- Joining the GT World Challenge with two Lamborghini Huracàn GT3 EVO
- Emil Frey Racing enters both cars in the PRO-Category
- New race drivers: Franck Perera (France) and Ricardo Feller (Switzerland) will be supporting the regular race drivers
- Thorough preparations taking place during off-season
At the end of the past season, Emil Frey Racing had celebrated 8 victories – three of which were double wins – from a total of 14 races. Owing to this achievement, the Teams’- as well as the Drivers’ Championship of the International GT Open Series was won. Shortly thereafter, the team began to prepare for the new Lamborghini Huracàn GT3 EVO and worked on continuously developing the car further. Emil Frey Racing as well as Lamborghini Squadra Corse are very happy with the partnership. As such, the decision was made to take on a new challenge as partners.
After a solid performance in the International GT Open Championship, a comeback into the GT World Challenge Europe (formerly known as Blancpain GT Series) is in order.
The GT World Challenge Europe is the most competitive GT3-Series worldwide. The amount and density of professional teams, engineers and race drivers is incredibly high. Emil Frey Racing is taking on this challenge with both Lamborghinis in the highly competitive PRO-category.
Mid-November, the race drivers and the team could get a first run with the new Pirelli tires on the Lamborghini Huracàn GT3 EVO, during a test drive in Paul Ricard. Data collected during the test drive are now thoroughly analyzed to maximise the cars’ performances. At the beginning of the year, more test drives will take place to fully prepare for the start of the 2020 season in mid-April, in Monza.
GT World Challenge Europe
The GT World Challenge Europe comprises of 10 rounds – five of which are Enduranceraces. The other five are Sprintraces. The season kicks off on the 12th and 13th of March with official test drives in Le Castellet. The first racing weekend takes place from the 17th until the 19th of April in Monza (IT).
Racing Calendar 2020
| Monza | 17 – 19 April | Endurance |
| Brands Hatch | 2-3 May | Sprint |
| Silverstone | 9 – 10 May | Endurance |
| Circuit Paul Ricard | 29 – 30 May | Endurance |
| Zandvoort | 26 – 28 June | Sprint |
| Misano | 3 – 5 July | Sprint |
| 24 Hours of Spa | 23 – 26 July | Endurance |
| Nürburgring | 4 – 6 September | Endurance |
| Budapest | 25 – 27 September | Sprint |
| Barcelona | 9 – 11 October | Sprint |
Franck Perera and Ricardo Feller back up regular race drivers
The four race drivers (Albert Costa/Spain, Giacomo Altoè/Italy, Norbert Siedler/Austria and Mikaël Grenier/Canada) delivered solid performances on- and off-track and secured positions in Emil Frey Racing cockpits for the coming season. As the Endurance races require three drivers per car, Emil Frey Racing is happy to add two new race drivers to the team. With 35-year-old Franck Perera from France, the team is proud to have a seasoned driver on board. Perera has been a hub driver for Lamborghini since 2018 and has been able to celebrate considerable success. Additionally, Emil Frey is thrilled to welcome Swiss racer Ricardo Feller (19) to the team. Feller lives in Oberentfelden; a mere 10 minutes away from the Emil Frey Racing Workshop in Safenwil. Emil Frey Racing is confident to have found 6 very strong pilots.
Driver #163
- Albert Costa Balboa (Endurance & Sprint)
- Giacomo Altoè (Endurance & Sprint)
- Franck Perera (Endurance)
Driver #14
- Norbert Siedler (Endurance & Sprint)
- Mikael Grenier (Endurance & Sprint)
- Ricardo Feller (Endurance)
Quote Lorenz Frey-Hilti (Team Principal)
After a successful season with Lamborghini Squadra Corse and the corresponding wins of the Teams’- and Drivers’ Championships in the International GT Open, it is now time for a move up and a comeback into the GT World Challenge Europe. I am looking forward to continuing our success of 2018 at the GT World Challenge Europe in 2020. I am very pleased with Lamborghini’s professionalism and the constructive exchange between engineers and drivers. The GT World Challenge is the premium class of the GT3-Sport. The level is intensely high. The drivers and their teams are very accomplished and experienced, but I am confident that, with hard work, we will learn fast and make the best out of what we have. Our goal for the first season is to be the best Lamborghini team and to consistently be in the Top Ten.
Quote Giorgio Sanna (Head of Motorsport Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.)
After the first winning season in the International GT Open Series 2019 with Emil Frey Racing we are glad to support the team in a new challenge as the GT World Challenge Europe, with two cars in the PRO class driven by experts and young talented drivers and supported by an extraordinary team. We look forward for a successful 2020 season.
Quote Jürg Flach (Technical Director)
The move up into the GT World Challenge means a return to Pirelli tires, after having used Michelin during the last season. We’ve already completed a first round of test drives in Paul Ricard in mid-November, which was very valuable for us to prepare for the new season. Over the course of the winter, we will analyse the data we collected to improve our cars’ performances. Together with our race engineers, our drivers will routinely be using our simulators to train for the upcoming races.
Quote Driver #163
Albert Costa Balboa (ESP)
2019 was an amazing year, starting with new team mate and new car as is Lamborghini, taking the first win in the first attempt and then fighting until the last race to get the title! For next year we will be back to the best and hardest GT Championship of the world, the GT World endurance and sprint races. I’m really looking forward to start this season with my new team mate Franck Perera and my now old friend Giacomo! Now it’s time to prepare my body and my mind to be stronger than ever and be ready for it!
Giacomo Altoè (IT)
I’m really pleased to continue my partnership with Emil Frey Racing for the 2nd year in a row, after the successful season in GT Open this year. It’s a dream come true to be competing in the most competitive GT3 championship in the world together with my second family and Lamborghini. I’m also really happy about the #163 drivers lineup. It will be a pleasure to share the car again with my mate Albert, he is like a brother to me now! I’m really happy to have Franck onboard for the endurance races and I’m sure we will work all together for the same goal. I’m already looking forward to the new season and I can’t wait to start the new season with the winter test!
Franck Perera (FR)
I’m really happy to join Emil Frey Racing as Lamborghini Squadra Corse driver to race in GT World Challenge Europe in Endurance Cup. The team has a high-level performance for many years on track, but also have a unique and professional off-track approach. I’m very excited to share #163 together with fast and great driver as Albert Costa and Giacomo Altoè, fresh winners of GT Open. I’m looking forward to start working together, let’s push for it!
Quote Driver #14
Norbert Siedler (AT)
I’m already looking forward to the next season after a great and successful run in the GT Open Series, where we, as a team, were able to fully maximize our potential. The test drives begin in February. We are working very hard to find the perfect balance for the first race. I am very positive, as the whole team is incredibly professional and everyone is sharing and working toward the same goal. I’m excited for a great season – together with Mikaël, and of course, our newest addition, Ricardo.
Mikaël Grenier (CAN)
I am very much looking forward to take on my third consecutive season, together with Emil Frey Racing. We finished the season successfully. However, since our last race, our focus has already been on the season of 2020, well aware of the fact that the GT World Challenge is the most demanding GT3-Championship – it’s our greatest challenge yet. Nonetheless, we will give our very best during the whole season and put our learnings from the past season to good use. I’m also excited to once again drive Sprint- and Enduranceraces with Norbert, to continue where we left off in 2019.
Ricardo Feller (CH)
I’m superhappy to be a part of Emil Frey Racing. For me it is a great honor to fight for the Swiss team in the long distance races of the GT World Challenge Europe. I’m also happy to share the #14 Lamborghini with Norbert Siedler and Mikael Grenier. I think we are a good team. The conditions are more than promising, but I think the central role in 2020 will be the new Pirelli tyre. We will do everything we can to make the best use of the tyre and hope that it fits well with our car.