LAMBORGHINI Super Trofeo Asia debutant Rory Collingbourne delivered an eye-catching performance during the first event of the season at Sepang in Malaysia to claim a maiden pro class podium on his championship bow with team-mate Ben Gersekowski.

Newport teenager Collingbourne, who has made the leap into international endurance racing this year after two seasons in the Renault UK Clio Cup, couldn’t have dreamt of a better start to his Lamborghini debut.

The 19-year-old also added a fourth in the pro class in race two.

It was certainly a weekend of firsts all ways round for Collingbourne.

In addition to being his maiden outing in the championship, the event marked his first competitive experience in rear-wheel drive, first time racing with 620bhp beneath his right foot and it was also his maiden outing at Sepang.

Concluding the weekend third in the pro class championship standings, the Leipert Motorsport driver now looks to the next round at Buriram in Thailand in May, where even headier heights are targeted.

“To come away from the first weekend third in the championship is pretty good for our first time racing in Asia, and my first time in the Lamborghini, especially racing against some really top guys with a lot of experience,” said Collingbourne.

“I love the car, love the team and we’re really looking forward to Thailand now.

“It’s a big learning curve but I’m so glad we’ve made this change to make the step into international endurance racing.

“It’s such a tough field, but we’ve proven we’re right on the pace from the first round.”

Australian Gersekowski took the first stint in driving seat for the race, which was impacted by the notorious Malaysian weather.

And, following the driver change midway through, Collingbourne held third place in the worsening conditions – his first experience on wet Pirelli tyres in the Lamborghini.

For the second race of the weekend, Collingbourne took the opening stint after qualifying the car ninth overall, sixth in pro, after his run was impacted by an unfortunate puncture.

Holding ninth initially for the first few laps, he moved into eighth on lap five before then pitting at the end of lap 10 to hand over to Gersekowski.

Running in ninth overall as the order shook itself out following the pit stops, Gersekowski made strong progress in the dry conditions during the second half of the 23-lap contest and finished fifth overall, fourth in pro.

“From my perspective, it’s a massive jump but it went like a dream,” said Collingbourne.

“My first lap in the car was so intense, just learning everything, where everything is, but the whole team did a great job for me all weekend.

“My teammates taught me all of the little tricks they know too, so everything went as well as we could have hoped – better than we could have hoped really.”