New Zealand Duo to Contest Lamborghini Series

May 2, 2023

New Zealand GT Champion Marco Giltrap and Chris van der Drift will line up at Malaysia's Sepang circuit later this week as the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia series begins for 2023.

Driving a Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVO2, Giltrap, and van der Drift will contest all six rounds, including Australia, Japan, Korea, China and a world series final at Italy's Vallelunga.

The fastest one-make championship in the world, Super Trofeo, is returning to the Asia-Pacific region after a three-year break due to the pandemic. The ninth Asian championship will feature a new version of the Huracán race car, along with its first all-kiwi team.

Giltrap showed maturity beyond his 19 years to win the 2022-23 NZ GT championship last month. His success has continued across the Tasman, where he currently leads the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia Series after winning the opening round at Phillip Island.

For all his reputation as a fast learner, the teen relishes the incredible experience and success his 37-year-old team-mate has had worldwide, especially in Asia. "Chris is super quick, and as defending Super Trofeo Asia champion, his knowledge of the series, tracks and Lamborghini Huracán is unrivalled."

Along with his Super Trofeo Asia title, van der Drift has achieved wide-ranging success since graduating from Karting with three national championships. A front-runner in European Formula Renault, he won the International Formula Master title in 2008 before a switch to GT racing saw him claim three Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Championships.

Having watched Giltrap's rapid rise from Toyota 86 rookie to New Zealand GT Champions in the space of three seasons, van der Drift does not doubt that Giltrap will adapt quickly to the Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVO2, "I'm genuinely impressed at how versatile Marco has been, claiming podiums in the 86, Cayman and 911 GT3; often against some seriously experienced competition."

Sponsored by Giltrap Group, SIXT, Smeg, UDC, Huffer, and Inmotion, the Lamborghini Auckland entry carries some added motivation for van der Drift, "I loved racing with the Silver Fern on my car as an A1GP rookie, so to see that fern on the #84 Huracán is nothing short of awesome. I cannot wait to show the rest of the field how fast two Kiwi lads can fly."

Absolute Racing, a Southeast-Asian powerhouse with experience in Porsche Carrera Cup Asia and Audi R8 LMS Cup, will run the New Zealand car.

Team Director Ingo Matter says, "We are thrilled to be joining the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia and to have the opportunity to race with the fastest single-make GT. After years of consideration, the time has come for us to join Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia."