Accomplished Italian racing team Villorba Corse will delve into sports prototype racing for the first time after confirming the purchase of a Ginetta-Nissan LMP3 prototype.
The Italian team competed in the Blancpain Endurance Series and International GT Open last year, winning the former’s Pro-Am class. This year, Villorba Corse will be competing in the European Le Mans Series, which is the first step of its new ‘Road to Le Mans’ programme.
The two confirmed drivers are Roberto Lacorte and Giorgio Sernagiotto, who are both aiming to progress to the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Villorba Corse in the future. Lacorte, who is CEO of the multinational Pharmanutra Group, is directing the project. Cetilar, one of Pharmanutra’s brands, will step forward as the official partner of the team. As a result, the team will be rebranded as Cetilar Villorba Corse.
“Thanks to this significant step, the Le Mans 24 Hours is closer than ever before,” said Lacorte. “It is a honour to be on this road with Cetilar Villorba Corse. The European Le Mans Series will be a hard training season that will strongly involve team and drivers towards the only goal of doing a good job. I thank my teammate and our team principal Raimondo Amadio who has welcomed this challenge with so much passion since the start.”
2009 Ferrari Challenge/Trofeo Pirelli Champion Sernagiotto explained; “I am aware that it [ELMS] will not be an easy job because of the high level of competition and the short time for the delivery of the car, but I’m over the moon about this development of my career. I always dreamed about Sport Prototype cars and thanks to Cetilar Villorba Corse and my teammate this dream is about to come true! However, we have to work hard, then, if we deserve them, results will come.”
Team Principal Raimondo Amadio said; “This prototype programme brings great motivation inside our whole structure. To take part in the ‘Road to Le Mans’ project alongside such determined people and companies represents an additional incentive to do well.”
“The ACO have hit the mark with LMP3,” added Lawrence Tomlinson, Chairman of Ginetta Cars. “The category is developing very quickly, and it’s great to see the Ginetta-Nissan at the forefront of this. The class is attracting high profile teams and it is a privilege to be able to welcome Villorba Corse, one of GT racing’s most successful teams, into the Ginetta fold.”
