K-PAX Racing Returns to Regular Season Action

After a rigorous journey that saw K-PAX Racing closely contend with GT racing’s elites in Belgium, the American-based team returns to regular season action for Rounds 9 & 10 of the Fanatec GT World Challenge America Powered by AWS Championship. Road America will play host to these late rounds August 19-21, as the team inches closer to defending its crown.

“It is good to be back racing in the U.S.,” K-PAX Racing Program Manager Darren Law said. “We had a great car for the 24 Hours of Spa and a strong performance, but now it is time to refocus on GT World Challenge America and the pursuit of the championship. Road America is a great track with a great surrounding area. We are looking forward to a strong run here with both cars.”

While the most recent rounds proved to be the team’s toughest challenge yet, it still has a firm grasp on the championship titles up for grabs. Two-year team driver Andrea Caldarelli currently leads the Drivers’ Championship (180), with Jordan Pepper (133) and Michele Beretta (130) tailing the benchmark in second and third. K-PAX Racing has a comfortable lead in the Team Championship rankings (180). K-PAX Racing is also helping manufacturer Lamborghini Squadra Corse in its quest for back-to-back championship titles, currently leading the hunt (168). The team is also questing for consecutive titles — its first Drivers’ defense since the 2007-2008 seasons (Randy Pobst), and a consecutive Team title which was last accomplished in 2018-2019.

“Although we had an amazing start to the season with multiple wins, we hope to continue that – but our main focus is finishing the season strong and getting this championship,” Law said.

The fast-action Road America Course nestled in the heart of Elkhart Lake is a beloved track on the GT World Challenge schedule, as this traditional series stop is always a spectacle that not only gathers race enthusiasts, but also attracts new fans to the sport. The series event is usually highlighted by a parade through downtown Elkhart Lake, as fans rejoice while the series’ lineup retraces monumental sectors through the town streets of its historic 1950’s circuit. One swooping turn through the “Hard Left” on Lake Street, and K-PAX Racing is met by cheers and applause by the hundreds of fans awaiting their arrival.

“Road America is always well-attended by the fans, and the Thursday night parade in the town of Elkhart Lake is something we all enjoy,” Law said.

K-PAX Racing has enjoyed ongoing success at Road America, especially last season in its Huracán GT3 EVO. The team placed both of its entries on the podium in both rounds, which included a victory in the opener. The team made its first appearance at Road America in 2008, welcoming the circuit to the series schedule with a podium performance. Its first victory came in the 2018 season, which started a three-year streak (excluding 2020) of earning at least two podiums each appearance. K-PAX Racing has earned at least one podium in the last four series stops in its 2022 campaign, which includes a sweep of the first three.

Visit gt-world-challenge-america.com for more event information. All races are streamed live and archived for on-demand viewing at youtube.com/gtworld or twitch.tv/sromotorsports. SRO America championships also feature broadcasts on CBS Sports.

DRIVER QUOTES

Andrea Caldarelli – No. 1 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO – “[Road America] is definitely one of the coolest places we go to this year, and I love the environment near the lake and the vibe around the small town – especially during the parade you can feel the atmosphere of people who love racing. It was very challenging last year for us, probably the track where we struggled the most. So hopefully we have learned from last year, and we are going to bring some good updates for high-speed corners compared last year. We were quite strong in the middle sector, so that is what I believe will work best. Low-speed corners mostly (as a strength). We struggled quite bit compared other tracks, but we worked hard for that so I think this year will also be the case.”

Michele Beretta – No. 1 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO – “I am looking forward to coming back to Road America – another great racetrack. I have no fresh memories of the track, so it is going to be very important for me to get used to it quickly during free practice and try to get a good car balance straight from the beginning. I have never been to the GT parade, but I look forward to see the fans and the atmosphere out there and of course to get back on the top of the podium.”

Jordan Pepper – No. 3 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO – “Road America is one of the toughest ones for the team based on last season’s performances, but I think we’ve learned and grown a lot since then. Hopefully we right some wrongs from last season in terms of pure performance. I know last year, we got some good results, but it was just down to luck and strategy. Let’s hope this year we’re a lot stronger on pace. Coming off a tricky Watkins Glen [International], where I think our No. 3 deserved to fight for the win in both races, it ultimately came down to technical issues. We need to bounce back strong if we have any chance in the championship now. It’s quite a big gap between me and Andrea [Caldarelli], and if I don’t floor into it at Road America, it’s pretty much done. That’s the goal. Misha [Goikhberg] having experience at Road America will help a lot. We just have to see what happens and give it our best shot.”

Misha Goikhberg – No. 3 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO – “[Road America] is one of the best tracks in North America – a lot of people’s favorite, including myself. It’s got everything from high-speed corners, big braking zones to lots of passing opportunities. I am sure our Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO will be strong here. We just have to get it in the window. We will regroup and bounce back after some misfortunes at Watkins Glen [International].”

About K-PAX Racing
Based in Sonoma, Calif., K-PAX Racing has celebrated a total 175 podiums, 71 wins, five Driver Championships, and four Team and 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 debuted 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.