As reported by Sportscar365, Chicago Performance and Tuning Co. will step up to the GT World Challenge America powered by AWS, confirming a full-season entry with the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2.
The team most recently operated as the competition partner for Marco Polo Motorsports in Pirelli GT4 America. However, it will now embark on its first professional GT3 campaign, marking a significant escalation in programme scope and ambition.
Chicago Performance will field Mads Siljehaug for the full season. Meanwhile, Nicolai Elghanayan will join the line-up for selected rounds at Sonoma Raceway, Road America and the Indianapolis 8 Hour presented by AWS at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Team manager Christopher Lester confirmed that the squad continues to evaluate “driver options” to partner Siljehaug at the remaining events. Furthermore, he revealed that a Lamborghini factory driver will complete the line-up for the season-ending endurance round.
Marco Polo remains involved
Although Marco Polo initially stepped back from racing activities this season, the team will maintain involvement in the new GT3 venture.
Jeff Elghanayan explained: “Racing in 2026 looked like it wasn’t in the cards for us with our family and business commitments, but when CPT came to us with the Lamborghini opportunity, we couldn’t pass up the chance to be involved in a GT3 program with a brand like that.
“It’ll be difficult to balance our non-racing commitments with the schedule this year, so participating in three races is already a challenge, but one we’re eager to take on to be a part of CPT’s first professional GT3 campaign.”
The significance of the 2026 GTWC America campaign for Chiacgo Performance
Chicago Performance owner and team principal Al Uscinski underlined the significance of the programme and the speed at which it came together.
“This program has been the culmination of hard work that feels like years, but has really only been a couple of months. We’re honored to represent Lamborghini, and usher in their return to the SRO America paddock. To have Mads and Nicolai reunited a year ahead of schedule and in a program stepping up to GT3, I don’t think we could have dreamed up a better scenario. Lamborghini has also committed to supplying us with a factory driver for the 8 Hour, so we’ll be looking forward to integrating them into the program and sharing the news on who soon.”
Lester described the initiative as an “11th-hour” opportunity born from long-standing relationships with Automobili Lamborghini America.
“I worked with Erik [Skirmants, senior manager of motorsport at Automobili Lamborghini America] in the past and we’ve always stayed in touch,” he said. “We had a catch-up call, and it became one of those stars aligning moments where we both realized we could help each other. With Marco Polo pausing their GT4 program until 2027, we had a gap, and Erik had been working to try to find the best path back into the SRO paddock for Lamborghini. From early December to today, we’re only a few weeks out from being on grid thanks to the support from the amazing team at Squadra Corse.”
Strong partnerships and ambition
The team has retained its full crew while securing backing from Liqui Moly and ABT, for whom Chicago Performance serves as a U.S. dealer.
“It aligns seamlessly with their sports car programs in Europe, so to be able to represent them here in the States is a privilege, and we’re looking forward to showcasing ABT and embodying their decades of motorsport success,” Lester added. “It’s one of those lightning-in-a-bottle moments where everything has fallen into place. Now we have to honor the effort and support we’ve received and deliver on track. The field is stacked with top drivers and teams, and the work is ahead of us, not behind. But we’re proud of the team, proud of the partnerships, proud to represent Lamborghini and hungry to prove ourselves.”
As a result, Chicago Performance enters 2026 not only as a newcomer to GT3, but as a team determined to establish itself immediately among North America’s elite GT contenders.
