Stavelot, Belgium – June 20, 2022
K-PAX Racing and Orange1 proudly announced Monday a partnership that sees both parties team up for the 74th running of the TotalEnergies 24 Hours of Spa. The “Biggest GT Race in the World” is set to be held July 28-31 at the legendary Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.
“We are delighted to have Orange1 on-board, helping us as we look to build from our 2020 debut at the TotalEnergies 24 Hours of Spa,” K-PAX Racing Team Owner Jim Haughey said. “Orange1 is an innovative company founded on precision and performance. With that said, our vision and goal to create positive results align. K-PAX Racing is ready to return to Spa, mixing our prior experience with renewed determination.”
While team members and drivers have continuously been represented in the event, K-PAX Racing will officially make its second appearance in the last three seasons. K-PAX Racing was able to secure a top-10 placing in its 2020 debut, and for the upcoming event, the program will work alongside Lamborghini Squadra Corse with its single Huracán GT3 EVO entry. Drivers Andrea Caldarelli, Jordan Pepper and Marco Mapelli have been called into action for the race.
Orange1 is an international renown group and one of the most important European manufacturers of single-phase and three-phase asynchronous electric motors, foundry and turning parts. Present in over 70 countries, annually produces over 1 million single-phase and three-phase asynchronous electric motors, 5 million windings for asynchronous electric motors, 60,000 drives for electric motors, 25,000 tons of die-cast aluminum and 12 million high precision turning parts for the automotive sector.
“We’re thrilled to have a partnership between Orange1 Electric Motors and K-Pax, supported by Lamborghini SC,” said Orange1 President Armando Donazzan. “Everything starts from Spa for an important internationalization of the brand in the US market. This is strategic for the future plans of Orange1.”
Orange1 has already made a strong presence in motorsports, partnering with GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS participant and Lamborghini Squadra Corse supported FFF Racing since 2016. Caldarelli also shares a seat simultaneously on the program.
About K-PAX Racing
Based in Sonoma, Calif., K-PAX Racing has celebrated a total 174 podiums, 71 wins, five Driver Championships, and four Team and Manufacturer Championships, solidifying the team as a continuous championship contender. In the GT Class, K-PAX Racing has fielded Porsche 911 GT3s during the 2007 – 2008 seasons, Volvo S60s during the 2009 – 2013 seasons, McLaren 12C GT3s in 2014 and McLaren 650S GT3s from 2015 – 2017. The team made a switch to Bentley for 2018, fielding the first-generation Continental GT3 in its first season and the second-generation model in 2019 and 2020. K-PAX Racing debuted the 2021 season in the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO.
About Orange1
Already a leader in the production of electric motors, the company’s historic and well-established core business, since 2017 it has also been growing into aluminum die-casting with the new foundry division. In 2018 Orange1 Precision was born to develop high precision mechanics and small parts market. Thanks to this great ability for constant growth and proven solidity, together with the foresight vision of the President Armando Donazzan, Orange1 pursues the goal of becoming a 360-degree partner and supplier of motors and components, a unique interlocutor for diversified products and markets. Leading expertise, a global product portfolio, research, innovation and the ability to think in terms of an integrated system, are empowering the perception of the brand, which is today increasingly competitive. To complete the solid and dynamic reality of the Orange1 world, the company also holds commitment competition with Orange1 Basket and Orange1 Racing.
About Lamborghini Squadra Corse
Squadra Corse is the motorsport department of Automobili Lamborghini. Born in 2013 within the Research & Development department, Squadra Corse provides an integrated approach to driving experiences of the brand; from driving course programs with road vehicles to motorsport competitions, through the Lamborghini Super Trofeo or championships of the GT class.
Esperienza is the first step for those who are interested in the world of Lamborghini: Its aim is to share the thrill and emotions of the super sports cars from Sant’Agata Bolognese with fans and potential customers alike, by advanced driving course programs. Esperienza Dinamica is divided into five programs in order to face every type of surface: Corsa, Neve, Sabbia, Strada, Terra. Esperienza Accademia is the program dedicated to advanced drivers, offering driving course programs not only on the racetrack but also on ice in order to improve the driving skills of the pilots.
The Lamborghini Super Trofeo is an international motor racing series with drivers competing in identical Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVOs, the racing version of the production model, that features the same 5.2 l naturally aspirated V10 engine. Inaugurated in 2009, Super Trofeo hosts regional championships in Europe, Asia and North America and is divided in four categories: Pro, Pro-Am, Am and Lamborghini Cup bringing together passionate gentleman drivers and young professional pilots. At the end of each season, the teams and drivers of all regions compete against each other in the World Finals, the highlight of the season.
The most challenging tests are those which see Lamborghini’s Customer Racing Teams competing in the principal international GT championships driving the Huracán GT3. The GT3 differs from the Huracán Super Trofeo EVO through its more sophisticated aerodynamics, kinematic suspension control and other technical specifications respecting official FIA regulations. In 2017 the Huracán GT3 won the Blancpain GT Series; in 2018 and 2019 the Huracán GT3 completed a double victory at the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring in GTD Class. Lamborghini is the only company in the world to win both of the prestigious races, that are also known as 36 Hours of Florida, in two consecutive years. Another premiere in 2019: The GT3 won the Triple Crown of the Blancpain GT Series with the titles in the categories Overall, Endurance and Sprint. In 2020 Lamborghini celebrated third victory at the 24 Hours of Daytona with sensational one-two finish.
Both the Huracán Super Trofeo and the Huracán GT3 are constructed and built at the plant in Sant’Agata Bolognese on the same production line as the road vehicles. Specialized technicians of the Lamborghini Squadra Corse are present at every station along the line.
Moreover, Lamborghini Squadra Corse is trying to develop new talents in motor sports, for example through the Young Drivers Program (open for drivers under 26 that will compete in the Super Trofeo championship) and the GT3 Junior Program (for future GT drivers). Both the programs aim to offer young drivers the possibility to improve their driving skills helping them to take a career as professional pilots.
In 2018 Squadra Corse inaugurated its first One-Off, the SC18 Alston, followed by open-top SC20 in 2020. In the same year Squadra Corse unveiled Essenza SCV12 the track-only hypercar in a limited edition of 40 units, fitted with the most powerful V12 naturally aspirated engine ever developed by Lamborghini: over 830 hp.