Lamborghini Celebrates a Motorsports First

A busy weekend of motorsports saw plenty of action including a milestone for one exotic car brand, namely, its first ever North American motorsports victory.

While unconfirmed, the first place finish by the Reiter Engineering Lamborghini Gallardo in the Pirelli World Challenge series is believed to be the first time the brand has ever won a major motorsports event on this side of the Atlantic.

The Number 25 Gallardo FL2 GT3 piloted by former F1 driver Tomas Enge claimed the pole position for the race, but stalled off the line during the dramatic 49 car standing start. Clawing his way back up through the field, Enge put the moves on the Cadillac CTS-V Coupe of Andy Pilgrim to take the lead in the closing stages of the 50 minute sprint race.

Known for fielding Lamborghinis in Europe, this win also marks the first time Reiter Engineering has topped the podium on U.S. soil.

Once a series for low budget teams, the SCCA-sanctioned World Challenge series has transformed for 2014, now accepting European GT3-spec cars into its ranks, including those from other European exotic car makers like McLaren and, of course, Ferrari.

An industry icon for it’s fast and flashy rides, unlike Ferrari, Lamborghini has almost zero racing pedigree. But that is starting to change.

Several years after it launched in Europe, last year Lamborghini brought its Super Trofeo spec series to North America last year and will continue to run the program in 2014. A spec series for “gentlemen racers,” similarly equipped Gallardo race cars compete for a championship, as well as the right to challenge drivers from other regions of the world in the annual Super Trofeo World Finale in Italy.

Enge will look to add to his wins and further grow the Lamborghini name in motorsports during the second race of the World Challenge season on the April 11 weekend at Long Beach, Calif.