‘6Speed’ Rookie Racer Gio Scores Maiden Win
Bullion IT Racing came home to Cape Town in fine style as Gio found dominant form for his maiden win as Jurie stayed right in the title fight.
Regular readers would have followed young Giordano Lupini’s racing progress over the past two seasons. He made his mark racing a 1986 Jetta to victory in the local Cape GTi Challenge with a budget of a thousand dollars a race last year, before convincing his backers to take him to the prestigious national championship CompCare Polo Cup for 2022.
That saw Gio stepping up to South Africa’s most prestigious racing class just under a year ago. It would prove a baptism of fire. The team struggled on a circuit it had never seen before, but the young man was soon up to pace at his home track. He teamed up with Jurie Swart in Bullion IT Racing for his first rookie Polo season in 2022 and started the season in pole position, before teammate Swart took a couple of race wins, and then another, and he has been in title contention ever since.
This Past Weekend Was the Big One for Gio
Rookie Lupini impressed throughout; moving ahead and making consistent progress as he went, but this last weekend was the big one. Bullion IT Racing came home to Cape Town in fine style as Giordano found dominant form
Cape Town-based Bullion IT Racing drivers Jurie Swart and Giordano Lupini had relished the prospect of returning to home ground at their Killarney International Raceway base on Saturday 17 September. “I come home one point off the championship lead and with everything to play for at our Cape Town home round,” Jurie Swart points out.
“Gio was on pole, and I won two races last time we raced here, but it’s no easy task with three other quick Cape guys and a few fast upcountry guys in the mix. “We’re throwing everything we have available to us to be best prepared for at this weekend and Bullion IT Racing cannot wait to race in front of our faithful fans at Killarney. “This is going to be one epic race weekend!”
An Extreme Learning Curve Paid Off for Gio
“I’ve been on an extreme learning curve racing at new tracks around the country ever since we left Killarney in March,” Giordano explained in the lead-up. “So, I can’t wait to get back on familiar ground with the brilliant support of our ever-loyal Killarney fans! “My Bullion IT Polo has been strong in testing, but with most of our leading rivals running new engines this weekend, that could prove a curved ball. “Still, we have the advantage of local knowledge and support, so let’s make best of that!”
It turned out beyond Giordano’s wildest dreams. He steered his Bullion IT Racing Volkswagen to a stunning maiden CompCare Polo Cup victory off another incredible pole position. In an overall great weekend for the team, teammate Jurie overcame a wretched build-up. He fought back to keep his Polo Cup championship hopes right on target heading to Zwartkops’ October triple header finale.
Bullion IT Racing’s home race was however about Polo Cup rookie Lupini. Giordano showed sublime pace when he topped all three of Friday’s practice sessions. He then sneaked into Superpole to take an incredible pole position, his second of the season. Gio was first to go out in what would prove a legendary Superpole session as while four of them came within five-hundredths of a second, none of his rivals could topple the red Bullion IT Polo from pole position. From there, Lupini delivered a masterful lights-to-flag maiden victory.
The Culmination of a Lifelong Dream
“Today was the culmination of a lifelong dream,” Giordano admitted. “We fought so hard to get into Polo Cup and to crown it with this win less than a year later is a huge achievement.” Gio made a perfect start to get ahead and while he was under huge pressure throughout, his pursuers could not come close enough to make a difference while Gio added a new lap record as he raced to the flag. “Those last few laps were nerve wracking!” Giordano admitted.
“Today was also the perfect race for us to win. “Most of our rivals had taken new engines for this weekend. As far as I know ours is still the car’s 2018 original!” Giordano explained. “My dad suggested we try a few different ideas that he swore by to win races back in the day. “The team also put a huge effort into getting everything spot on for race weekend. “We were never the fastest car in a straight line, but my red Bullion IT Polo was perfect throughout testing, practice and into race weekend. “I can only thank my race engineer Nian du Toit, Chase Herholdt in the NDT shop and my dad for that!
“Winning in the CompCare Polo Cup is the zenith of over a decade of hard work and dedication. “A couple years ago I thought I’d never race again let alone win at national level, so this all feels quite surreal. “But we believed today would come and fought back, often against all odds and here we are. “I have won in Polo Cup, and this really is a dream come true! “Massive thank you to my parents, to Clive, Johan, and Bullion IT for making it happen, and to every one of our contingency sponsors, fans, and supporters. “We truly hope we have done you proud and that this is only the start of great things to come. “Let’s go get a few more at Zwartkops!
Gio Dedicates Win to His Recently Passed Biggest Fan
“I dedicate my first Polo Cup win to our friend, neighbor, and backer and one of our greatest supporters, Malcolm Preston. “Malcolm so sadly and unexpectedly passed away two weeks ago. “This one is for you, sir.”
Killarney proved more of a challenge for Jurie Swart and his blue Bullion IT Polo. “First off, congratulations to my teammate – I am so proud of you Giordano!” Jurie said. “Getting back to my weekend, of all the races for the car to test us, it was at homeat Killarney! “Despite our best efforts, we were off the pace through practice and into qualifying. “Today was the first time this season we did not make the top six Superpole. “So, special thanks to the team for all the effort to slowly turn the car around through race day. “That allowed me to score some solid points and another podium. It keeps us within a point of the tied championship leaders with just the three Zwartkops races to run.
“This one’s going down to the line again, but there will be two Bullion IT Racing cars in the thick of it at Zwartkops and we cannot wait – bring it on!”
“We are absolutely delighted with and so proud of Giordano’s maiden victory and Bullion IT Racing’s fourth win of the 2022 CompCare Polo Cup season,” Bullion IT CEO Clive Strover concluded. “It’s getting nerve wracking now. “Both Bullion IT cars head to the Zwartkops finale in the top six with Jurie right in the mix. That’s going to be Mega day at the races!”
Championship Comes to a Head in October for Jurie, Gio
Jurie heads to Zwartkops one point off the Polo Cup championship lead and one of three drivers within a point. Top first year driver Giordano goes to Pretoria sixth in the chase. And still capable of an albeit unlikely title strike in what would be the perfect storm.