This week-end marks the beginning of the new season 2011 for Team rhino’s Leipert Motorsport when they take part in the first race of the Blancpain Endurance Series in Monza, Italy. In the “GT3 Pro-Am” rating, they are going to use two Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 LP600 with three drivers each. Portuguese drivers Duarte Felix Da Costa, Lourenço Beirão da Veiga and Ricardo Bravo are the drivers of car no. 6 whilst Finn Mika Vähämäki, Dutch Olivier Tielemans and French Arnaud Peyroles are the drivers of the Lamborghini with no. 7.
It is going to be a special week-end for the Team: Not only is it their first visit to the Autodromo Nazionale Di Monza, it is also their first race in a Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 LP600 within Europe. Team Manager Ingo Leipert is sure: “This should not be a problem for us though. Reiter Engineering give us the details for Monza, and besides, our test drives in Portugal, Spain, France and Germany prior to the season all went very well. We are aiming for victory in the “GT Pro-Am” rating with our two trios.”
The three Portuguese drivers Da Costa (aged 25), Da Veiga (aged 31) und Bravo (aged 35) have only known each other as competitors so far. All three participated in the 2009 International GT Open and in the SEAT Leop Eurocup in 2010. They are supported by Tranquilidade, Pioneer, Savoro, Galp und Vodafone.
The second car has a more international team: Finn Vähämäki (aged 21), supported by Lapp Group, was the Finnish Formula 3-Champion in 2008 and was at the start at the Formula Renault UK series in 2010. The Dutch Tielemans (aged 26) took part in the DTM in 2006, and in 2007 and 2008 he raced in the WTCC Touring Cars World Championship. This year he receives support by Novabox. The third driver is the French Peyroles (aged 48) who has already been racing in the GT3-sport for some years and who was, for example, Champion of the FIA GT3 Series in 2008.
The Blancpain Endurance Series has its debut this year and is set for GT3 and GT4 cars. The GT3-rating is divided into three categories: the “GT3 Pro Cup” (only one driver per car), the “GT3 Pro-Am Cup” (mix of pros and amateurs), and the “GT3 Citation Cup” (amateurs only). After two 60 min. training sessions and a 45 min. qualifying, the race itself will last for three hours. The highlight of the season is the 24 h-race in Spa.
Source : Team rhino’s Leipert Motorsport