Established U.S. outfit K-PAX Racing will undertake an ambitious new programme in 2020 when it competes for overall honours in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup.
The California-based squad has earned a raft of race wins and championship titles since its inception in 2007 and now has its sights set on a first full-season stint outside the United States.
K-PAX has run Bentley machinery since 2018, taking last year's GT World Challenge America teams' title while also securing runner-up spot in the drivers' standings, and will remain with the British marque for the move to Europe. The effort will see a pair of Continental GT3s competing for overall honours, with both set to feature significant factory talent behind the wheel.
Longstanding K-PAX man Alvaro Parente will share the #9 car with Bentley factory racers Andy Soucek and Jordan Pepper, while the #3 machine will see established K-PAX pilot Rodrigo Baptista partner Bentley Boys Maxime Soulet and Jules Gounon. Between them, this group of drivers has contested well over 100 Endurance Cup rounds and scored multiple race victories. Like Parente and Baptista, both Soucek and Soulet have also driven for the squad in GT World Challenge America.
The team will have a satellite base in Hellenthal, Germany, to provide a central location during the racing season. K-PAX plans to continue with its established crew as support for its entire 2020 campaign and will also remain active in GT World Challenge America.
“K-PAX Racing has been racing in the U.S. for a long time, and we have had many successes here,” commented team owner Jim Haughey. “I have always had an interest in endurance racing and with the current status of GT World Challenge, we have the opportunity to go endurance racing at some of the most iconic tracks in Europe.
"I have always wanted to race at these tracks, with the strength of our team and our relationship with Bentley Motorsport is what is allowing us the opportunity to run two pro cars. The timing was just right to make the move in 2020.”
Programme manager Darren Law added: “We know it is going to be tough, the level of competition and the number of cars is different and will be a new challenge that we are not taking lightly but we are confident that we will be competitive and hope our U.S. fans will follow and support our new endeavour next season.”
The 2020 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup season begins at Monza on 17-19 April. Prior to this, K-PAX Racing will be among the teams on-track for the official test days at Circuit Paul Ricard on 12-13 March.
Photo Credit: Bob Chapman