Flying Lizard Announces Multiple Car Effort in Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America
Flying Lizard Announces Multiple Car Effort in Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America
SONOMA, Calif., (February 21, 2022) – Flying Lizard Motorsports will expand yet again to a new series for the 2022 race season, entering a multiple car effort into the International Motor Sports Association’s (IMSA) Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America Series. The ten-time sports car racing champions previously announced 2022 programs in the Porsche Sprint Challenge, GT4 America, and GT America championships, and will enter three Lamborghini Super Trofeo cars into the single-make championship, with the possibility of a fourth car to be confirmed at a later date. Joining Flying Lizard Motorsports this upcoming season as a new partner will be Lamborghini Newport Beach, with the southern California Lamborghini dealer providing support for the new program. The three confirmed cars will be driven by Brett Jacobson and Joel Miller in the No. 11 Giddy car, Slade Stewart in the No. 14 car, and Tom Tait in the No. 64 Emerald Center car.
“I am extremely excited about this program for Flying Lizard for many reasons,” said Program Manager Darren Law. “Chris Ward of Automobili Lamborghini America has built such a great series. To be celebrating 10 years of a successful one-make series speaks to his ability and the commitment of Lamborghini. We have been watching this series for many years and have always wanted to be part of it but just haven’t had the right opportunity. With the introduction of the new Huracán Super Trofeo Evo2, our partnership with Lamborghini Newport Beach, and the group of new drivers we have on board, the timing couldn’t be better. The opportunity to have Flying Lizard back in the IMSA paddock is also very exciting. We are really looking forward to a successful season and can’t wait to get things started.”
The Lizards first partnered with Automobili Lamborghini America in the spring of 2019 when the Sonoma, California-based race team took possession of a Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo Evo and became a testing partner with Lamborghini. The relationship blossomed from there as other Lizard professional customer racing programs utilized the machinery of the iconic brand, adding to the team’s overall successful resume.
“I am absolutely thrilled to welcome Flying Lizard Motorsports to the Lamborghini Super Trofeo paddock for the 2022 season,” said Chris Ward, Senior Manager, Motorsports, Lamborghini America. “The coming season was already looking to be extra special with us celebrating our 10th year of North American Super Trofeo competition in addition to the debut of the Huracán Super Trofeo Evo2 and now we can couple that with the introduction of the Flying Lizard name to our family of Squadra Corse Customer Teams.”
The announcement of the 2022 Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America program brings the Lizards back to the IMSA sanctioning body, where the team started 18 years ago, racing in the American Le Mans Series, now the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The team instantly became a fan-favorite, winning six team and driver championships in its first ten years. After several years of racing Porsche machinery in a factory-backed effort, the team transitioned to new ownership and became a proper customer racing team, expanding the team’s footprint and car count to include various manufacturers and competitors around the globe. The team last raced in the IMSA umbrella in 2016, racing at Daytona International Speedway and Sebring International Raceway.
This year, the team will return to IMSA, racing in the single-make Lamborghini series with the support of the newest member of the Lizard family, Lamborghini Newport Beach, one of the top Lamborghini retailers in the United States, servicing Orange County, California.
“We are very excited to join Flying Lizard Motorsports for the 2022 Lamborghini Super Trofeo season,” Pietro Frigerio, principal dealer. “This is a great opportunity for our team to get further involved with Lamborghini Squadra Corse, and stand behind a team which has shown tremendous success throughout their motorsports career. We would like to thank Darren Law and his team for this opportunity, and we look forward to a successful year on the racetrack.”
The No. 11 Giddy Lamborghini Super Trofeo will pair up Brett Jacobson and Joel Miller together in the Pro/Am class, having worked together previously in the Ferrari Challenge North America. With Miller’s support as his driving coach, Jacobson had a strong 2021 season, finishing fifth in the championship with one pole position and four podium finishes. Jacobson will return to the series for the 2022 season, in addition to racing in the Super Trofeo series.
Following a partial season in the Yokohama Drivers Cup USA series where he competed against Flying Lizard Motorsports, Slade Stewart has come under the Lizard umbrella to race the No. 14 Lamborghini Super Trofeo in 2022 in the LB Cup class. He started his racing endeavors in motorcycle road racing, transitioning to sportscars in 2011. In 2013, he joined the IMR Challenge series in both spec and GTD classes for a three-year stint, at the same time competing in a variety of prophy truck and 24 Hours of LeMons races. Though he ran a partial Yokohama Drivers Cup USA season in 2021, Stewart finished sixth in the championship, earning one podium and an additional six top-five finishes.
After a 30-year hiatus from racing, Tom Tait Jr is fully enjoying his return to motor racing. In the 1980s, he raced in the Jim Russell British School of Motor Racing Championship Series, tying with Johnny O’Connell for the championship title. After working his way up the motorsports ladder, Tait retired from racing to graduate college and establish a career as a real estate developer. He returned to racing in 2018, completing two seasons in the Pirelli GT3 Cup Trophy USA. After finishing third in the championship in 2018, he came back for the 2019 season, finishing second in class. The 2022 season will see Tait race the No. 64 Emerald Center Lamborghini Super Trofeo in the AM class.
The six-race championship will consist of five races across North America, concluding with the season finale, the Lamborghini Super Trofeo World Finals in Portimao, Portugal. The 2022 season will begin April 29, in support of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, then the series will journey to the new Ozarks International Raceway to run in support of SRO America’s GT World Challenge America. Watkins Glen, Road America, and VIRginia International Raceway will complete the U.S. rounds of the season before the team concludes the year in Portugal. For series and schedule information, visit imsa.com.
DRIVER QUOTES
Brett Jacobson
No. 11 Giddy Lamborghini Super Trofeo
I am looking forward to running with Flying Lizards and the Super Trofeo series for 2022 in conjunction with my other racing activities. My goal is to continue learning and be as competitive as possible with the goal to win. The team along with working with Joel again gives the Giddy car the best chance to be running at the front!
Joel Miller
No. 11 Giddy Lamborghini Super Trofeo
I’ve really enjoyed working with Brett for his first season racing last year and to kick off 2022 with a win while in Dubai, gives us huge momentum moving forward. Super Trofeo is a challenging series to add to what we already have planned for the year and super excited to continue working with him as he learns the various disciplines of the sport. I have huge respect and confidence for Darren Law and the Flying Lizard team to lead the program since their history speaks for itself!
Slade Stewart
No. 14 Lamborghini Super Trofeo
I am excited to be joining Flying Lizard for the 2022 season of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo race series. Flying Lizard Motorsports is the preeminent team to run with and I am thoroughly looking forward to a competitive season with them.
Tom Tait – No. 64 Emerald Center Lamborghini Super Trofeo
Flying Lizard Motorsports is a legendary racing team that competes at the highest level to win in every racing series they enter. When Darren Law called to ask if I would be interested in racing for him in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo series for the 2022 season, to say that I was excited is an understatement. Many thanks to Chris Ward, Senior Manager of Motorsports for Automobili Lamborghini America for providing me with the opportunity to visit about the fantastic Lamborghini Super Trofeo series that he and Lamborghini Squadra Corse make happen. The 2022 Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America Championship will be hyper-competitive, and I am confident that Flying Lizard will be able to put us on the podium. I would like to thank Lamborghini of Newport Beach and Emerald Center for being our primary sponsors on the No. 64 car.
About Flying Lizard Motorsports
Based out of Sonoma, California, Flying Lizard Motorsports is one of the most iconic sports car teams in motorsports, having celebrated ten driver and team championships, as well as competed internationally at the 24 Hours of Le Mans eight times.
The Lizards burst on the American Le Mans Series scene in 2004, competing in the GT class until 2012. In 2013, the team moved to the GTC class, still competing in legendary events such as the 12 Hours of Sebring and 24 Hours of Daytona. In 2014, the team expanded its program to include running two Audi R8 LMS in the TUDOR Championship, and in 2015, again expanded the program to include two Porsches in Porsche Club racing. Flying Lizard closed out the season with a dominating win at the 25 Hours of Thunderhill with Toyo Tires, a win they repeated in 2016, 2017, and 2018. The 2020 season proved the team’s most successful to date, earning four titles in the GT4 America championship. Flying Lizard Motorsports has proven to be a championship contender no matter the race series or race car. For more information, visit lizardms.com.
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Lamborghini Newport Beach is the authorized sales & service franchise for Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. serving Orange County, California.
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