The European Regional Finals of The Real Race, the official Super Trofeo Esports, concluded in thrilling fashion at the renowned Nürburgring Grand Prix circuit.
Amidst high-stakes competition on Assetto Corsa Competizione, 23 sim racers battled it out, with Dario Lemmulo emerging as the victor. His remarkable achievement has earned him a coveted opportunity to become an official factory driver for the prestigious Lamborghini Esports team in the upcoming season.
Qualifying Rounds and Road to the Finals
The journey to the European Regional Finals was not an easy one. A rigorous selection process saw 23 aspiring professional drivers prove their mettle throughout the season. Starting with intense qualifying sessions and online knockout races at a virtual Paul Ricard in May, the fastest 24 drivers progressed to an online 60-minute race.
The top four finishers from this race secured their spots in the European Regional Finals, while another chance awaited those who missed the cut in the following event at Monza.
Round 1 Paul Ricard: Florian Dührkop claimed victory in a gripping opening race at Paul Ricard, skillfully navigating the challenging wet conditions. He outpaced Marco Lomi and secured a well-deserved win in the final stages of the race.
Round 2 Monza: Marco Lomi, who faced disappointment in the first round, made a strong comeback at Monza, converting his pole position into a commanding win. He crossed the finish line with a significant six-second lead over his closest challenger, Pavlo Polovchuk.
Round 3 Barcelona: The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya witnessed an action-packed race, with Andrea Miatto demonstrating exceptional speed and precision to secure a lights-to-flag victory. Behind him, Michael Romagnoli, Nikodem Sobczyk, and Guglielmo Filippi fiercely fought for the remaining qualification spots, with Romagnoli and Sobczyk ultimately securing their places.
Round 4 Spa-Francorchamps: Italian driver Leonardo Porco showcased nerves of steel at virtual Spa-Francorchamps, skillfully overtaking William Pisano to claim victory. His impressive performance earned him a spot in the European Regional Finals.
In addition to the qualified drivers from the European series, three wildcard entries were selected from the Abu Dhabi and Dubai Dealer Network. Furthermore, four more spots were up for grabs through on-site time trial challenges at GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup events.
The European Regional Finals
Held in the dedicated Fanatec Arena, a purpose-built Esports venue in the GTWC paddock, the European Regional Finals were live-streamed on the official Lamborghini Squadra YouTube channel.
All 24 drivers competed on the Assetto Corsa Competizione platform using dedicated sim rigs. Following a mini-championship format points from each of the 30-minute races were tallied to determine the overall Real Race – Super Trofeo Esports champion. Two practice and qualifying sessions added to the intense competition.
The Thrilling Finale
The Regional Finals went down to the wire, with Dario Lemmulo and Maciej Malinowski in a dramatic tiebreaker. Malinowski dominated the opening race, while Iemmulo secured victory in the second race held in dry conditions.
Due to Malinowski’s penalty for avoidable contact in race two, Lemmulo emerged as the champion based on his superior combined qualifying times. This remarkable achievement has granted Lemmulo the extraordinary opportunity to join Lamborghini’s Esports team as a fully-fledged factory driver.
Conclusion
The European Regional Finals of The Real Race – Super Trofeo Esports showcased thrilling moments and exceptional driving talent. With Dario Lemmulo as the well-deserved champion, the world eagerly awaits to witness his future endeavours as an official factory driver for Lamborghini’s Esports team. This event not only celebrates virtual racing excellence but also paves the way for a new generation of talented sim racers to shine on the global stage.