MARC A. HAYEK TOPS THE PODIUM

For the second time this season, the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo championship was raced on a F1 track. This fourth leg in the championship, held at Silverstone (UK), represented a fresh challenge for the Marc A. Hayek-Peter Kox duo. Despite fast curves calling for highly skilled driving, the two competitors took first place on the podium after the 2nd race and second place in the 3rd race of this tricky leg.

The fourth Super Trofeo event took place within the context of the British F3/GT Championship held on the historic Silverstone track in the United Kingdom. Renowned for its varied race course enabling top speeds of 310 km/h, Silverstone welcomes all kinds of competitions throughout the year including the MotoGP, Superbike and World Aerobatic championships. On this occasion, Blancpain once again salutes the performance of its President Marc A. Hayek, at the wheel of car no. 24 alongside the famous driver Peter Kox from The Netherlands – who recently finished third at the 24 Hours of Spa race held concurrently with the previous Super Trofeo event in Francorchamps (Belgium) this July.

Since the start of the season, Marc A. Hayek has been dedicating part of his precious free time to perfecting his driving skills and honouring his commitment as an ambassador of the Manufacture Blancpain. The President and CEO of the world’s oldest watch brand is consistently eager to surpass his own limits. For a man with such a passionate nature, Silverstone represents an inspiring new challenge: “I am particularly proud of competing on the historic Silverstone track. The world’s greatest champions have raced here, and the whole place is pervaded by a competitive spirit that extends well beyond the track itself! This challenge is all the more stimulating in that the race course is extremely fast and very demanding.”

It is precisely this kind of pioneering spirit that spurred the Blancpain President and CEO to create a limited series of Blancpain Super Trofeo Chronographs giving pride of place to innovative materials – starting with the DLC-treated steel case featuring a design inspired by the front profile of the Lamborghini Gallardo. Water-resistant to 100 metres, this model distinguished by alternating satin-brushed and polished surfaces is powered by a mechanical self-winding chronograph movement. Endowed with a flyback function and a 40-hour power reserve, the 308-part Calibre F185 is coated with a state-of-the-art NAC electroplating treatment that enhances its dynamic character by blackening the bridges and the mainplate. A sports model through and through, the Blancpain Super Trofeo Chronograph is fitted with a strap made from alcantara – just like the Gallardo upholstery – complete with a steel folding clasp.

Comprising six different events for the 2009 season, the Super Trofeo stars a line-up of the brand-new Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 cars in a four-wheel drive racing version delivering 570 horsepower and 540 N/m (398 lb/ft) torque enabling them to reach top speeds of over 300 km/h. The season’s last two events are to be held at Catalunya (Spain) on September 18th-20th, and on the Paul Ricard track (France) from October 2nd to 4th.