SP Motorsports Overcomes Chaos at Watkins Glen

Watkins Glen International has long been regarded as one of the most demanding circuits in North American motorsport, and Round 3 of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Championship proved exactly why. With flat out speeds close to 170 mph as you approach the Bus Stop, the sweeping commitment through the Esses, the fast right hander at Turn 8, and the technical Carousel demanding absolute precision, every lap required total confidence from both driver and machine. Following three productive days of testing the week prior, the SP Motorsports drivers continued building familiarity with the historic circuit, but the team entered race weekend still chasing the ideal setup. Constantly changing weather conditions provided valuable seat time for the drivers, yet limited engineering opportunities to refine the cars before qualifying. Overnight rain dramatically altered track conditions heading into qualifying, making track position more critical than ever at a circuit where overtaking opportunities are scarce. Jaden Conwright opened qualifying for the No. 27 Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVO2, extracting everything from the Hankook tires to secure P8 in the Pro class. Daniel Morillo followed with an impressive P7 in AM for the No. 74. In the second qualifying session, Joaquin Morillo had a promising lap deleted for exceeding track limits, leaving the No. 27 P11 in class, while heavy traffic prevented Paul Whiting from improving beyond P8 in AM. It was a difficult qualifying session, but the team knew the races would provide opportunities to fight forward.

Race 1 took place under significantly warmer conditions, prompting the engineering team to make final setup adjustments before the green flag. Jaden Conwright started the No. 27 with one objective, move forward and hand Joaquin Morillo the strongest possible car for the second stint. He did exactly that, climbing to P7 before a Full Course Yellow changed the complexion of the race. On the restart, lap traffic trapped behind the safety car compressed the field heading through the Esses. Running four wide at nearly 150 mph, Jaden was forced off the racing surface on the climb toward the Bus Stop, making an impressive save and avoiding what could have been a major accident. Despite sustaining only minor cosmetic damage, the excursion cost valuable positions before the mandatory driver change. The No. 74 enjoyed a much cleaner race, with Daniel Morillo delivering one of his strongest drives of the season through a composed and mistake free opening stint before handing the car to Paul Whiting. Paul capitalized on the opportunity with a determined drive through the AM field, bringing the No. 74 home in an outstanding P4 class finish, the team’s best class result of the season. Meanwhile, Joaquin continued the recovery in the No. 27, fighting back to finish P8 in the highly competitive Pro class after an impressive comeback drive.

Race 2 quickly became one of the most challenging and emotional races of the season. With less than 15 minutes of green flag racing total, the race was defined by multiple incidents and lengthy neutralizations. Joaquin Morillo started the No. 27 while Paul Whiting took the opening stint in the No. 74. Both drivers displayed exceptional awareness during a major three car incident in the Esses, successfully avoiding the accident while several competitors were eliminated. Joaquin advanced from his starting position in P11 to P8 in class, while Paul was in a heated battle for P8 before the race was halted under a Red Flag to allow medical personnel and track workers to safely assist the drivers involved. Fortunately, reports confirmed only moderate injuries, allowing the paddock to collectively breathe a sigh of relief.

When racing resumed, SP Motorsports immediately brought both cars to pit lane for the mandatory driver changes, strategically completing the stops before another caution could jeopardize the pit window. The decision proved critical. Just seven minutes after the restart, another multi car incident triggered yet another Full Course Yellow, and the race ultimately concluded under caution with Jaden Conwright in the No. 27 and Daniel Morillo in the No. 74. Despite the limited racing laps, both drivers maximized every opportunity available. The No. 27 advanced another position to finish P7 in the Pro class, while the No. 74 climbed two positions to finish P6 in AM, capping off a disciplined and mistake free performance from the entire team.

Watkins Glen tested every aspect of SP Motorsports, from engineering and strategy to driver execution and composure under pressure. While outright pace remained a work in progress throughout the weekend, the team’s ability to adapt, avoid trouble, and consistently move forward resulted in valuable championship points and its strongest AM finish of the season. With momentum continuing to build and confidence growing within the team, SP Motorsports now turns its attention to Road America for Round 4 of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Championship, ready to continue the fight at one of North America’s fastest and most iconic circuits.