Formal, Doyle Planning Pro Class Entry Next Year
Photo: Jamey Price
Four-time Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America champion Danny Formal plans to return to the Pro class next year and race alongside Graham Doyle in the new Temerario Super Trofeo machine.
Wayne Taylor Racing pair Formal and Doyle wrapped up this year’s Pro-Am class title with a round to spare last time out at Indianapolis, to add to the trio of overall crowns that Formal had already achieved in the Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2.
Formal described Doyle as being a “little brother to me” and said “I think Graham’s stuck with me” as they are keen to continue their partnership into the first Super Trofeo season with the new car.
“We’re trying to race in the Pro category next year, I’ll be back in the Pro and he would be a Pro with me and hopefully fight for the title — that’s the goal,” Formal told Sportscar365.
“I think he’s getting to a point where he’s fast enough to do it and give him the confidence to do it.
“As a driver coach and friend, my job is to make the car comfortable for me but also for him.
“I think we’ve done a great job this year — we’ve finished second or third overall in four events, so we’ve had the pace.”
The pair will have their first experience as a Pro pairing in this weekend’s Lamborghini World Finals at Monza.
Formal sampled the new Temerario Super Trofeo earlier this week and was impressed by the step forward Lamborghini had taken with the new car.
In contrast to the Huracan equivalent’s V10 engine, the Temerario machine features a twin-turbo V8 powerplant, but Formal said the changes run far deeper.
“It’s a very fast car and it’s going to surprise a lot of people with how quick it is,” he explained.
“It’s now got full-size GT3 tires, which is going to give a lot more confidence for the gentleman drivers — they’re going to feel a lot safer, a lot more comfortable with that car with that platform, so looking forward to it.
“It’s a different car but, at the same time, it’s very Lamborghini and very cool.
“When you drive the Huracan GT3 EVO2 and the Huracan Super Trofeo it’s like saying a Toyota Prius and a Ferrari, it’s completely different.
“They did a great job because now you can drive a Temerario Super Trofeo for a couple of years, you’re going to be ready for GT3 because it’s the same car almost — I think it’s going to be very advantageous to have both platforms so similar.”
Formal is now relishing the chance to end the current North America season at Monza this week without having to think about securing the title.
“To come here with no pressure whatsoever and to get the car right for the World Finals is awesome,” he said.
“We never thought we could do that — we’ve had eight wins out of ten races.”
Doyle was unable to complete the first two collective tests at Monza on Tuesday but Formal was encouraged by how quickly his teammate got up to speed in the afternoon.
Formal then set the fastest time during free practice on Wednesday in the dry first session, while the majority of contenders — he and Doyle included — did not see the benefit in heading out on track during the very wet FP2.
Source: Sports Car 365