NEWS
VSR DOMINATES AT MUGELLO WITH OVERALL AND PRO-AM WINS
Jul 13, 2025
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Italian GT Sprint, Mugello - Italy
Double joy for VSR and Lamborghini with Overall and Pro-Am victories
Mugello hosted the second round of the Italian GT Sprint Championship this weekend. There was only one change to the VSR line-up with Yuki Nemoto returning to VSR to partner Alessio Deledda at the wheel of the 19 Pro category Lamborghini. Andrea Frassineti and Edoardo Liberati, early Championship leaders after the Vallelunga opener, drove the 63 Pro car and the Pro-Am 66 entry was raced by Mattia Michelotto and Ignazio Zanon.
With free practice taking place on Friday, the qualifying sessions were scheduled for first thing on Saturday morning. Nemoto, Liberati and Michelotto were charged with setting the times for the Race 1 grid and Michelotto, despite sitting out both practice sessions with engine trouble, qualified second. Liberati secured a spot on row two and Nemoto qualified just behind him after surviving a scary moment when he was blocked by Bracalante on his quickest lap.
A slow start from Michelotto saw him slip behind Nemoto as Liberati claimed third while the field jostled their way through the first corner. On lap four Nemoto and Michelotto swapped places and Michelotto set about chasing down Mazzola. The pit window opened on lap thirteen and Liberati was the first to stop, handing the 63 over to Frassineti after discounting a twelve second handicap for their result last time out at Vallelunga. Mazzola followed him in leaving Michelotto with a clear track. Two laps later Nemoto was in for Deledda and Michelotto pitted the 66 for Zanon on lap seventeen. When the pit window closed Deledda was funning in fourth and Zanon and Frassineti held sixth and eighth with the Audi of Rauer between them. On lap twenty Frassineti passed the Audi and Zanon moved over for his team-mate, promoting him to sixth. Three laps later Deledda took fourth from Scholze who quickly fell back into Frassineti’s clutches. The Italian youngster passed the Mercedes on lap twenty-six and the VSR Pro cars took the chequered flag in fourth and fifth overall. On the penultimate lap Zanon was passed by Ferrari, the fastest man on track during the second half of the race, and finished fifth in Pro-Am.
Sunday’s race saw the 63 VSR car start from the front row after a great qualifying from Frassineti. Deledda lined up on row five and Zanon started sixth in Pro-Am. At the start, under the threat of rain, all three cars held their positions. On lap seven Zanon overtook Scholz to move the Pro-Am Lambo into fifth in class, one of the few passes in the opening stint of the race. When the pit window opened VSR stopped Zanon and Deledda immediately. Zanon discounted a six second handicap before team-mate Michelotto joined the race whilst Nemoto took over from Deledda. Frassineti pitted along with the leading Ferrari just as the pit window closed. Despite a three second handicap Liberati rejoined in second. A Safety car to retrieve Marazzi from the gravel stopped racing and the track went green with ten minutes left on the clock. At the restart Liberati fended off attacks from Jelmini and Klingmann to hang on to second and then slipped past Ragunathan to take the lead. In the melee behind, Nemoto and Michelotto swapped places before Michelotto hustled his way past Caglioni and then Ragunathan to move into fourth overall. On the penultimate lap Nemoto passed Ragunathan to move into seventh. The chequered flag came out moments before the heavens opened and Liberati bought the 63 home in first place. Fourth overall and Pro-Am victory for Michelotto and Zanon, as well as another points finish for Deledda and Nemoto, completed a successful Sunday for the VSR team and Lamborghini.
As the Sprint Championship takes a break for the summer Frassineti and Liberati hold a slender two-point lead in the Overall Championship. Michelotto and Zanon are tied for second place in the Pro-Am standings, just two points off the leaders.
2025 Italian GT Sprint Calendar
Round 1 Vallelunga, Italy 24-25 May
Round 2 Mugello, Italy 12-13 July
Round 3 Imola, Italy 27-28 September
Round 4 Monza, Italy 25-26 October
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