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Lamborghini Super Trofeo NA

O’Gara Steps Up in Third Season Overall, First as Solo Effort

O’Gara Motorsport to become a solo effort in third season of competition…

Photo: Jamey Price

Photo: Jamey Price

A new team will have familiar faces this season in Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North America.

After two successful seasons partnering with GMG Racing, Tom O’Gara is taking his team, O’Gara Motorsport, to the next level as a solo effort.

O’Gara brings his unique perspective to the series as a driver and as the founder of the Lamborghini Beverly Hills dealership.

“With my background, we know the expectations of drivers coming to this series,” O’Gara said.

“It’s a lot like our dealership, whether sales or at the track, people want a professional and enjoyable experience. We have to deliver to our customers in the showroom, and it’s the same at the track.”

O’Gara is targeting those same customers to be the next Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North America stars.

As Lamborghini builds its racing ladder with the latest addition of the Lamborghini GT3 to its impressive lineup with the Gallardo and Huracán, O’Gara is extending his team with its own ladder system.

He is bringing Lamborghini owners to The Thermal Club in Thermal, Calif., to get them acclimated and comfortable with the high-performance cars in a racetrack environment, with the idea one day they may drive in the Super Trofeo series.

“In my mind, it’s smart to get people that drive the cars already,” O’Gara said. “They become great spokesmen for the series because they believe in the brand.

“My aspiration for my team is to create a farm team of these guys and move them up through the cars: Gallardo, Huracán and then even potentially the GT3.”

As he hosts programs at The Thermal Club, where customers can drive the Gallardo LP 570-4 Super Trofeo, O’Gara holds the firm belief the event weekend experience is the most important aspect of racing in the series.

“We have great drivers, great race cars and great competition, but the experience is unbelievable,” O’Gara said. “Lamborghini has spectacular hospitality, and while you’re there in the luxury of it all, you get to watch great racing in both our series and in TUDOR.”

O’Gara is looking to field at least a six-car team in the growing grid of Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America, with a combination of new Huracán LP 620-2 Super Trofeo and Gallardo LP 570-4 Super Trofeo machines.

While only in his third season of competitive racing, O’Gara has learned what it takes to be successful.

“I had never raced until Lamborghini approached me when the series was expanding to North America,” he said. “Not having any experience, I’ve learned so much. But a part of that is having a team mindset.

“We have data engineers, ongoing instruction and a support structure that allows our drivers to be successful.”

Like other series veterans, O’Gara got his first chance to drive the new Huracán Super Trofeo. After just a few laps, he was completely comfortable with the incredible new car.

“This car is a breathtaking and dramatic change,” O’Gara said. “The Gallardo was my security blanket, but getting in the Huracán, it was like I had GPS with it taking me directly to the apex of the corner.

“It’s like I’m losing the training wheels with the rear-wheel drive but being handed a more agile machine. The agility was incredible, and for an amateur like me to feel comfortable in just a couple laps is amazing.”

With the season fast approaching, O’Gara is preparing to once again visit some of the most iconic and historic tracks in North America.

While the team finishes setting its 2015 lineup, O’Gara remains committed to the continued success of his team as a whole and as individuals.

“For me, everybody has the opportunity to achieve to whatever level they want to be at,” he said. “The focus is improvement. Podiums are important, but the focus is getting faster and more confident. That will lead to success.”

O’Gara will continue testing at The Thermal Club in preparation for the first two rounds of Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North America action, which will take place May 1-3 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

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