Caldarelli: Clinching GTWC Title “Good Relief” Ahead of IGTC Bid

Photo: Bob Chapman/Autosport Image

Andrea Caldarelli says clinching his second consecutive Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS title last time out at Sebring International Raceway was a “good relief” ahead of this weekend’s Indianapolis 8 Hour presented by AWS, where the Italian is hoping to deliver Lamborghini’s elusive first Intercontinental GT Challenge powered by Pirelli win.

Caldarelli and K-PAX Racing locked up the Pro class drivers’ and teams’ titles one event early following a controlling season by the No. 1 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo that saw eight class wins in 12 races, the majority coming with co-driver Michele Beretta.

K-PAX enters Saturday’s GTWC America season finale, which doubles as the third leg of the IGTC, with the added incentive to end the season not only on a high note but with also both the team’s and manufacturer’s first victory in the globe-trotting GT3 series.

“To clinch the championship in Sebring was a good relief because now we have more of an open strategy for the race,” Caldarelli told Sportscar365.

“We know that we want to go for the win so it opens up a little bit more options.

“It’s much better, it’s less pressure. But at the same time, as Lamborghini, we’ve never got a win in Intercontinental.

“It’s definitely something we’re looking for and a bit of a redemption from last year hopefully because we came close and a lot of things happened during the race.

“As Lamborghini, it’s one of our targets.”

While Lamborghini remains a long-shot for this year’s IGTC manufacturers’ title following a dominant start to the season from Mercedes-AMG, Caldarelli stressed the importance of this race, especially after missing out on a potential win at The Brickyard last year.

“That’s one of the reasons I would like to get an [IGTC] win in my book,” he said. “But we know they’re really tough races. They’re long, anything can happen.

“We’ll just need to take it like any other race. It’s not like an extra pressure, it’s just something we haven’t scored yet. It would definitely be nice.

“Last year, there were question marks on what our last pit stop was. I think we should have come out leading the race and then the pit lane was closed for… nobody really knew what reason.

“It was not a very optimal race from that kind of view. But I think SRO understood and I think that’s why they changed the rules.

“The track is also not as long as last year. It’s probably like 10-12 seconds shorter.

“An eight-hour race with 1 minute 20-second laps, it opens a lot of different scenarios in terms of strategy. That will be interesting.”

Teamed with Silver-rated Beretta and fellow Lamborghini factory driver Marco Mapelli, Caldarelli believes the 25-car GT3 field is as strong as it was in 2021, with similarly stacked lineups in several Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evos as well as the pair of AF Corse Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo 2020s.

“I think the field this year is pretty tough as well,” he said. “Even though in terms of numbers it’s not as much, but I think the level is pretty similar.

“This year, having Silver drivers in the car also gives that kind of extra option in terms of strategy.

“To be fair, Michele is doing very well this year and he’s part of the family.

“It’s just a longer race compared to other GT World Challenge America races. There are a few more cars but it’s really exciting.”

K-PAX program manager Darren Law, meanwhile, said the strategy will be to go “flat-out” for the win, particularly with the No. 1 Lamborghini, which has nothing to lose in terms of the GTWC America championship.

The only implication could be in the battle for runner-up position in the drivers’ standings, with Beretta 14 points ahead of Jordan Pepper, who started the season with Caldarelli before being moved to the team’s No. 3 entry due to an in-season GTWC America driver pairing rules change that required a Silver in each Pro class lineup.

“For sure with the 1 car with Andrea, since he’s locked up the drivers’ championship, there’s no need to do anything but to go for a win,” Law told Sportscar365.

“That car can go flat-out the whole way though.

“Right now we have a tight battle between Michele Beretta and Jordan Pepper for second in the championship. Depending on where they place, there’s some championship implications there.”

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John