K-PAX Racing has been known over its history for quickly adapting, producing positive results which include several Fanatec GT World Challenge America Powered by AWS Championship titles. Following a sweep of the season-opener in its Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVOs and in response to foundational series modifications since, the team’s 2022 program will undergo changes to accommodate the new requirements and continue to defend its crown.
GT World Challenge America announced Friday the reclassification of its premiere GT3-spec racing category, restructuring of the Pro class. Starting at the NOLA event all pro-level teams must have at least one FIA categorized “Silver” licensed driver per entry. Additionally, K-PAX Racing and its drivers will retain the points and victories earned from the season-opener at Sonoma Raceway.
“Unfortunately, with the announcement of the revision of the rules for driver ratings in the Pro class, we are going to have to split up the driver pairing of our lead car of Jordan Pepper and Andrea Caldarelli, and they will not get the opportunity to defend their Championship from last season,” K-PAX Racing Program Manager Darren Law said. “Obviously this is not a normal situation, but we are confident in our team and drivers and always willing to take on new challenges. We will not change our approach and will focus on competing at our usual high level in pursuit of results and championships.”
Line-Up Changes
To comply with the new class criteria, K-PAX Racing has made the following changes to its two-car Huracán GT3 EVO operation:
Current team drivers Pepper and Misha Goikhberg will join forces in the No. 3.
K-PAX Racing and current team driver Caldarelli will welcome Michele Beretta to the No. 1.
Giacomo Altoè, who was a co-driver for the No. 3 in a highly successful series opener, will no longer be with the program due to the updated classification requirements.
“First off, we want to thank Giacomo Altoé for the hard work he put in with us at the start of the season,” Law said. “He and Misha worked well together, and the proof is in the double podium finish we had in the first event at Sonoma.”
“Jordan has been with K-PAX Racing for several seasons now. We know how fast he is and considering options for the best chances of success on track, he and Misha will be a good pairing. Although we have not worked with Michele Beretta, we welcome him to the team. It makes sense to pair him with Andrea as they have a relationship from previous racing in Europe and we look forward to what he can bring to our program.”
Italian-born Beretta is set to make his team debut after a series appearance in the opening rounds at Sonoma Raceway. He returns to American racing for a full season since completing the 2017 Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America Championship where he placed third. Beretta’s GT racing career first began in 2016 as a Lamborghini GT3 Junior Driver. He has mostly competed in Europe – most recently winning the 2021 Pro Cup category in International GT Open and placing third in Silver Cup for the 2020 SRO Motorsports Group governed GT World Challenge Europe series. Beretta has built a strong rapport with Caldarelli since 2019, competing on the same team in Europe together, though it will be their first time as a driver pairing.
“With the late change of regulations from the championship, I feel very honored to have this opportunity to take part in the No. 1 car with K-PAX Racing and Andrea,” Beretta said. “I definitely feel the responsibility to defend the title the team achieved last year and keep the car on top. I am sure that we can do well.”
A New Test in NOLA
NOLA Motorsports Park will host its first-ever GT World Challenge America event May 20-22. The circuit, a short driver from downtown New Orleans is a 2.7-mile, 16-turn closed-course highlighted by 5,800-foot strip of straightaway which will make it a high-speed attraction to fans near-and-far.
The event was not on the initial series schedule, as it is a late replacement of Ozarks International Raceway. It will be a new test for K-PAX Racing and its driver line-up – all who have yet to experience the track first-hand. While timing did not afford any private testing prior to race week, the drivers have taken to simulator laps to accelerate the learning curve.
K-PAX Racing has found great success in its track debuts across the country. The team has podiumed at 21 tracks in its debut, with 11 of those tracks being victorious.
Source. K-Pax Racing
Comments
