Super Trofeo, GT3 the “Best Decision” For Queen’s Future

Photo: Jamey Price/Lamborghini

Colin Queen said returning to racing in the U.S. and joining the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America grid was the “best decision” he could have made as he aims to advance in his sports car racing career.

Prior to returning Stateside to compete in the single-make championship this season, the California-born, Florida resident spent time in the European open-wheel ranks, racing in Formula Ford, GB4, and GB3 before focusing his efforts with ANSA Motorsports this year, where he co-pilots the team’s No. 4 Pro class Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo EVO2 alongside Enzo Geraci.

”This has definitely been the best decision I could have made transitioning to GT racing,” Queen told Sportscar365.

“It was the perfect time to transition and really focus on making a true career out of this sport. After spending four years over in Europe, I don’t believe there’s any better decision I could’ve made than going to the U.S. and racing in the Super Trofeo championship.

“The car is an incredible platform to learn in for when I transition into GT3s. It’s been quite a learning process so far. I’ve had a total of seven hours in the car so far, but I believe I’ve been able to do a lot with that seat time.

“I think that’s gotten me far this year. I just hope to make more progress going forward. It’s been absolutely phenomenal in terms of just getting my feet wet in the GT world and building on that more going forward.”

Earlier this year, Queen was named as one of 16 Lamborghini Super Trofeo Junior drivers selected in a development and evaluation program featuring competitors from the Italian marque’s single-make series around the world alongside selected ‘GT’ and ‘Professional’ drivers.

Queen, however, represents one of just three Americans across all rosters and feels that his relationship with Lamborghini has been a major contributing factor to both his success in the series and to laying the groundwork for his future plans in the sport.

“The main thing that I think has really helped me is just being part of the young driver program with Lamborghini,” he said. “That’s one of the reasons that I went into this series in the first place.

“To be solidified in that program now and have an opportunity to go to the shootout in Misano at the end of the year is absolutely phenomenal.

“Lamborghini has been a great help to me and my progress so far, and making a career in the sport. I just want to solidify that relationship even more going forward.

“The program that they offer, especially with the young driver program being able to help us up-and-comers actually reach that status of a factory driver, is really what set my eyes on their program.

“They’ve really treated all their young drivers well. I believe racing in the United States was the best option for me, and Lamborghini provided that all day.”

Regional Super Trofeo competition wraps up in Italy at Lamborghini’s World Finals event in Misano, with a GT3 driver shootout to follow, at which drivers will compete for a chance to receive factory backing from Lamborghini next season.

All drivers have been a part of a year-long selection process with evaluations encompassing performance parameters both on and off-track, driver progression, consistency, experience level, professionalism, and technical feedback.

In North America, Queen and co-driver Geraci enter the final two race weekends of the season at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Misano fifth in the Pro class points standings, having reached the podium at both WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca and Watkins Glen International.

“We’ve had everything thrown at us this season,” said Queen. “A lot of red flags and unwanted trouble with getting valuable seat time in practice because of that, but we’ve been able to extract so much from that and really showing our pace in the races against such strong competition.

“The hope is to win the shootout [in Misano]. That would open so many more doors. But to actually get true backing from Lamborghini and hopefully show them what I am capable of, so hopefully I could be a part of their future.

“My whole goal and dream is to do absolutely everything. IMSA, WEC, and anything GT racing. I am open to absolutely everything. IMSA, being back in the U.S., is the closest to home, and that’s the pinnacle of GT racing right now.”

Source: Sports Car 365