Leitch ready to make the most of Junior GT3 opportunity
Brendon Leitch has been announced as one of fifteen drivers in Lamborghini's junior GT3 team. The young Kiwi says he's ready to go.
Jun 17, 2021
New Zealand's Brendon Leitch says being part of the Lamborghini GT3 Junior programme takes him to the next level as a racing driver and makes him even more determined to prove he's one of the best rising stars of GT3 in the racing world today.
Leitch - who is from Invercargill in New Zealand's South Island - was today announced as one of the Lamborghini team's 15 junior GT3 drivers. The 15 young guns will race for the factory in championships like the International GT Open, the ADAC GT Masters, the GT World Challenge Europe and in the 25 year old Kiwi's case, the 24 Hour Series.
Brendon Leitch has just secured a drive with the Lamborghini GT3 Juniors. During our chat with him prior to his departure to Europe earlier this year, we discussed this very topic:
"I’m very excited to be confirmed on the GT3 Junior Programme," he said. "It's a massive moment in my career and for all of those who have supported me. It's going to be hugely beneficial for me to take the next step especially as I will hopefully continue working my way through the Lamborghini categories.
“Having full factory support as a driver is something I am still getting used to but as I learn more about how it works I am sure it will help me improve even further. It's certainly exciting times for me and I fully intend to make the most of the opportunity."
Brendon - who will be backed again by Auckland Lamborghini and Dayle ITM in his factory role - started with the Lamborghini Young Driver programme in 2019 in the Super Trofeo Asia series. He will be part of the factory line up at the forthcoming Portimao 24 Hour race in July with a third event – likely one of the 12 hour races in the Creventic run series – still to be confirmed. He has already raced the GT3 car in the 24 Hour series, starring at the recent round at Hockenheim and scoring an impressive podium on debut.
The 24 Hour Series pitches GT3 machinery against special GT and silhouette cars (in a class known as GTX), Porsche 991 Cup cars and GT4 cars in 12 and 24 hour events around Europe. The races also include classes for TCR and other eligible touring cars.
The New Zealander and other GT3 Juniors will be monitored throughout the season and assessed at the end of the year with the potential to move up to the full Lamborghini Factory Driver Programme, following the same path of Giacomo Altoè and Sandy Mitchell who both completed the journey from Young Driver to Factory Driver. They have enjoyed successful campaigns in the Super Trofeo and winning championships like International GT Open and the British GT Championship.
International GT Open drivers Yuki Nemoto Michele Beretta and Baptiste Moulin are also part of the GT3 Junior Driver program this season, alongside Super Trofeo graduates Kikko Galbiati, Andrea Amici and Taylor Proto. Lamborghini newcomers Luca Ghiotto and Arthur Rougier join up-and-coming GT3 drivers Stuart Middleton, Frederik Schandorff and Jonathan Cecotto.
Also making the list is another 24H Series driver Tyler Cooke, while ADAC GT Masters team-mates Tim Zimmermann and Steijn Schothorst return for another year in the program.