Pirelli Paddock Pass: Corey Lewis

Corey Lewis has been associated with Lamborghini, racing with the brand in various championships since 2015. This week he was announced as part of K-PAX Racing’s driver lineup for the upcoming GT World Challenge America powered by AWS season alongside factory driver Giovanni Venturini.

This week in the Pirelli Paddock Pass, Lewis discusses the origins of the program, how his association with Lamborghini has grown over the years, his expectations for the upcoming season, and more.

How did the opportunity to race with K-PAX Racing in GT World Challenge America come to be?

“We started to stir the pot in early December. I have a very, very close relationship with Chris Ward (Lamborghini America’s senior manager of motorsport). We go way back to my debut with Lamborghini in the Super Trofeo series in 2015.

“We’ve grown that relationship over the years and he mentioned the new potential K-PAX program, but they were still putting all the pieces together. As time went on it all came together and here we are!”

How valuable was your time spent with the Lamborghini brand in both Super Trofeo and GT3 racing to securing this opportunity?

“Anything within the brand of Lamborghini has certainly helped along the way but it really started with Super Trofeo and earning my stripes there.

“We’ve won championships there every year I’ve been in a car in multiple categories and the World Final in 2015 which helped build the interest from the manufacturer to be one of the only Americans that they’ve taken under their wing. It’s humbling and I’m definitely grateful for it.

“With those results building some traction, then jumping into the GT3 car with Paul Miller Racing in multiple capacities, that has helped build even more interest within the brand of Lamborghini that helped with this opportunity with K-PAX.

“I really have to thank everyone throughout the process starting with Change Racing and now Paul Miller Racing, I’ve learned so much from that group.”

Was the a desire on Lamborghini’s side to have an American as part of their SRO America program?

“I think so. Coming from the track standpoint, I believe I’m the only one of the drivers that has been to all of the race tracks that we’ll go to on the SRO schedule.

“I guess we’ll have a little bit of a home field advantage on the American side, so maybe that was part of the case.

“But within Lamborghini, talking with Chris Ward and Giorgio Sanna (head of Lamborghini Motorsport), we talked multiple times over the years of how I can grow as a driver and how I can be implemented more within the factory with the hopes of hopefully being in a factory ride where it’s up to them where to place me.

“Ultimately that’s my goal. I feel like with this K-PAX announcement and having basically an all-factory lineup is a special moment.

“To be a part of this and to have the winning history of all of the drivers and K-PAX and their history of winning, it’s a dominant combination.”

How familiar are you with your new team and teammates?

“I think it goes without saying for the team. K-PAX has been around since I can remember it’s a winning combination in terms of the team.

“I’ve known Darren [Law, K-PAX program manager] for a few years now and we had talked in passing about programs that unfortunately never materialized, I know some of the crew guys, and I’m definitely looking forward to working with everyone on the team and gaining more knowledge of racing in general.

“I’d be foolish not to be a sponge with the guys who have so much experience on that team with the crew and their insight. On the driver’s side, I’ve worked very closely with Andrea Caldarelli before with Paul Miller Racing.

“He’s always insanely fast and has been a wealth of knowledge with data and setup.

“I’ve worked a little bit with Giovanni Venturini in passing when I did the young driver test at Vallelunga a few years ago. He helped me out with track knowledge when I was there for the first time. He’s shown great pace overseas so it’ll be great to have him here.

“I have not met Jordan Pepper, but he has been insanely fast in every car he’s been in and his race win at Bathurst goes without saying. To have his experience and knowledge from his background is going to be great. It’s a win-win, no question.”

What are your expectations for the year ahead?

“We’re all competitors and as drivers we just want to win. The team wants to win. Ultimately at the end of the year yes, we want to win the championship.

“We have two solid Pro-Pro entries. Ideally, if we can be 1-2 the whole way through that’s the way we would all love to see it shake out in a perfect world, but I think realistically with a new car, new team, new driver lineup in the beginning it’s going to be about trying to gel together as quickly as possible.”