As reported by Sportscar 365, Chicago Performance & Tuning Co. will miss next weekend’s second round of the 2026 GT World Challenge (GTWC) America powered by AWS at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) due to not securing a customer for the event.
The team made its season debut last month at Sonoma Raceway with the Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2, driven by Mads Siljehaug and Nicolai Elghanayan. However, Elghanayan was only confirmed for Sonoma, Road America, and the Indianapolis 8 Hour presented by AWS.
It was originally intended that Siljehaug would compete for the full season, but this depended on adding another FIA Bronze-rated driver for the rounds Elghanayan could not attend.
“We’ve had strong interest but unfortunately we’ve been unable to secure a customer for COTA,” said team manager Chris Lester. “As said from the onset, Nicolai would only be able to join the team for three races, with his next entry to be Road America. We’re incredibly proud of our collective performance at Sonoma. Mads and Nicolai did a great job and fought well on the track and brought home a top-ten finish and a clean race car.”
The announcement highlights the challenges smaller teams face in aligning driver availability with customer support in competitive GT racing.
Reflecting on Sonoma success
Team principal Al Uscinski emphasised the team’s strong debut, noting the effort required to reach race pace in such a short time.
“Looking back at Sonoma, the team should be proud of what we showed. Building up a car from zero in five weeks, securing all the crew, turning up and being on pace from FP1, it’s the stuff of movies. Looking ahead, there’s nothing but promise and positive momentum that we’re looking to carry.
“It’s unfortunate that we’re not able to do COTA but the whole effort now is focused on getting back on track, ideally before Road America, and continuing to hone ourselves and represent Lamborghini and our partners in the best light possible. Until then, we’ll keep preparing and look forward to having Nicolai back in the car.”
The team’s rapid progress at Sonoma demonstrates their capability and resilience, setting a positive tone despite missing the upcoming round.
With COTA off the schedule, the team now channels its energy into preparation for Road America. Securing a second Bronze-rated driver will remain a priority to enable full-season participation and maintain momentum built in Sonoma.
Chicago Performance & Tuning’s situation underscores the fluidity and complexity of GT racing, where driver availability and customer engagement play as much a role as on-track performance.
