Angus endurance racer Sandy Mitchell was crowned Lamborghini Super Trofeo World vice-champion after a storming series of performances at the Circuit de Jerez in southern Spain.
The 19-year-old from Forfar delivered a win, a second place and a pole position in the two Lamborghini World Final races, but his achievements were tinged with controversy after the title was decided away from the track.
Partnered by Italian team-mate Andrea Amici in their No. 1 Prestige Performance Lamborghini Huracán, prepared by Wayne Taylor Racing, the duo finished tied on 28 points after the two races with a rival car.
The World Finals mark the end of the season of all of Lamborghini’s one-make series, which also includes Europe and Asia.
The destination of the world crown came down to a tie-break and was settled in the steward’s room in favour of Dane Frederick Schandorff.
In the tie-break, though Mitchell and Amici had won more races in their ‘national championship’ than the drivers — Dane Frederick Schandorff and Venezuelan Jonathan Cecotto — in the No31 car, Schandorff had won a number of Lamborghini races in the less-competitive Far East series. This was enough to swing the title in his favour.
Mitchell, part of the Lamborghini Squadra Corse GT3 Junior Program and a member of the prestigious British Racing Drivers’ Club Rising Star scheme, was magnanimous after the podium ceremony.
“I’m proud of what I and Andrea did this week. We competed with and beat the best Lamborghini Super Trofeo drivers, cars and teams in the world,” said Black Bull Whisky-backed Mitchell.
“To be a dead heat after two races, each with a win, a second place and a pole position, and with less than a second between both cars in both races, shows how close we were,” said the Letham 19-year-old.
“I was really happy with how I drove. It’s been pretty tight. Just a shame the decision has come down solely to the way the rules have been written, which has unfortunately tipped it in their favour.”
