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Monza Weekend Notebook

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Photo: Lamborghini Squadra Corse ***This year’s Lamborghini World Finals is a milestone occasion as it not only marks the final appearance for the Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo EVO2 but it is also the first time in the event’s 13-year history that it has been held at Monza. ***The circuit therefore becomes the ninth different venue to have hosted the end-of-season celebration — the fourth in Italy after Vallelunga, Imola and Misano — while 577 drivers from 59 countries have so far taken part in World Finals competitions. ***Of those competing this year, Andzej Lewandowski has the most previous World Finals starts, having previously taken part in 17 races. The 2019 Pro-Am conqueror and 2022 Am champion only trails the 20 starts of Shota Abkhazava, who has also taken two titles, in the leaderboard. ***Each of the three Lamborghini Super Trofeo regional championships held their final two races with the Huracan — before the Temerario Super Trofeo machine is introduced next ...

Maxson Paces Lone COTA Practice

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Photo: Jessica Johnk/Porsche Pro class championship leader Tyler Maxson got off to a strong start to the weekend by topping the lone Porsche Carrera Cup North America practice session at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) on Friday afternoon. Maxson best lap of 2:06.255 in his No. 77 Topp Racing Porsche 911 Cup car led the overall standings in the 30-minute session. Topp Racing teammate Cole Kleck was second overall and in the Pro class with a 2:06.670 in the No. 78 entry, while Janne Stiak completed the overall and class top three in ACI Motorsports’ No. 40 machine. James Sofronas led the Pro-Am class with a 2:09.093 in GMG Racing’s No. 14 Porsche, marking the team owner’s first series appearance since March’s doubleheader at Sebring International Raceway. 2026 Pro-Am champion Patrick Mulcahy finished second in class in the No. 54 ACI Motorsports entry, followed by Steve Wetterau in KellyMoss’ No. 58 car. Joel Johnson paced the Masters class with a 2:09.923 in JDX Racing’s No. 70 P...

Champion De La Torre Seeks to Build Lamborghini Career

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Photo: TR3 Racing Newly-crowned Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America champion Elias De La Torre is targeting a future relationship with the Italian manufacturer as he seeks to follow in the footsteps of TR3 Racing teammate Dennis Lind. De La Torre claimed the title with a race to spare after dominating the opening contest at Monza following a supreme opening stint by polesitter Lind, the duo finishing over 16 seconds clear of the field at the wheel of the No. 129 Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo EVO2. This was achieved in just De La Torre’s fourth season of racing and he now wants to emulate Lind by becoming a factory Lamborghini driver in the future. His first step towards that will come next month as he has secured a place in Lamborghini’s Young Driver Program Shootout to determine which emerging talent the brand will support moving forward. “It’s only my fourth year racing and it’s a pretty good way to end it,” De La Torre told Sportscar365. “H...

Drivers Lament “Last Hurrah” of Huracan Super Trofeo “Beasts”

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Photo: Lamborghini Squadra Corse Lamborghini Super Trofeo drivers have expressed sadness that this weekend’s World Finals event at Monza will represent the last outing for the “amazing” Huracan Super Trofeo EVO2 “beasts” and their “life-changing” noise. The current machine has been in service since 2022 but is due to be replaced by the Temerario Super Trofeo next year in all three of the regional Lamborghini one-make championships. Monza therefore marks the “last hurrah” for the popular car, with many drivers citing its V10 powerplant as being one of the aspects they will miss the most. “Of course I’m going to miss the V10 screaming around — it’s life-changing the noise,” four-time Super Trofeo North America champion Danny Formal told Sportscar365, with him lamenting the fact the European restrictor has been applied for its Monza farewell. “It’s been a great car, it’s a great platform, it’s helped me grow as a...

Inception Switches to Corvette for 2027 GTD Campaign

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Photo: GM Inception Racing will be back for its fifth consecutive full-time IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship campaign, although will switch from Ferrari to Corvette in the GTD class. Announced on Tuesday, the British squad will become the second season-long customer with the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R, following confirmation of 13 Autosport’s return. The move is believed to have been largely influenced by the team currently known as DXDT Racing  not continuing with Corvette in the series next year, along with DragonSpeed’s withdrawal from top-level IMSA competition. Brendan Iribe, Frederik Schandorff and Ollie Millroy will continue as drivers in the Inception entry, with Millroy targeting a return to the wheel for January’s season-opening Rolex 24 at Daytona. “We are extremely excited to be joining the Corvette family for our IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship campaign,” said sporting director Bas Leinders. “GM and Pratt Miller have an ...

Watch ‘Build To Win’ S1 E3: The Story of the Oreca 07

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Source: Sports Car 365

DEForce Racing Set for TCR Debut with CUPRA

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Photo: Ernesto Martinez Falcone/DEForce Racing Open-wheel outfit DEForce Racing will expand into IMSA competition next year, entering the Michelin Pilot Challenge TCR class with a single CUPRA Leon VZ TCR. The move marks the team’s first foray into sports car racing after establishing itself in North American open-wheel competition. Based in Angleton, Tex., DEForce currently fields entries in three series under the USF Pro Championships umbrella. The team also confirmed it will continue its open-wheel programs alongside the newly announced TCR effort. “A new era begins,” the team said in an Instagram post announcing the move. “We’re excited to announce that DEForce Racing is expanding into GT racing, opening new doors and creating more opportunities for our drivers.” DEForce’s open-wheel program has helped develop several drivers who have gone on to achieve success in various disciplines, including 2024 Le Mans 24 Hours class winners Bijoy Garg and Nolan Siegel, the latter of who...