FIFTH PRO CLASS PODIUM OF MAIDEN NORTH AMERICAN SEASON FOR MIDDLETON AT LAGUNA SECA

Ashington racing driver Stuart Middleton secured his, and team-mate Stevan McAleer’s, fifth Pro class podium of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America season on Sunday, 1st November, at the legendary Laguna Seca Raceway in California.

Having just missed out on both a class and outright podium by only 0.7 seconds in round seven on Saturday, 31st October, the Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing duo originally took the chequered flag in sixth overall and fifth in class during the Safety Car impacted second race. Following penalties for a couple of rival entries, though, Middleton and McAleer were elevated into third in Pro and fourth position overall to bring a positive conclusion to 20-year-old Middleton’s first ever visit to the unique, undulating 2.24-mile track.

“We’re pleased to have taken another class podium, but it was another tricky weekend”, said the Northumberland racer, who is part of the Lamborghini Squadra Corse Young Driver Programme, “I couldn’t push any more out of the car, absolutely on the limit every lap to extract the performance we did. We struggled with traction quite a lot, especially when the tyres were aging a bit. “I was able to make up a load of time on the brakes, but then cars could just pull away so it was hard work. The overall pace just isn’t there, but Stevan [McAleer] and I honestly couldn’t push any harder than we are. I’m happy with the job I’m doing in the car, I’m getting the maximum possible out of it and feel I’m on top of my game. It’s frustrating we’re not quite there, but we’ll keep pushing.”

There is now little more than a week to wait until the final event of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America season gets underway, at Sebring International Raceway in Florida, on Wednesday, 11th November. The race meeting will conclude on Friday, 13th November.