Ferruccio Bellini (ITA) 85Eugenio Amos (ITA) 78Alexander Frei (SUI) 73Achim Winter (GER) 59Cedric Leimer (SUI) 48Herve Leimer (SUI) 48

Teams’ Standings – top eightPetri Corse 181Reiter Engineering 146Bonaldi Motorsport 137Lamborghini Racing Eastern Europe 133Autovitesse 100Automobili Lamborghini 82Lamborghini München Team Holzer 56Schoolmaster 48