TR3 Racing

File:Vuhl Lamborghini Evo2 WGI22 (cropped).jpg of Rodrigo Vales and Rogelio Perusquia at Watkins Glen in 2022.]]

TR3 Racing was founded in 2015 as the motorsports arm of TR3 Performance, an aftermarket tuning operation based out of South Florida.{{cite news|url=https://www.tr3performance.com/pages/about-us|title=About Us|website=tr3performance.com|access-date=10 July 2022}}

In 2017, the team began competing in the Pirelli World Challenge, fielding a Ferrari 488 GT3 for Daniel Mancinelli.{{Cite web |last=Laurent Mercier |date=1 March 2017 |title=St Petersburg : 43 concurrents pour ourvir la saison |url=https://www.endurance-info.com/auto/article/93886-st-petersburg-43-concurrents-pour-ourvir-la-saison |access-date=22 December 2021|website=endurance-info.com |language=fr}} Entering the Pro class, Mancinelli was paired with co-drivers Andrea Montermini and Niccolò Schirò for the SprintX events. Claiming three victories and five overall podiums, Mancinelli finished fourth in the overall GT-class championship.{{cite news|url=https://www.ferrari.com/en-EN/competizioni-gt/articles/tr3-racing-a-wonderful-surprise|title=TR3 Racing, A Wonderful Surprise|website=ferrari.com|date=27 December 2017|access-date=11 July 2022}} TR3 returned in 2018, alternating their Sprint and SprintX lineups. Wei Lu and Jeff Segal piloted the team's Ferrari in the longer SprintX events, while Mancinelli continued in his solo-driver duties for the other half of the season.{{Cite web |last=Laurent Mercier |date=3 March 2018 |title=40 autos attendues dans les rues de St Petersburg |url=https://www.endurance-info.com/auto/article/89697-40-autos-attendues-dans-les-rues-de-st-petersburg |access-date=22 December 2021 |website=endurance-info.com |language=fr}} However, Mancinelli would miss the opening round at St. Petersburg, as the team withdrew citing unfavorable BoP.{{Cite web |last=Laurent Mercier |date=10 March 2018 |title=St Pete : TR3 Racing retire sa Ferrari à cause d'une BOP défavorable |url=https://www.endurance-info.com/auto/article/89594-st-pete-tr3-racing-retire-sa-ferrari-cause-dune-bop-defavorable |access-date=22 December 2021 |website=endurance-info.com |language=fr}} TR3 had entered the updated 2018 model, which received a 20 kilogram weight increase over the 2017 edition of the 488 GT3. Although team principal Gregory Romanelli threatened to pull the entry from additional events later in the year,{{cite news|url=https://sportscar365.com/sro/gtwc/world-challenge-america/tr3-parks-ferrari-over-bop-dispute-contemplates-pwc-future/|title=TR3 Parks Ferrari Over BoP Dispute; Reconsiders PWC Future|first=John|last=Dagys|website=sportscar365.com|publisher=John Dagys Media|date=10 March 2018|access-date=11 July 2022}} both TR3 cars completed the entire 2018 season in their respective championships. Mancinelli's one win, at Long Beach,{{cite news|url=https://www.frontstretch.com/2018/04/15/daniel-mancinelli-wins-rough-and-tumble-pwc-grand-prix-of-long-beach/|title=Daniel Mancinelli Wins Rough and Tumble PWC Grand Prix of Long Beach|first=Phil|last=Allaway|website=frontstretch.com|date=15 April 2018|access-date=11 July 2022}} and four podiums were the team's only podium finishes of the season. TR3 also began collaborating with Squadra Corse Garage Italia, as the latter's driver lineup of Caesar Bacarella and Martin Fuentes claimed the GTA class championship in both Sprint and SprintX competition.{{cite news|url=https://sportscar365.com/sro/gtwc/world-challenge-america/pirelli-paddock-pass-gregory-romanelli/|title=Pirelli Paddock Pass: Gregory Romanelli|website=sportscar365.com|publisher=John Dagys Media|date=14 November 2018|access-date=11 July 2022}}

For 2019, the team continued their partnership with Squadra Corse Garage Italia, fielding a pair of entries in the rebranded GT World Challenge America.{{Cite web |last=Laurent Mercier |date=26 February 2019 |title=Collaboration prolongée pour Squadra Corse Garage Italia et TR3 Racing |url=https://www.endurance-info.com/auto/article/85338-collaboration-prolongee-pour-squadra-corse-garage-italia-et-tr3-racing |access-date=22 December 2021 |website=endurance-info.com |language=fr}} The TR3-branded entry secured one class victory in the four races it entered, taking the Pro-Am Cup victory in the first race at Circuit of the Americas. The Squadra Corse-branded entry, piloted by Martin Fuentes, claimed the Am-class title.

In 2023, the team shifted to competing with Mercedes-AMG machinery in the series.{{cite news|url=https://sportscar365.com/sro/sro-america/world-challenge-america/tr3-switches-to-mercedes-amg-adds-gt4-program/|title=TR3 Switches to Mercedes-AMG, Adds GT4 Program|date=27 March 2023|work=sportscar365.com|last=Dagys|first=John|publisher=John Dagys Media|accessdate=27 March 2023}} The program's early stages were primarily led by Mercedes-affiliated driver Daniel Morad, who competed alongside gentleman driver Ziad Ghandour. As the team was switching from the mid-engine Lamborghini Huracán GT3 to the front-engine Mercedes-AMG GT3, Morad described preparations for the opening weekend at Sonoma as a "crash course" for the operation, with few similarities to draw between the two cars.{{cite news|url=https://sportscar365.com/sro/sro-america/world-challenge-america/morad-tr3-in-crash-course-learning-mercedes-amg-gt3-evo/|title=Morad: TR3 in "Crash Course" Learning Mercedes-AMG GT3|date=31 March 2023|work=Sportscar365|last=Dagys|first=John|publisher=John Dagys Media|accessdate=31 March 2023}}

For the 2022 24 Hours of Daytona, TR3 fielded Lamborghini's sole GTD Pro-class entry, receiving full factory support from the Italian marque. The #63 entry was piloted by Mirko Bortolotti, Andrea Caldarelli, Marco Mapelli, and Rolf Ineichen.{{cite news|url=https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/tr3-racing-lamborghini-to-field-gtd-pro-entry-at-daytona/|title=TR3 Racing, Lamborghini to Field GTD Pro Entry at Daytona|website=sportscar365.com|first=Daniel|last=Lloyd|publisher=John Dagys Media|date=20 December 2021|access-date=19 August 2022}}{{cite news|url=https://www.motorsport.com/imsa/news/tr3-to-run-two-lamborghini-huracans-in-the-rolex-24/6939990/|title=TR3 to run two Lamborghini Huracans in Rolex 24|website=motorsport.com|first=David|last=Malsher-Lopez|date=20 December 2021|access-date=19 August 2022}} The entry would take pole through a class victory in the 100-minute qualifying race,{{cite news|title=TR3 Racing Takes Rolex 24 Pole with Lamborghini|website=automobilsport.com|date=24 January 2022}} but would retire from the 24-hour event and finish 12th in GTD Pro. The team would return to the GTD Pro class for the 2022 12 Hours of Sebring,{{cite news|url=https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/lamborghini-set-for-sebring-gtd-pro-entry-with-tr3/|title=Lamborghini Set for Sebring GTD Pro Entry with TR3|website=sportscar365.com|first=Daniel|last=Lloyd|publisher=John Dagys Media|date=1 February 2022|access-date=19 August 2022}} finishing second in class.

The 2024 Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America season marked another competitive year for TR3 Racing, culminating in their championship win in the Pro class. The season consisted of six rounds, beginning on March 13 at Sebring International Raceway and concluding on November 15 with the World Final at Circuito de Jerez - Ángel Nieto.

Throughout the season, TR3 Racing demonstrated strong performance, with Ernie Francis Jr. and Giano Taurino securing multiple wins at Sebring, Watkins Glen, and Circuit of the Americas, ultimately leading them to the Pro class championship.

The 2024 season reinforced TR3 Racing’s reputation in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America series, highlighting their commitment to excellence and competitive success.

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Category:American auto racing teams

Category:WeatherTech SportsCar Championship teams

Category:Auto racing teams established in 2015