Borcheller: “Racing in Europe is Something I’ve Always Wanted to Do”

Photo: Adam Saal

After missing out on a few previous opportunities, Terry Borcheller is set to fulfill his dream of racing in Europe this year, with the multi-time GRAND-AM champion joining Konrad Motorsport for its Blancpain Endurance Cup effort.

Borcheller, who was reunited with the German squad earlier this month, some 15 years after teaming with Franz Konrad for GTS class victory in the Twelve Hours of Sebring, will pilot one of the team’s new Lamborghini Huracan GT3s in the five-round championship, which kicks off next month at Monza.

Sportscar365 caught up with the newly Silver-rated Borcheller to get his thoughts on the opportunity and look ahed to the season.

Has racing in Europe been an objective of yours for a while?

“It’s something I’ve always wanted to to. I’ve done Le Mans five times, and I’ve been on the podium. In 2006 with the ACEMCO program, we only did Le Mans that year.

“It was the year before in 2005, if we didn’t get the factory Michelin deal, we were going to race in Europe [in ELMS]. It was so close. We were one phone call away.

“One of the guys that I had been coaching, there was an opportunity that we were going to do the Blancpain GT Series. So I looked into heavily in November and December of this last year, because we were 90 percent there. And at the last moment, he kind of bailed.

“It’s kinda funny that this has come around, and it’ll be a dream come true for me.

“My whole career I’ve wanted to do that at least once, and other than Le Mans I haven’t really raced over there.

“I’ve done sporadic races in Australia and I did the Central American Trans-Am series, so I’ve raced out of the country quite a bit, but not the European tracks.”

And you’ll be racing on some of the most iconic European tracks, such as Spa, Monza, Nurburgring, etc…

“Oh, it’ll be amazing for me. I can’t even express how excited I am. And I’m happy for Franz [Konrad]. We’ve got a great team and a great sponsor, and it should be done well. It should be fun.”

How does it feel to come back to Konrad Motorsport after all these years?

“I know it’s been 15 years, but he’s the same. I’m a little older, I guess he’s a little older too, but it’s like we just picked back up where we left off.

“It’s always been very easy for me to get along with Franz as a co-driver and a team owner. I’ve never wrecked his cars so that’s big! Maybe that’s why he likes me. So hopefully we can keep that streak going.”

What are your thoughts on the Lamborghini Huracan GT3 and how do you think it will fare in the Blancpain Endurance Cup this year?

“I ran the Gallardo in 2014 at [Road Atlanta], and I was super impressed with the brakes there, and the car for that matter. I had the fastest race lap the first time I sat in the car. Right away I had a lot of confidence.

“I didn’t get back into [a Lamborghini] again until the [Sebring test], and that was the Huracan which is a completely different car. But they’re in the same family for sure, and very confidence inspiring.

“All the GT3 cars… I’ve had a chance to drive at different times the Audi, the Ferrari, the Lamborghini, and they’re all really good. They’re all really good cars.

“Like drivers, you’re going to have different tracks where the car is stronger, depending on what the strengths of the GT3 car are. And that’s kind of a fun thing.”

How are you preparing for the season ahead?

“I’m at a point in my life where every year, I don’t know if this could be my last year [of racing]. I just don’t know.

“I’m turning 50 this year, and very candidly I’ve trained hard my whole career, and I’ve had to. I feel like that’s one of the edges that I have.

“Every driver has different strengths, and there’s for sure guys out there who are faster and probably better in a lot of different ways, but I’ve always tried to make sure I’m as prepared as I can be.

“As soon as I got the nod here at the [Sebring] test, I went straight into the pool and started training that night. I wasn’t that far out, but I was kinda discouraged because I didn’t have a ride.

“So I’ll be hard at it know that I’ve got some long flights ahead.”

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