Lamborghini factory driver Sandy Mitchell displayed scintillating pace at the latest round of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup at the iconic Monza circuit, but the 24-year-old from Forfar’s weekend ultimately ended in disappointment.
Mitchell was again partnered by team-mates, American-based Englishman Till Bechtolsheimer and Frenchman Antoine Doquin, in the No 78 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo 2, prepared by Barwell Motorsport and backed by Dama Fortuna Tequila.
Fresh from a podium finish last time out at the Nurburgring, Mitchell was immediately on the pace when he was the fourth-fastest of the 52 cars in Free Practice at the ultra-fast 3.6-mile, 11-turn Monza circuit, which hosts the F1 Italian Grand Prix, clocking 1min 45.270secs.
After Doquin completed his opening run in qualifying, the #78 Lamborghini suffered a rare alternator failure. As a result both Bechtolsheimer and Mitchell could each only complete a single lap in their sessions. After the repairs were made, the trio started the three-hour race from last place on the 52-car grid.
Following a chaotic opening first few corners of the race, which resulted in a Full Course Yellow and Safety Car period, Bechtolsheimer had battled back through the pack to sit ninth in class and 31st overall when he pitted after 50 minutes to hand the car over to Doquin.
The Frenchman held those positions before pitting for a statutory fuel-only stop under Safety Car conditions and, when he rejoined with 83-minutes remaining, he retained ninth in class but had elevated the car to 29th overall.
But just after he passed the pit-entry on his next lap, still behind the Safety Car, the front-right tyre suffered a catastrophic puncture shedding rubber all over the track. Immediate retirement followed.
“That was a really tough weekend,” former British GT champ Mitchell stated. “After the rare mechanical issue in qualifying, the team and the two guys in the car did fantastically well to haul us back into contention, possibly even putting us on course for a top five finish in class.
“I was really looking forward to doing the final stint, because we knew we had a very fast car. But Antoine was so, so unlucky with the puncture. It just wasn’t our weekend.
“We’ve got one more race left in the Endurance Cup, the finale in Jeddah in November, and we’ll be back battling for another podium.”
Before that, Mitchell returns to action this weekend when he tackles the British GT Championship shoot-out as he bids to win a second title in the season finale at Brands Hatch.