K-PAX Returns to Endurance Cup With Lamborghini

K-PAX Racing will return to Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS this year with a Pro-class entry featuring a trio of Lamborghini factory drivers.

The Californian team, which won the last two GTWC America titles, is planning an Endurance Cup effort with the No. 6 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2.

Marco Mapelli, Sandy Mitchell and Franck Perera will form the driver lineup for K-PAX Racing’s first full-season European program since 2020 when it ran Bentley Continental GT3s.

It also made a one-off appearance in last year’s 24 Hours of Spa with Lamborghini factory drivers Mapelli, Andrea Caldarelli and Jordan Pepper, but is now gearing up for the full five-round Endurance Cup campaign.

Program manager Darren Law confirmed to Sportscar365 that K-PAX will not return to defend its GTWC America titles, however the organization will remain involved in U.S. sports car racing through its Flying Lizard Motorsports effort.

“This is an exciting time for K-PAX Racing,” Law said in a team statement.

“After so many years of success with our racing program in the US, we have decided to expand to the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup for the 2023 season.

“SRO has a great product and the best GT3 racing in the world. We have experimented with racing in Europe several times already, at the 24 Hours of Spa, as well as a full season of the Endurance Cup in 2020.

“We were successful that year but feel we have unfinished business.”

K-PAX has leased a workshop in Italy for its Endurance Cup effort, which will utilize a mixed crew of U.S. and European staff.

The team’s equipment is being transported to Italy in sea freight containers while the cars are being upgraded to the latest EVO2 specification at Lamborghini Squadra Corse.

“We have to thank [team owner] Jim Haughey for allowing all of us to have this opportunity,” Law added.

“Without his passion and dedication to the sport none of this would be possible. We also have to thank Giorgio Sanna [Lamborghini Head of Motorsport] for giving us such a strong driver lineup.

“We have worked with both Marco and Franck previously, and raced against Sandy, so it will be great to have him joining our program this year. We are looking forward to the challenge and can’t wait to get the season started.”

Mapelli is returning to the Endurance Cup full-time after previously representing FFF Racing Team in 2021. Perera drove for Emil Frey Racing in ADAC GT Masters last year, while Mitchell raced for Barwell Motorsport in the Gold Cup class of Endurance.