2.12.08 Successful test for the Lavaggi LMP1

The 6 hour race at Vallelunga in Italy started on a high note for the Monegasque Scuderia Lavaggi, with pole position for the Lavaggi LS1 AER.

6h Vallelunga

6h Vallelunga

In both free practice sessions, the LMP1 car designed and built by Giovanni Lavaggi headed the timing sheets. With a lap time of 1.26.77 mins, the team put the car on a well-deserved pole position for the "Gold Cup" sports car & GT race.

"I am very happy that the incredible effort of Giovanni and his crew has been rewarded with their first pole position", said Wolfgang Kaufmann.

The team principal from Monaco took the start of the race, but had to head for the pits after a few short minutes with an unusual problem. Due to an issue with the rear dampers, the ride height of the car at speed was significantly too low; and it kept bottoming out violently. The necessary repairs set the car back by a long way.

"In these difficult weather conditions, we would easily have taken the win. Our decision for slick tyres was perfectly right, even though Giovanni had a hard time getting the Dunlop tyres up to temperature in the low ambient temperatures and the partly damp track", Wolfgang Kaufmann explains.

Over the course of the race, the Lavaggi LS1 managed to work its way from the nether regions of the timing sheet back into the Top 10. Kaufmann sums it up: "although this was more like a test under racing conditions, victory should have been ours as reward for the relentless dedication of Giovanni and his team."