COTA Event Gives Lamborghini Drivers Another Chance to Shine

One of the primary motivations behind Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America, the single-make series sanctioned by IMSA, is to develop the brand’s leading race drivers of the future.

As the series heads this weekend to Circuit of The Americas for the fourth doubleheader round of the season, at least five competitors have caught the eye of Lamborghini Squadra Corse – the racing division of Automobili Lamborghini – as prospective talents who could climb the Italian marque’s ladder.

Four drivers who race exclusively in the North American Super Trofeo series – Luke Berkeley, Shehan Chandrasoma, Bryson Morris and Jake Walker – were recently named 2024 Lamborghini Super Trofeo Junior Drivers. Along with another 24 drivers who race in the European and Asian series, they’ll have the opportunity to take part in Lamborghini’s annual end-of-year assessment and a shootout at Jerez in conjunction with the Super Trofeo World Finals in November.

In addition, Danny Formal – who doubles as a Lamborghini driver in both Super Trofeo and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship – was named again as one of four Lamborghini Young Professional Drivers and continues to receive backing from Lamborghini Squadra Corse.

Formal joined the Junior Driver program in late 2022, after he and Kyle Marcelli won the first of two straight Pro class championships in Super Trofeo North America. Formal realizes the benefits of the program for his career.

“The system’s amazing, they’ve done a fantastic job,” he said. “It’s a great steppingstone to becoming a professional driver.”

All drivers in the Junior and GT3 programs are monitored and assessed throughout the season by Lamborghini officials, with specific evaluations on performance (single-lap pace and average speed), progression, consistency over the course of a weekend, experience, professionalism, technical feedback and attitude both at and away from the circuit.

Following the assessment, the most impressive drivers will be selected by Squadra Corse to take part in the dedicated shootout at Jerez. Both the winners of the Super Trofeo Junior Driver program and GT3 Junior Driver program shootouts will receive factory support from Squadra Corse during the 2025 season.

“One of the big reasons I am now where I am is as the help of Lamborghini and being part of the family now since 2022 when I won the championship in Super Trofeo with Kyle and WTRAndretti,” Formal said. “I won the shootout in Portugal and that’s when I became a Young Professional Driver.”

Berkeley can attest to the program’s benefits as well. After winning the Super Trofeo North America Am class title in 2021, he joined the Junior Driver program the following year. After falling off the list last year, he’s pleased to be back on it in 2024.

“The whole point of the program is to make sure that you are perhaps the right fit to become a factory driver,” Berkeley said, “and make sure you have all the right strengths and if you have any weaknesses, fix them.

“There’s unique opportunities that come from it and obviously just having support from a brand like Lamborghini having their eyes on you, it’s a nice feeling.”

Forty-three cars are entered this weekend at COTA, which could set a North American series record for participation if all of them compete. The 50-minute races are set for 6:10 p.m. CDT Saturday and 9:50 a.m. Sunday. Both will stream live on Peacock  and IMSA.tv.