K-PAX Racing sweeps weekend at The Glen

While the K-PAX Racing Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVOs have been exceedingly challenged into the later stages of the Fanatec GT World Challenge America Powered by AWS Championship, the team has continued to produce results that strengthen its hold around the three major titles up for grabs. The No. 3 of Jordan Pepper and Andrea Caldarelli swept Rounds 9 & 10 of the championship from pole position at Watkins Glen International.

“Today was really a great day from K-PAX Racing,” K-PAX Racing Program Manager Darren Law said. “Both cars finishing one-two on the podium today, bringing really valuable points home for us. We’re hoping we can carry that momentum to Sebring, to try and close-out this Championship.”

The first half of the race was one of narrow margins from the drop of the green flag. The No. 3 Huracán GT3 EVO, piloted by Caldarelli, led the field into a clean start. The No. 6, with Giovanni Venturini, started seventh on the grid and was able to pick up one overall spot in his stint. Both K-PAX Racing driven cars maintained their positions throughout the first-half of the race, however with margins less than two-seconds, two full-course yellows ensued – one which was because of body debris from the No. 6 by left-rear contact from a competitor into the mandatory driver change. Venturini was one of the first to pit at the opening of the window, making the change to Corey Lewis. The No. 3, building about a three-second lead before the full-course yellow and change, resettled into the lead with Pepper behind the wheel.

Lewis was able to pick-off one of his competitors early in his stint before making his surge to the podium. With about 20 minutes remaining, Lewis made his way into the runner-up position, climbing five spots. Pepper and the No. 3, in that time, were able to enjoy more than a 30-second cushion between the field by way of sheer speed and a competitor penalty, and Pepper continued to manage the car to the final lap. Lewis, with nearly an eight-second gap from third – and gaining – comfortably finished in second by nearly a 13-second margin. The No. 3 completed its sweep, winning by a 1.941-second margin.

“We had some handling issues that we dealt with for the No. 6 in the first race, but with a lot of hard work and effort last night, we were able to get that situated, and it had a great final run,” Law said.

The two K-PAX Racing Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVOs finished one-two for the fourth time this season (Rounds 1, 2, 4). The Glen is the third GT World Challenge event where the team has swept this year (Sonoma Raceway, Circuit of The Americas). The No. 3 car has won flag-to-flag from pole seven times – each of its total wins coming from the top-spot on the grid. The team has compiled 16 podiums and eight victories in 10 rounds of series action this season.

K-PAX Racing will have a quick turnaround for Rounds 11 & 12 October 1-3 at Sebring International Raceway.

DRIVER QUOTES

Andrea Caldarelli – No. 3 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO (Race 1 – 1^st, Race 2 – 1^st) – “I’m very happy that we were able to take a little step forward with the car. The pace was good and it was really enjoyable to drive the car in my stint. After Road America and even yesterday, it was another step forward. We are headed in the right direction. It was a bit scary in the end but one-two. It’s really rewarding for everyone.”

Jordan Pepper – No. 3 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO (Race 1 – 1^st, Race 2 – 1^st) – “I tried to manage the gap, but the car was strong and gave us the possibility to open up that large gap. In the end, I decided to take zero risks and try to just get the car to the end. I managed the gap perfectly and the boys in the pits were awesome in giving me the gaps. We brought it home one-two — almost a clean sweep but we missed Fastest Lap. Double pole, double win and we extended our points lead, which is great.”

Giovanni Venturini – No. 6 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO (Race 1 – 4^th, Race 2 – 2^nd) – “Finally, we are back. The team did a very fantastic job from yesterday. The car was really nice to drive — finally — and now we’re looking forward to Sebring to keep this momentum going.”

Corey Lewis – No. 6 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO (Race 1 – 4^th, Race 2 – 2^nd) – “It was a strong run to the front — we were one lap short. This finish is great for K-PAX Racing to be one-two again. If we could have managed traffic a little better, I think we could have been more in the hunt to make a pass for the win. Overall though, you look at the whole weekend, and it’s a massive improvement for our No. 6 car from where we started. Thank you to the whole K-PAX Racing team. They’ve been busting their tails.”

About K-PAX Racing
Based in Sonoma, Calif., K-PAX Racing has celebrated a total 165 podiums, 67 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.