Champion De La Torre Seeks to Build Lamborghini Career

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.

“Hopefully the championship and, if we win Worlds, it will open more doors.

“I hope to continue growing with Lamborghini — I’ve loved the brand since I was a child and having Dennis who grew up in that whole system, he’s been teaching me so much about how it works.

“Dennis is just unbelievable, such a great teacher and great driver.”

De La Torre won the title individually because he raced alongside three other drivers this season, having initially shared the car with Will Bamber — who became his closest rival in the points — before then joining forces with Daniel Morad and Lind.

“It was a lot of back and forth learning to adapt to different drivers but I believe all the greats are able to do that,” the champion acknowledged. “Throughout the season switching I really improved on that.

“Dennis just showed why he’s world class — we both drove super good today and were able to eke out a 16-second gap and dominate the field, and hopefully that will translate to Worlds.

“TR3 has done such a great job all season even with different drivers at different parts of the season.

“I think we improved on most of our flaws from last year and we were able to put it together.”

For his part, Lind was full of praise for his teammate, saying that the pair “clicked immediately” when he first became part of the TR3 operation.

“I see a lot of myself in him, coming into GTs for the first time, quite young, not a lot of experience,” Lind told Sportscar365.

“It’s his fourth season of racing so winning a national championship is very impressive.

“He’s taken massive leaps this year, not steps, and it’s been an honor working with him.

“I’m a big fan so I’m going to keep watching him for the rest of his career — I’m immensely proud to have played a part in that.”

Lind admitted it was possible the pair may not contest Friday’s North America season finale now De La Torre’s title is secure in order to avoid incurring any car damage that could hamper their World Finals bid, especially with Lind seeking to add a second victory ten years on from his first.

Of his own plans for next year, Lind admitted “there’s not so much on the table,” but did add that being downgraded from an FIA Platinum-rated driver for this season has been a benefit.

“Nothing’s set in stone yet for next season but hopefully something will come up,” he said.

Source: Sports Car 365