K-PAX Racing, Lamborghini Join Forces for 2021

K-PAX Racing, Lamborghini Join Forces for 2021

K-PAX Racing, entering its 15th season of operation, announced Monday an exciting extension of its legacy by transitioning to Lamborghini Squadra Corse for the 2021 season. The team will enter a two-car effort in the premiere Pro category of GT World Challenge America Powered by AWS, retracing its strong heritage back into the United States as the focal point for the season.

“With everything going on in the world we felt it best to return to the U.S. with our program and because of the cancelation of our previous manufactures program at the end of 2020, we were forced to reevaluate our racing program,” K-PAX Racing Program Manager Darren Law said.

“Our process is to put together a list of all GT3 cars available, list the positive aspects and negative aspects of not ony the cars, but also the relationship with the manufacture and their support. I have known Chris Ward at Lamborghini for quite some time, and we have always discussed working together at some point but the opportunity just never came up.”

“The Lamborghini Huracán GT3 car is very strong worldwide and they have proven their ability to win races and championships. This was a great timing for both K-PAX Racing and Lamborghini we know the car is a proven winner, they have years of data and will be able to help us hit the ground running, we are excited to get the relationship started.”

The team, which has competed regularly in the GT World Challenge since its inception in 2007, will embark on a 13-round regular season with the season-opener at its Sonoma Raceway home base March 5-7. Driver line-ups are yet to be determined and will be announced shortly. Building off a foundational reformat by the series last season, the team’s two entries will be entering both cars in the all Pro category.

K-PAX Racing has become one of the most successful teams to compete in the series to-date, compiling more than 50 wins and 150 podiums. The manufacturer change will mark the team’s fifth in its lasting legacy, having seen a championship with each in its history. The centerpiece of the team’s two-car effort will be the Lamborghini Huracán GT3, highlighted by a 5.2-liter naturally aspirated V-10 powerplant.

“It’s a real pleasure to make our debut in the GT World Challenge America Pro Class together with one of the most successful GT race teams in recent U.S. history,” Head of Lamborghini Motorsport Giorgio Sanna said. “Thanks to Jim Haughey and Darren Law for putting their trust in Lamborghini Squadra Corse, I’m looking forward to 2021, confident we will clinch important results together”.

About K-PAX Racing

Based in Sonoma, Calif., K-PAX Racing has celebrated a total 148 podiums, 59 wins, four Driver Championships and three Manufacturer Championships, solidifying the team as a continuous championship contender. In the GT Class, K-PAX Racing has fielded Porsche 911 GT3s during the 2007 – 2008 seasons, Volvo S60s during the 2009 – 2013 seasons, McLaren 12C GT3s in 2014 and McLaren 650S GT3s from 2015 – 2017. The team made a switch to Bentley for 2018, fielding the first-generation Continental GT3 in its first season and the second-generation model in 2019 and 2020. K-PAX Racing will debut the 2021 season in the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO.

About Lamborghini Squadra Corse

Squadra Corse is the motorsport department of Automobili Lamborghini. Born in 2013 within the Research & Development department, Squadra Corse provides an integrated approach to driving experiences of the brand; from driving course programs with road vehicles to motorsport competitions, through the Lamborghini Super Trofeo or championships of the GT class.

Esperienza is the first step for those who are interested in the world of Lamborghini: Its aim is to share the thrill and emotions of the super sports cars from Sant’Agata Bolognese with fans and potential customers alike, by advanced driving course programs. Esperienza Dinamica is divided into five programs in order to face every type of surface: Corsa, Neve, Sabbia, Strada, Terra. Esperienza Accademia is the program dedicated to advanced drivers, offering driving course programs not only on the racetrack but also on ice in order to improve the driving skills of the pilots.

The Lamborghini Super Trofeo is an international motor racing series with drivers competing in identical Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVOs, the racing version of the production model, that features the same 5.2 l naturally-aspirated V10 engine. Inaugurated in 2009, Super Trofeo hosts regional championships in Europe, Asia and North America and is divided in four categories: Pro, Pro-Am, Am and Lamborghini Cup bringing together passionate gentleman drivers and young professional pilots. At the end of each season, the teams and drivers of all regions compete against each other in the World Finals, the highlight of the season.

The most challenging tests are those which see Lamborghini’s Customer Racing Teams competing in the principal international GT championships driving the Huracán GT3. The GT3 differs from the Huracán Super Trofeo EVO through its more sophisticated aerodynamics, kinematic suspension control and other technical specifications respecting official FIA regulations. In 2017 the Huracán GT3 won the Blancpain GT Series; in 2018 and 2019 the Huracán GT3 completed a double victory at the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring in GTD Class. Lamborghini is the only company in the world to win both of the prestigious races, that are also known as 36 Hours of Florida, in two consecutive years. Another premiere in 2019: The GT3 won the Triple Crown of the Blancpain GT Series with the titles in the categories Overall, Endurance and Sprint. In 2020 Lamborghini celebrated third victory at the 24 Hours of Daytona with sensational one-two finish.

Both the Huracán Super Trofeo and the Huracán GT3 are constructed and built at the plant in Sant'Agata Bolognese on the same production line as the road vehicles. Specialized technicians of the Lamborghini Squadra Corse are present at every station along the line.

Moreover, Lamborghini Squadra Corse is trying to develop new talents in motor sports, for example through the Young Drivers Program (open for drivers under 26 that will compete in the Super Trofeo championship) and the GT3 Junior Program (for future GT drivers). Both the programs aim to offer young drivers the possibility to improve their driving skills helping them to take a career as professional pilots.

In 2018 Squadra Corse inaugurated its first One-Off, the SC18 Alston, followed by open-top SC20 in 2020. In the same year Squadra Corse unveiled Essenza SCV12 the track-only hypercar in a limited edition of 40 units, fitted with the most powerful V12 naturally aspirated engine ever developed by Lamborghini: over 830 hp.