Emil Frey Racing will enter ADAC GT Masters for the first time in the team’s history in 2022, fielding a trio of Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVOs, again with factory support from the Sant’Agata Bolognese firm.
As well as their maiden campaign in the German championship, the team will also return in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe this year, again with three cars, focusing their efforts on the Endurance Cup and the TotalEnergies 24 Hours of Spa in the wake of a Silver Cup title sweep in 2021, winning the drivers’ and team’s championships in the overall, Sprint Cup and Endurance Cup.
And Emil Frey Racing will also secure their status as a Lamborghini-supported team by adopting the regular lead Lamborghini numbers – The #19 and #63 will be used this year, giving a nod to the founding of Lamborghini in 1963, while the #14 – the lucky number of Emil Frey Racing team principal Lorenz Frey-Hilti – remains in the third car.
The team’s entry into ADAC GT Masters presents an exciting and challenging new dynamic for the drivers and engineers alike, as, unlike in GT World Challenge Europe, tyres in GT Masters are not allowed to be pre-heated, meaning a lot more emphasis on finding the optimum set-up and the right balance from the drivers is crucial to a good result.
Mirko Bortolotti and Albert Costa from the Lamborghini Squadra Corse factory driver roster will join forces in the #63 car alongside the team’s 2021 driver Jack Aitken in GT World Challenge. Aitken and Costa will team up in the same car for GT Masters.
Recently announced Lamborghini GT3 Junior driver Arthur Rougier will continue with Emil Frey Racing for a second season and will be partnered by factory drivers Franck Perera (GT Masters) and Giacomo Altoè (GT World Challenge). Rougier will once more be competing in the GT World Challenge Europe Esports championship, which he won last season.
Up-and-coming Finnish prospect Konsta Lappalainen will drive the #14 car following a breakthrough season in 2021, contesting both championships as he continues to add to his GT racing resumé. The 20-year-old achieved a best finish of fourth overall – and third in the Pro class – alongside Aitken in GT World Challenge Europe last year.
There are four drivers new to Lamborghinis fold this season, with Austrian Mick Wishofer joining Lappalainen in ADAC GT Masters while Frenchman Leo Roussel teams up with Rougier and Altoè in GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup.
Former single seater driver Wishofer has experience in GT Masters, taking a victory in 2020 and earning a further two podiums in the category. Crowned European Le Mans Series champion in the LMP2 class in 2019, Roussel moves across from Audi after twice finishing on the podium last year.
Also making his Lamborghini bow in GT World Challenge this year will be South African Stuart White, who spent the last year racing with CMR in a Bentley. The final driver in the Emil Frey Racing line-up will be finalised in due course.
ADAC GT Masters
#63: Albert Costa* / Jack Aitken
#19: Arthur Rougier / Franck Perera*
#14: Konsta Lappalainen / Mick Wishofer
GTWCHEU Endurance
#63: Albert Costa* / Jack Aitken / Mirko Bortolotti*
#19: Arthur Rougier / Giacomo Altoè* / Léo Roussel
#14: Konsta Lappalainen / Stuart White / tba
* = denotes Lamborghini Factory Driver status
Lorenz Frey-Hilti, Team Principal:
“With third place overall, the past season was successful for us, although we were not able to deliver our performance everywhere as planned. During the winter break, we analysed the numerous data and experiences we gathered. With the measures we have taken, we hope to finish the 2022 season even better.
“Competing in two different racing series at the same time is an additional challenge for us as a team. We thank Lamborghini and our partners for the trust they have placed in us and start the new season highly motivated.
“This year’s driver squad is made up of long-time Emil Frey Racing drivers, Lamborghini factory drivers and newcomers. I am pleased that we can once again count on a strong driver line-up for all three cars. I am convinced that we have a strong team and that we have set the course for a successful season.”
Giorgio Sanna, Head of Motorsport Lamborghini:
“We are really excited and motivated to support Emil Frey Racing for the upcoming season. Emil Frey Racing is an experienced and successful team and I’m confident that, thanks to the support of the Lamborghini Factory Drivers and the GT3 Junior Drivers, they will be able to fight for the top positions both in GT World Challenge Europe and ADAC GT Masters.”
Jürg Flach, Technical Director:
“The upcoming season will be a big challenge for us with our entry into the ADAC GT Masters. In addition, we will be racing in both series with the traditional number 14, 19 and 63 (1963, the year Lamborghini was founded). We will tackle these tasks with the utmost respect and try to achieve our high targets. I am looking forward to tackling the challenge together with the team and Lamborghini.”
Léo Roussel:
“I’m looking forward for my first season with Emil Frey Racing. My goal is to finish the season on the top and I would like to do a good result for my first time in the 24h of Spa!”
Mick Wishofer:
“I’m really happy and proud to be joining Emil Frey Racing. I have followed them since I stepped out of single seater racing and my goal is to finish as high as I can in the championship this year. With Konsta and I, I believe we have a good line-up in the “Junior car”, so I am really looking forward to the season ahead of me.”
Mirko Bortolotti:
“I am excited to join Emil Frey Racing for the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup. I can’t wait to start working with the Team and really looking forward to sharing the car with Albert and Jack.”
Stuart White:
“I’m extremely honoured and grateful to be joining Emil Frey Racing for the 2022 season in the GT World Challenge Europe. I hope to be sharing a lot of success with them during the season.”
