Hindman: “We’ve Been Preparing All Year for the World Final”

Trent Hindman will be competing in his second consecutive Lamborghini World Final with Prestige Performance this weekend in Imola and can wrap-up the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America drivers’ championship alongside co-driver Riccardo Agostini.

Sportscar365 caught up with the New Jersey native following qualifying to get his thoughts on racing at Imola and returning to the World Final.

Have you been to Imola before?

“About two weeks ago I was here for one of the Lamborghini Young Driver program tests. It was an opportunity to get some training in, a fitness evaluation, factory tour, and ultimately I got to do some laps around the track.

“Only about 20 laps total, but it was enough to get an initial impression of the track and I was much more comfortable as soon as we hit the track here.

“It’s been a year since I was over in Europe driving, it was at the World Final last year in Valencia, but having that previous experience, knowing what to expect and what to look out for makes the whole transition a lot more straightforward.”

What are your impressions of the circuit?

“At least to me, this place is like religious ground, hallowed ground. You feel it. You know you’re somewhere special. We some pretty historic race tracks in the US but this is a little bit different.

“I can’t exactly put my finger on it, but I will say when you walk through Tamburello and you see the flags hanging on the fence and all the stuff that fans over the years have left, and you see the memorial [to Ayrton Senna], I can’t describe it but it’s something special.

“But overall in terms of how does the track race? It’s incredible. I won’t say it’s one of my favorite tracks yet because I want to see how it all goes this week before I give it that title, but it’s phenomenal.

“It has a really good rhythm to it. It’s a challenge for drivers, it’s a challenge for engineers, and that’s what I like to see at circuits. History aside, it’s just an awesome place to drive.”

What are your thoughts on potentially sealing the North American championship on Friday?

“We still have to finish 70 percent of Race 1 to formally wrap up the drivers’ championship, but we have to do that anyway to win the dealers’ championship for Lamborghini Paramus and the teams’ championship for Prestige Performance and Wayne Taylor Racing.

“There’s still a little bit of pressure. I’ve been in a situation where the approach is to be super conservative and just do enough, that’s it, and it’s gone wrong.

“Why change our stride now? We’ve gotten this far, so we’re business as usual. We also need to make sure as a North American team that we can compete with the European cars [in the World Final races].”

How important is the Lamborghini World Final to you and the team?

“It’s really turned into something spectacular. Last year it was arguably the most competitive, chaotic, just absolutely insane weekend that I’ve ever been a part of.

“It was the weather, the different incidences of contact, how difficult the North American races were alone, let alone [the combined fields].

“You’re on track with the best guys from the Asian series, from North America, and also the best European guys and there are a lot of them. It’s one of the most difficult races that I’ve ever done.”

Is there an element of competition between the different series at this event?

“I think so. At Race 1 of the season back at COTA, we knew we were prepping for the World Final. Last year, we weren’t really sure how extreme the competition was.

“I’d be foolish not to pay attention to pay attention to all three series and see who’s doing what. I think whoever comes out on top, that particular championship just gets a bit more of a boost in their notoriety for the following year.”