Podium for Armaan Ebrahim in Shanghai

Armaan Ebrahim garnered a podium finish by coming in second in the fifth and concluding round of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia series in Shanghai on Saturday.

Chennai-based Ebrahim, along with his Sri Lankan partner Dilantha Malagamuwa, qualified third overall and second in the Pro-Am class for the first race of the weekend.

Going out first, Ebrahim did well to hold his grid position till he came in to hand over the car to Malagamuwa. The Sri Lankan also managed to maintain the position to come in third.

However, with the race winner Afiq from Malaysia not classified as he drove without a partner, Ebrahim and Malagamuwa were placed second which fetched the pair 12 crucial points and put them third in the championship, just four adrift of the second spot and nine behind the leader.

Ebrahhim had a good run in the qualifying session as he put in his fastest lap and looked set to improve in the next loop, but ran into traffic.

The Indian made a good start in the race to keep pace with the front runners while opening a sizeable gap to the car behind him. After the change-over, Malagamuwa was under pressure and lost a place, but recovered well to regain the position.

Reflecting on his performance, Ebrahim said: “In the first qualifying session which decides where we start in the first race, I did my fastest lap on my first flyer. The next lap should have been the lap, but I was blocked. Nevertheless, I was happy with P3, just three-tenths off the pace.

“The race start was okay. I ran through with the leaders and opened a gap to the guy in fourth. After the pitstop, Dilantha was under some pressure and actually lost a place, but did well to fight back and regain the position.”