Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo

Victor Gonzalez, #99, change racing, Lamborghini Carolinas.

Welcome diversions come in many forms—yachting or golf may be among the first to come to mind—but none come close to the exhilaration experienced when racing on legendary tracks in some of the finest performance vehicles in the world. The tradition of gentlemen (and women) racing stems not from a quest for fame or fortune, but rather from the desire to push both man and machine to the limits of their capabilities for sheer sport, bragging rights, and a well-deserved drink.

The Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo series was held at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario.

The Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo series is a high-stakes playground. Here, professional and amateur racers come together to put everything on the line in the relentless pursuit of victory. Three different divisions operate worldwide: one each in Europe, Asia, and North America, the latter having been newly established last year. The most successful drivers in each are invited to compete in the world final at the end of the season, which will be held at Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia, November 22 to 23, 2014.

The series held its fourth meet of the year at the only Canadian stop on its circuit, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario this past weekend. Exquisite all-wheel drive Lamborghini Gallardos fitted with V10 engines and capable of 570 horsepower reached speeds approaching 290 km/h on the circuit’s longest straightaway. Fourteen drivers, evenly split between seasoned motorsport veterans and amateur racers, competed on 12 teams directly supported by Lamborghini dealers from across the continent. Conditions throughout the weekend were not always ideal, particularly on Sunday when a torrential downpour and threat of fog turned the already challenging track at CTMP into sheer treachery.

Race one of the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo series at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario.

By the time the final checkered flag fell on Sunday to end the second race of the weekend, pro racer Victor Gonzalez, Jr.—who entered the series for only the second time—had crossed the line nearly three seconds ahead of Canadian runner-up Aaron Povoledo. In race one a day earlier, amateur racer Dillon Machavern claimed top honours.

The champion of last year’s inaugural season of Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo, Kevin Conway—a professional racer and the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rookie of the year—understands very well the allure of the Lamborghini brand, a pull that keeps racing enthusiasts coming back to the track.

“The Lamborghini Super Trofeo car is unlike anything else I’ve ever raced,” Conway says. “It’s not only one of the coolest-looking cars I’ve had a chance to drive but probably one of the best handling cars I’ve driven. The all-wheel drive makes a big difference. The cars have a lot of downforce and tremendous braking power.”

Cars race around the track at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park during the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo series.

Through Lamborghini’s partnerships with luxury timepiece maker Blancpain, which created a special watch for the series, and tire manufacturer Pirelli, the series is positioned to bring new competitors racing for leisure up to speed quickly.

“The program is turnkey,” explains Jason Chinnock, marketing general manager for Automobili Lamborghini America. “The cars are built from the factory ready to go. We provide the full uniform so that we have a consistent, professional look, down to the race suits. The only thing [prospective racers] need to show up with is their helmet. We also have coaches available in the series that are accessible to the drivers, so if they want to improve and refine their skills, they can approach us and we’ll work directly with them one on one.”

Aaron Povoledo, Corey Lewis, Musante Motorsport, Lamborghini of Boston.

Alessandro Farmeschi, chief operating officer of Automobili Lamborghini America, says that the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo is just the right platform for enthusiasts to come together and share their appreciation for some of the most capable racing machinery in the world.

“If you want to join us and to race, Super Trofeo is your home,” he says. “You can live Lamborghini here, and you can do something exceptional.”