Chicago Performance Steps Up to GT3 With Lamborghini

Image: Chicago Performance

Chicago Performance and Tuning Co. will step up to GT World Challenge America powered by AWS competition, confirming a full season Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 entry.

The team, which most recently served as the operations partner for Marco Polo Motorsports in Pirelli GT4 America, will feature Mads Siljehaug for the full season, alongside MPM driver Nicolai Elghanayan for the races at Sonoma Raceway, Road America and Indianapolis 8 Hour presented by AWS.

“Driver options” are being explored to run alongside Siljehaug in the remaining races according to team manager Christopher Lester, who also confirmed they’ll have a Lamborghini factory driver as its third pilot for the season-ending round.

While Marco Polo initially stood down from racing this year, it will remain involved with Chicago Performance’s new venture.

“Racing in 2026 looked like it wasn’t in the cards for us with our family and business commitments, but when CPT came to us with the Lamborghini opportunity, we couldn’t pass up the chance to be involved in a GT3 program with a brand like that,” said Jeff Elghanayan.

“It’ll be difficult to balance our non-racing commitments with the schedule this year, so participating in three races is already a challenge, but one we’re eager to take on to be a part of CPT’s first professional GT3 campaign.”

Chicago Performance owner  and team principal Al Uscinski added: “This program has been the culmination of hard work that feels like years, but has really only been a couple of months.

“We’re honored to represent Lamborghini, and usher in their return to the SRO America paddock.

“To have Mads and Nicolai reunited a year ahead of schedule and in a program stepping up to GT3, I don’t think we could have dreamed up a better scenario.

“Lamborghini has also committed to supplying us with a factory driver for the 8 Hour, so we’ll be looking forward to integrating them into the program and sharing the news on who soon.”

Lester, meanwhile, described the program as an “11th-hour” opportunity.

“I worked with Erik [Skirmants, senior manager of motorsport at Automobili Lamborghini America] in the past and we’ve always stayed in touch,” he said.

“We had a catch-up call, and it became one of those stars aligning moments where we both realized we could help each other.

“With Marco Polo pausing their GT4 program until 2027, we had a gap, and Erik had been working to try to find the best path back into the SRO paddock for Lamborghini.

“From early December to today, we’re only a few weeks out from being on grid thanks to the support from the amazing team at Squadra Corse.”

Lester said they’ve retained their entire crew, while landing sponsorship from Liqui Moly and ABT, the latter which Chicago Performance has been a dealer for in the U.S.

“It aligns seamlessly with their sports car programs in Europe, so to be able to represent them here in the States is a privilege, and we’re looking forward to showcasing ABT and embodying their decades of motorsport success,” Lester added.

“It’s one of those lightning-in-a-bottle moments where everything has fallen into place.

“Now we have to honor the effort and support we’ve received and deliver on track. The field is stacked with top drivers and teams, and the work is ahead of us, not behind.

“But we’re proud of the team, proud of the partnerships, proud to represent Lamborghini and hungry to prove ourselves.”

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