Summarize

2019 GTi Challenge Class C champion Giordano Lupini returns to the racetrack after a year away at Killarney on 10 April, when he commences a come from behind title chase in Class B. Giordano is looking for best results in 2021 as he also celebrates 95 years of the Lupini family in racing.

Lupini, who took his Cheaper Cars GTi Challenge class title in dramatic fashion, sat the lockdown 2020 season out, but now he’s back driving his Bullion IT and Banhoek Chilli Oil Scuderia Lupini Volkswagen Jetta. 

“They say that you’re only as good as your last race,” Franschhoek racer Giordano smiled on confirming his racing return at a function in Cape Town on Saturday. “That’s a big task – we won our last race off pole position with a lap record to tie up the championship!

“It would be an ideal way to bounce back like that, but we’re just so looking forward to being competitive when I finally get back behind the wheel in anger after over a year away. “We’re also starting off a race into the season, so we have a little catching up to do in the title chase, but we enjoy overcoming challenges like that best of all!”

Interestingly, 2019 GTi Class C champion Giordano will be racing the Jetta that won the 2019 Class B title with Eden Thompson at the wheel, prepared by 2019 Class A champion Nian du Toit. “We have a good combination this year, we’ve been testing, and we still have a week to go before my first race back, so we should be well enough prepared.”

The Lupini family celebrates 95 years in car racing this year. “My great grandfather Gigi first raced a car in 1926 and then he competed in the Mille Miglia a few times, finishing third in class in 1929. “After emigrating to South Africa, Gigi ran the likes of John Love, Doug Serrurier and Trevor Blokdyk in Ferraris, Alfa Romeos, F1 Cooper Maseratis, Cooper Bristols, in his team Scuderia Lupini in the 1950s and 60s.

My grandfather Mario was a successful saloon car racer and rally driver in the 1950s and 60s and my dad Michele was well known as a competitive race and rally driver and tuner through the 1980s and ‘90s into the new millennium.  “I am proud to fill all their shoes – there are not many fourth-generation race drivers anywhere in the world and I really enjoy racing with my dad and grandfather’s support. “I hope to impress them on track this year!”

Giordano also brings two new sponsors and new partners to motorsport and hopes to build on those relationships going forward. Bullion IT supplies a leading range of cash management solutions to the South African and international retail industry to allow businesses to handle cash more efficiently and securely for increased profitability. See bullionit.com for more.

Established in the valley between Franschhoek and Stellenbosch in 2017, Banhoek Chilli Oil is inspired by a European sauce piquante and passionately developed to combat a dearth of quality chilli oils around the world. Sold across Southern Africa, the UK and the US, find out more about the world of flavour and heat at banhoekchillioil.co.za.

As far as coachworks go, Master Panelbeaters on Montague Drive Cape Town is certainly among the more enthusiast inspired. Walk around the shop on a Saturday morning when Stephen Wearne opens up to allow car enthusiasts to tinker on their classics, and you’ll notice classic Alfa Romeos, Lancias, Mercedes and others among its more everyday projects. Master is the perfect panel shop to take your accident repairs and special car body needs.

Giordano also has the support of the Franschhoek Sign Co, theauto.page and Motorsport Media. “I am keen to do our new sponsors Bullion IT, Banhoek Chilli Oil and all our partners – as well as my family proud,” Gio concluded. “We are ready to race!”