Ericsson: “Statement Race” Crown on “Great Season”

Hampus Ericsson described Wayne Taylor Racing’s title-clinching victory at Misano as a “statement race” at the end of a successful debut season in Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America.

Ericsson brought home the No. 101 Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo EVO2 he shares with Danny Formal to take the pairing’s seventh win of the season, capturing the overall drivers’ title with a race to spare.

The Swedish racer, younger brother of ex-Formula 1 driver and Indianapolis 500 winner Marcus Ericsson, joined the North American series for the first time this year after previously racing in Europe.

Ericsson began life in Super Trofeo North America with a double victory at Sebring but then endured a tough mid-season spell that saw him and Formal briefly lose the points lead to Will Bamber and Elias De La Torre after they swept the weekend at Watkins Glen.

However, a commanding run to close out the season saw Ericsson and Formal take five race wins in a row, with WTR reclaiming the title one year after losing it to TR3 Racing in 2024.

“We’ve had a great season,” Ericsson said.

“First year in America for me, first year with Wayne Taylor Racing, first year with Danny Formal, the best team, the best teammates.

“It’s so good to finish it off with a championship. Of course, we have one race left to go, but this race was really a statement race for the world.

“So I’m really happy. The car was on rails. And Danny gave me a really fast car so I could just drive my own tempo and pull away from the others. I’m really happy with that and huge thanks to the team.”

Formal, who has been a mainstay of WTR’s Super Trofeo program since joining the team in 2021, claimed his third overall drivers’ title in four years.

He previously took back-to-back championships driving alongside Kyle Marcelli in 2022 and 2023, but was beaten to the crown last year during a season in which Ryan Norman was his co-driver.

The Costa Rican praised Ericsson, who stepped into replace Norman after initially competing in Super Trofeo Europe last year, for being able to handle the pressure of competing for what is arguable the most high-profile team in the North American series.

“So thankful to be with Hampus,” said Formal.

“First season in America with him. I have to remind myself he’s just a kid. He’s just 22 years old.

“I’ll be 30 this year and I was in his footsteps in 2021 when I joined this team.

“It’s a lot of pressure racing for one of the biggest teams in America and racing the No. 1 car, which is the car that always goes for the championships.

“For him to keep on improving, keep getting better… for sure his best stint of the season was this stint, in my opinion.

“He did great in Sebring, but our car was very good at Sebring. Our car is very good here, but it’s been way trickier to drive.

“And for him to do what he did, get only one track limit in the whole race. And this is one of those tracks that track limits, it’s like sneezing.

“Track limits, it happens every lap. So for him not to do any track limits and keep it on track…

“I think I gave him a four-second lead and he gapped it up to like 11 seconds. So I’m so happy for him, so happy for the team.”