Successfully first race of Gallardo R-EX by Lago Racing in 12-hour endurance event at Mount Panorama

Reiter Engineering customer Lago Racing had received their brand new Gallardo R-EX, the latest edition of the highly successful Gallardo GT3 models, by the end of the 2015 season. It was now up to the team of Roger Lago to ensure for the debut of the Gallardo R-EX at the legendary 12-hour race of Bathurst.

The 12-hour race at Mont Panorama is known as one of the hardest endurance competition for car and driver, but the Gallardo race version often proved their competitiveness in Bathurst. Roger Lago, Luke Youlden and Steven Owen made their entry in the GT3 AM class in 2016, a class reserved for crews with mostly nonprofessional drivers.

In several practice sessions, they worked for a perfect race setup, to be prepared for every eventuality. And even in free practice their lap times always were in the top 3 of the GT3 AM class. In Qualifying, the Focus was not on the one quick lap, so fourth position on the grid was accepted.

Although there is no night practice in the timetable of the 12hrs of Bathurst, the start of the race is in total darkness at 5.45 hours local time. Nothing, the Lago Racing crew was worried about or threatened their tactics. Nor were the numerous safety car periods due to accidents of other competitors a problem. Right from the beginning, the #32 Gallardo R-EX established itself inside Top 3 of the GT3 AM and the Top 10 overall. Even cars exclusively driven by professional drivers were left behind.

Safety Car periods were used skillfully for earlier pit stops, to optimize cockpit time of every driver. Even a longer pit stop halfway through the race could not stop the Lago Racing Gallardo R-EX on its way to the front. Two hours before the end of the race, a second place in class was safe and easily defended.

At its debut in one of the biggest endurance challenge for GT3 cars, the Gallardo R-EX proved again its performance with fast lap times, drivability and reliability. To be at the podium of the GT3 AM class was a deserved reward for Reiter Engineering customer Lago Racing.