DRIVER REVS UP ASIA TITLE HOPES
Gersekowski sets the pace
MOTORSPORT: It’s a long “commute” from Cecil Plains to Japan’s Suzuka International Racing Course but Ben Gersekowski loves the ride.
Racing for Leipert Motorsport, alongside co-driver Richard Muscat, Gersekowski and his team are currently third in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia Championship.
“I have to pinch myself all the time,” Gersekowski said.
“I’m travelling around the world racing cars and I love it.
“Sometimes I feel like I have to pinch myself a second time because now I’m in Asia racing a Lamborghini.”
It’s another personal first for the 25-year-old who took up racing in his late teens.
“I didn’t go down the go-kart route,” Gersekowski said.
“I started off in Formula 3 when I was 17 – driving for BF Racing and Gilmour Racing.
“Then I joined MARC Cars Australia and competed in the Bathurst 12-hour – we won that race and then they asked me if I’d be interested in driving in Europe with them.
Fate then stepped in for the young driver.
“We were pitted next to a Lamborghini team for a 24hour race in Barcelona at the end of 2015.
“I sent out a bunch of emails to teams in Europe after that and I was lucky enough to receive an offer from Leipert.
“In 2016 I was part of the Young Drivers Program set up by Lamborghini Squadra Corse – I was the first Australian to be part of that program.”
Last year Gersekowski moved championships from Europe to Asia and is relishing the opportunity.
“The first season (2016) was a real challenge,” he said.
Photo: Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia
‘‘ SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE I HAVE TO PINCH MYSELF A SECOND TIME BECAUSE NOW I’M IN ASIA RACING A LAMBORGHINI.
BEN GERSEKOWSKI
“We were very competitive – there were about 50 cars out and there and the top 20 were covered by about a second.
“In 2017 they moved me to the Asia championship because it’s closer to home.
“I’m really loving the racing. I have a great team and working alongside Richard (Muscat) is fantastic.
“He (Richard) has so much knowledge and we’re both hard at work on and off the track – working with each other and the team to be competitive.”