WTR Andretti’s Formal, Marcelli Aiming to “Remain Consistent”

Photo: Jamey Price/Lamborghini

Danny Formal and Kyle Marcelli are looking to “remain consistent” in their Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America title defense amid new and returning competitors to the single-make series.

The Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport duo, who won the Pro class championship last year with five wins out of 12 races, return to the No. 1 Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo EVO2 with the aim as repeating as champions.

“I’m super excited to start the season,” Formal told Sportscar365. “WTR Andretti is a powerhouse of a team, and just the name [Andretti Autosport] adds some pressure to us.

“But we’re ready. We have a great baseline, even on these new Hankook tires. We did a small shakedown last week and the car felt great.

“Hopefully we can bring another championship to WTR and now Andretti too.”

Formal and Marcelli’s championship defense will come amid a reduced Pro class field compared to last year, with only five cars having been entered for this weekend across the 32-car overall entry.

However, both drivers highlighted some of the strong Pro-Am lineups that could ultimately play a factor in qualifying and overall race honors depending on how certain races unfold.

“I’m a little disappointed that there’s not more cars in the Pro class,” Marcelli said. “But there’s a number of top pros in the Pro-Am class.

“I don’t know all of the Ams in the Pro-Am class but if some of them keep the cars up front, then there’s certainly a lot of strong pros in Pro-Am.

“In qualifying, we’ll be dealing with half of them.”

Formal added: “Looking at the list, the Pros are down from last year, which is unfortunate. But the pros in Pro-Am look really strong.

“You’ve got Alex Premat, Marc Miller and Johannes van Overbeek, who are all really good drivers racing in the Pro-Am category.

“Pro-Am looks really competitive but Pro does too. The four or five drivers [in Pro] are all very good as well, so that makes it cool too.

“There’s pressure but we’re taking it easy and hopefully we can get more wins than last year.”

While entering their third season as co-drivers, Formal and Marcelli both said they’re looking forward to working with a new crop of teammates in the four-car operation.

It includes Marcelli’s former Michelin Pilot Challenge championship-winning co-driver Nate Stacy, as well as former open-wheel rising star Ryan Norman, who will both be in the Pro class this weekend.

Additionally, WTR Andretti has also brought in Graham Doyle, who will be competing in the LB Cup category.

“It’s cool that we’ve been able to remain consistent,” Marcelli said of his and Formal’s driving partnership.

“It’s great that the team has given us that opportunity and have also given us the opportunity at a higher level and I think that’s where we’re both looking to go when the time is right.

“WTR Andretti has a good model in place. With four cars under the stable in the Super Trofeo program and new drivers this year that I think will be quick.

“I think [Ryan] will be good. Obviously he’s a single driver entry so he’ll have a bit of a disadvantage when it comes to the pit stop.

“But at some tracks the single driver can be an advantage when you’re dealing with mixed track conditions or things like that.

“We like the two-driver lineup; Danny and I find that it’s competitive.

“I think Ryan personally wanted to be a single driver entry. He did a good job at the test and I was very impressed. He was thorough and willing to find more speed and listen and try new things.

“Nate, I’ve got experience with in three years in GT4, so it’s kind of cool to see him come back under the stable. I know he likes the car, I don’t think he’s driven anything like it before, with this much power. I think he’ll do well.”

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