NEWPORT’S Rory Collingbourne retained third spot in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia championship standings with a best result of sixth at Fuji in Japan.

At the wheel of the Leipert Motorsport Lamborghini Huracan, Collingbourne and teammate Ben Gersekowski had the pace to challenge for a brace of top four finishes.

But harsh penalties in both races limited the duo to eighth in race one and sixth in the second contest.

While frustrated not to add to the double podium achieved last time out at Chang International Circuit in Thailand, 19-year-old Collingbourne was pleased with the consistent points scores.

“Overall, we’ve come out of it okay and got good points to stay third in the championship,” said the Veloce Sports-managed GT racing rookie.

“Fuji is a very difficult track to drive with late apexes at every corner and you have to get the power and balance right, something I’m still getting used to with rear-wheel drive.

“There are lots of positives to take away. In terms of driving improvement and all-round pace, this was definitely one of my best weekends so far and we’re now looking to go for second in the championship at the next round.”

Gersekowski took the opening qualifying session, setting the grid for round seven, and on a drying track secured the eighth fastest time.

The Australian had moved up to fourth by the time he handed over to Collingbourne on lap 15, and the Welshman joined the race in second before being edged back to fifth.

Staying within touch of the top four, Collingbourne slipped to sixth and then eighth after serving a penalty for a minor pit-stop infringement.

Collingbourne took qualifying duties for round eight and delivered strong pace on slick tyres in tricky wet conditions to post the sixth fastest time.

In the race, Collingbourne had moved up to fourth by lap five but two laps later needed to serve a drive-through penalty after officials declared his car one of several out of position at the start.

Re-joining in 13th, Collingbourne had gained two places by the time Gersekowski took over, and he went on to finish in sixth, fifth in the Pro class.

“We had a very harsh punishment in race one,” he added. “We knew it was a close call but a stop-go was too harsh in my opinion for being just seven-tenths too quick at the exit of the pit stop.

“And I couldn’t get my head around the penalty I received in race two.

“The second placed car in charge of row formation was out of place, which meant fourth place and myself followed close behind ready for the rolling start.

“In my opinion, the race directors should have abandoned the race start and made us all do another formation lap and make sure the second placed car was correctly placed.

“Instead, they allowed the race to begin and then gave myself, the fourth and second placed cars drive-through penalties – it was unfair as it ended our race.

“In the first race, there were two abandoned starts for cars being out of place at the back of the grid so I can’t understand why they didn’t do the same for us in race two.”

Shanghai International Circuit in China will host the penultimate event of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia season over the weekend of September 23-24.