Lamborghini factory driver Sandy Mitchell will return to the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe this season when he makes his debut for the California-based K-PAX Racing team.
Mitchell, the 22-year-old from Forfar and who won the 2020 British GT Championship behind the wheel of a Lamborghini, will tackle the five-round European endurance series in tandem with his bid to win a second British GT title. This will be Sandy’s first campaign in a Pro class car.
“The official GT World Challenge test days at the Paul Ricard Circuit in May will be my first time with the team and I'm really looking forward to it,” the Scot, who will partner fellow Lamborghini Squadra Corse factory drivers, Italian Marco Mapelli and Frenchman Franck Perera in the No 6 Huracan GT3 EVO2, explained.
“I’ve raced in almost all the classes in GTWCE,” he continued, “so it's great to have a chance in a Pro car which is a huge thing for my career and an opportunity that I've been working hard to get.
“I know Marco and Franck and get on well with them, so I think we’ll work well together. All three of us are good team players, so that can be a strength of ours to try and get the best out of the Lamborghini.”
Based in Sonoma, California, K-PAX Racing has already proved its ability to win, clinching three titles in the Fanatec GT World Challenge America last season, locking up back-to-back Drivers’, Teams’, and Manufacturers’ championship honours in dominant fashion, which included a remarkable 10-month, 10-round unbeaten streak, the longest in its history.
The European season starts on April 22-23 with a three-hour race at Monza, before heading back to Paul Ricard on June 3-4 for a six-hour race. That’s followed by the iconic Spa 24-Hours in Belgium on July 1-2, before the season finishes with two three-hour races at the Nurburgring (July 30) and finally Barcelona (Oct 1).
“The highlight of the year is going to be the Spa 24 Hours, which is a race I've won in two classes already with Pro-Am and Silver,” Mitchell, a member of the British Racing Drivers’ Club, highlighted, “so it will be pretty cool do that in Pro.
“K-PAX Racing always has really good speed and put on a really good showing last year in the Spa 24 Hours, so I've got no doubts the car is going to be quick and we'll have a good team around us.”
And Mitchell’s entrance to the team was welcomed by Darren Law, K-PAX team principal.
“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,” Law stated. “We are looking forward to the challenge and can't wait to get the season started.”
