Two-time Trico Trans Am Series Champion, Nathan Herne, will make his debut in Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps with 2023 Championship winning team Leipert Motorsport.
The one-off drive comes as a fill-in role in one of the team’s Lamborghini Huracán LP 620-2 vehicles. The GT style cars produce 620 horsepower from a V10 engine, with an impressive lap record time at Spa of a 2:18.893s.
Taking place from May 9-11, the event marks the second round on the calendar for the 2024 Super Trofeo Europe season. It is also an unexpected detour for Herne amidst a planned rebuild of his Dodge Challenger prior to the upcoming fourth round in Trans Am.
“I got the call up on Monday night from Marcel Leipert, and now I’ve got to get the Trans Am car ready in less than a week so we can head over to Europe,” said Herne.
“It’s going to be a big learning experience for me, my first time racing in Europe and the first time I’ve even sat in one of the Super Trofeo cars as well. Fortunately, I know the track like the back of my hand from all the laps of that place in various games growing up. My simulator actually blew up the other day, which is a bit of a shame, but I feel confident about taking on such an iconic place.”
The event is part of the support card for the World Endurance Championship’s TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. The Super Trofeo races, which will consist of two 50-minute sprints, are set to be streamed live on the Lamborghini Squadra Corse YouTube Channel.
Herne will share the car with Tim Stender across the weekend, with each race containing a mandatory driver change.
“Towards the end of last year I started looking at further opportunities around the world, to try and diversify my racing career. After seeing a few of my mates in the IMSA Series heading to Europe for some extra GT racing, Marcel was one of those people I spoke to. I’m really grateful to get the call up from him now and to have the opportunity to drive a GT car around Spa,” said Herne.
“Sharing the car is going to be something different, I’ve only done it once before, but this will be the first go in a proper endurance-style event. The plan is to get in on the Wednesday, do my seat fit and learn how it all works so we can hit the ground running on the weekend.
“I have full confidence in the team, they’re a multiple championship winning operation in the category and they compete all over Europe in various categories.
“It’ll be straight back into the Trans Am afterwards with a test day lined up the following week, so not much opportunity to soak in Europe but hopefully it’s the start of more to come. I can’t wait to head over there,” concluded Herne.
Round two of Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe takes place from May 9-11 at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.