WTR Set for Four-Car Lamborghini ST Program, Eyeing GTD Effort

Photo: Jamey Price/Lamborghini

Wayne Taylor Racing is set for an increased effort in Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America this year, while preparing for a likely expansion into the GT Daytona ranks with the Italian manufacturer in 2018.

The Indianapolis-based team, which has operated Prestige Performance’s championship-winning Super Trofeo program since 2015, will take a more visible role this year, according to team manager Travis Houge, who confirmed a four-car program in the popular single-make series.

Prestige’s Shinya Michimi was the dominant force in Super Trofeo competition last year, scoring six wins and the Pro class championship, with the team’s Pro-Am pairing of Trent Hindman and Craig Duerson picking up the class title.

While driver lineups have yet to be announced, Houge said they will enter two Lamborghini Huracán LP 620-2 Super Trofeos in the Pro class, with another in Pro-Am and and a fourth entry on a rotating basis.

“We’ve expanded the team into a four-car effort,” Houge told Sportscar365. “Last year we had good results and we had two very good drivers that were able to coach our Pro-Am drivers.

“This year we’re going to have four really good drivers in the Pro class and two really good drivers in Pro-Am. Our fourth car will be a little bit of a car to help stimulate growth in the series.”

Houge said the team’s burgeoning relationship with Lamborghini could expand into the WeatherTech Championship by as early as next year, alongside its Daytona and Sebring-winning Cadillac DPi-V.R program.

“Ultimately we want to run in GTD,” Houge said. “You start at the ground level and you’re able to work yourself up. You build the team, build up equipment and you’re able to go to the next level.

“Part of Lamborghini’s plan is that you start at Super Trofeo and work your way up to GTD.

“It would be the same for us. If we can create a program where we start with Super Trofeo and are able to bring drivers in and work them up through the ranks to GTD, that’s exactly what the program is designed for.”

It’s not clear yet whether its proposed Lamborghini Huracan GT3 program would be under the WTR or Prestige banner, although Houge noted the advantages of the two brand’s current alliance.

Prestige, a leading network of car dealerships in the Northeast, has been a driving force in the team’s Super Trofeo effort.

“Obviously a GTD program is a ways off for us but combining Wayne Taylor Racing and Prestige gives us a lot more power trying to build a program,” Houge added.

“It give us a stronger stepping stone to be able to pull in sponsorship and shows the history of what we’ve done at Wayne Taylor Racing.

“Our team has been performing pretty well [in Prototype], so when you put all those things together, you get a lot of interest.”

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John