WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. – Jacob Eidson and Steven Aghakhani were searching for redemption in Saturday’s Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America race at Watkins Glen Int’l.
They found it and their first win of the year as well.
The co-drivers of the No. 6 O’Gara Motorsport/US RaceTronics, Lamborghini Beverly Hills Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVO bested a host of challengers to claim victory both overall and in the Pro class, in the second race of the Watkins Glen weekend and sixth of the season. Aghakhani held off Dario Capitanio by .426 seconds in an exciting conclusion to the 50-minute race that ran uninterrupted by full-course cautions.
It swung the pendulum of emotions completely from the previous day, when Eidson slid into a tire barrier and out of contention late in Friday’s race.
“This is an awesome way to finish the weekend after yesterday with our tire failure,” Eidson said. “Our spirits were a little bit low, so we knew we had to really come out strong – and we did. Steven and I both did our job; the team did their job and couldn’t ask for a better race.”
Eidson started second in class to Pro pole sitter and Friday’s race winner Richard Antinucci. Both drivers were still in those positions when they made the mandatory pit stop. Antinucci led Aghakhani, who took over for Eidson on the stop, as they left pit lane, but Antinucci was penalized for manipulating his pit speed and holding up Aghakhani. The ensuing drive-through punishment dropped Antinucci from contention.
After that, it was a battle among Aghakhani, Capitanio and Alec Udell over the final 20 minutes. Aghakhani prevailed to nail down the fifth win as a teammate with Eidson and first since they swept the 2020 season finale to come within three points of the Pro championship.
“It was definitely a tough battle,” Aghakhani said of his winning drive. “Hats off to all drivers, that was definitely one for the books. It was not easy, I definitely had to work for that.”
As a ProAm driver, Capitanio’s second-place overall finish also earned his first class win in Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America. Udell finished third overall and second in the Pro class.
“I’m proud with the Dream Racing car,” Capitanio said. “Huge thanks to them because the car was absolutely awesome. The race was super fun. I got the win in my class and P2 overall, and it feels so good because my last race before Virginia (three weeks ago) was three years ago. … I think with a couple more laps, I could have got the overall win. Still happy.”
Giano Taurino backed up Friday’s Am class win with another smooth ride to victory Saturday. It gave the series rookie his fourth win of the season and first weekend sweep.
“It’s a good feeling to finish both races this time in a good position,” Taurino said. “For the next race, I’m just going to keep getting stronger and stronger, and we’ll see how it goes from there.”
LB Cup saw one car take both weekend wins as well. Mark Kvamme and Terry Olson started from the class pole Saturday in the No. 47 Precision Performance Motorsports, Lamborghini Palm Beach Huracán and remained there.
“I was really lucky at the start because I was able to get right behind the faster Ams and stay with them for a couple laps,” said Kvamme. “That gave us open space and the other (LB Cup) guys got all crammed back behind. Then Terry killed it at the end, so it was fantastic.”
Olson took over for the final stint to bring home the fourth straight win for the No. 47.
“Mark handed over a clean car and the Palm Beach Lambo was really good today,” Olson said. “It was a little cooler and maybe that played favor to our setup because the car was better today than it was yesterday. It was a lot of fun to drive that Lambo around this track today, just a real joy.”