Borcheller And Konrad Renew Winning Sebring Pairing

Subtitle:2001 GTS-1 Winners Reunite In Lamborghini

Terry Borcheller will have a new ride in the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh From Florida – the No. 28 Konrad Motorsport Lamborghini Huracán GT3 co-driven by Franz Konrad, Christopher Bruck and Norbert Seidler – The car that was leading the GT Daytona (GTD) class before running out of fuel with less than five minutes remaining in the Rolex 24 At Daytona.

After having a home with Burton Racing for four seasons – capturing the 2013 Street Tuner (ST) championship – Terry Borcheller found himself without a ride in 2016, making him available to drive with Konrad Motorsports. It’s a homecoming for Borcheller, who teamed with car owner Franz Konrad to win the GTS-1 class at Sebring with Konrad in a Saleen S7R in 2001. Borcheller went on to capture the class championship in the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón co-driving with Konrad.

Borcheller’s other career achievements include two-time overall winner of the Rolex 24 At Daytona (2004 and 2010) and three Rolex Series championships in three different classes (DP, 2003; SRP II, 2002; GTO, 2000).

Terry recently took time to talk about how his ride came together for Sebring, his status for 2016 and his expanding role with Motorsports Ministry.

How did your ride for Sebring in the Konrad Motorsports Lamborghini Huracán GT3 come together?

“We’ve stayed in contact ever since raced with him in 2001, and we’ve been friends ever since. More recently, I had been talking with Franz about the possibility of racing with him at Daytona. I thought I was going to be in the car, but he had some issues. Then Franz called me the night before the Rolex 24 and said I would be in the No. 24 car. Then the next morning, on my way into the track, he called me and said he had to move a few guys from his other car, and apologized. He felt bad about it and said he would make it up to me for Sebring.”

How is the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 to drive?

“It’s great to drive. The steering is predictable and easy – there’s not a huge amount of effort. It is pretty good from a handling standpoint. The traction’s good, and the braking is amazing. Right now it seems to be a little down on power from the other cars on the straight. Realistically, all the cars are good in GTD since they went to the GT3 spec rules. I was happy at the test because I got in the car and I was right there, only a tenth or two off the fastest Lamborghini. That was exciting for me, because it’s been awhile since I’ve been in one of these cars. It was good to get back in and be right on pace, against guys who have been testing and have raced the car in the Rolex 24.”

You’ve raced a number of different cars – Saleen, Ferrari, Daytona Prototype – how does the Lamborghini rank with them?

“It’s right up there with a solid GT car. They done a good job – as most of the GT manufacturers have done as of late – but I would say what stood out most when I drove a Lamborghini (Gallardo) for the first time in 2014 in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo at Petit Le Mans was the braking. I couldn’t believe how amazing the brakes were. The braking is the same on the Huracán GT3.”

What is your favorite Sebring memory?

“Winning it, for sure, in 2001 with Franz and Ollie Gavin. That was the debut of the Saleen S7R. Mechanically, the car was not ready, and the team really wasn’t ready from a pit stop standpoint. But it was their will to win. It was a great race for us. We went on to win the championship over the factory Corvettes – and I don’t think it’s been done since by a privateer. That year’s championship came down to Petit Le Mans, and we ended up beating the factory. Back then, the first race of the year was actually at Texas Motor Speedway (in Fort Worth). The Saleen wasn’t ready, and I managed to get a ride in a Viper. I ended up finishing second, and those points gave me the championship at the end of the year.”

Do you have any other rides lined up for this season?

“Right now, no. I’m hoping with this ride at Sebring, people will know that I’m still around.

What is your current role with Motorsports Ministries?

“I’m now the president of Motorsports Ministries. When Richard Anderson, the founder of Motorsports Ministries, passed away [in April 2014], his family asked me to step in and carry the ministry for the rest of the year. So I filled in for the rest of 2014, and the family asked me to take the leadership role for 2015. At the end of the year, they asked me if I wanted to take the ministry completely. The way I’ve set it up is to have two chaplains at every event, and it’s been very successful.”