Tatiana Calderón claims overall GT Challenge de las Américas victory in Guyana
- RACERS
- 6 hours ago
- 4 min read
Tatiana Calderón added another victory to her extensive international racing résumé by claiming the overall GT Challenge de las Américas win at the Guyana Grand Prix alongside Guatemalan teammate Juan Diego Hernández and Nacent Racing, overcoming a last minute car change and mixed weather conditions.
Tatiana Calderón added another victory to her extensive international racing résumé by claiming the overall GT Challenge de las Américas win at the Guyana Grand Prix alongside Guatemalan teammate Juan Diego Hernández and Nacent Racing.
Competing at the third round of the championship, the pair overcame changing weather conditions, a completely new race car, and a brand-new circuit to emerge victorious after an impressive weekend of adaptability and speed.
The series made its first-ever visit to the South Dakota Circuit in Guyana for a double-header event, presenting drivers with the challenge of learning a new venue. For Calderón, the task was even greater: originally scheduled to compete in a Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo, a mechanical issue prevented the team's planned entry from taking to the track, forcing Nacent Racing into a late switch to the #4 McLaren 720S GT3X.
The rare car - one of only 15 examples ever built and the only one currently competing in motorsport -was also making its debut with Calderón behind the wheel. Having never previously raced the turbocharged GT3X machine, the Colombian faced the task of learning both the car and the new circuit simultaneously.
The weather also added another layer of difficulty, as rain affected much of the weekend, with constantly changing track conditions making every session a challenge. Nevertheless, Calderón and Hernández quickly found impressive pace, steadily building confidence throughout practice despite the mixed conditions.
The team's speed was confirmed in qualifying when Hernández delivered a superb lap of 1:10.39, securing pole position while also establishing a new outright lap record for the South Dakota Circuit.
Race 1 saw Calderón take the start from pole position under difficult mixed conditions. Although the rain had eased before the green flag, the circuit remained damp and extremely slippery, demanding precision throughout the opening laps.
Calderón made a perfect launch, immediately pulling clear into Turn 1 to retain the lead ahead of Gustavo Ortega's Lamborghini. Behind her, Will Redford produced an excellent start in the Mercedes-AMG GT3, overtaking the Audi R8 for second place while Ortega slid off the road in the treacherous conditions.
That left Calderón and Redford at the head of the field, immediately establishing themselves as the class of the race. The Colombian steadily opened a small advantage before Redford began applying pressure as the pair pulled comfortably away from the rest of the field.
Despite the relentless challenge from the Mercedes-AMG, Calderón remained in charge of the race. She consistently defended her position while carefully managing the rapidly evolving track conditions as the racing line gradually dried.
As the race entered its closing stages, another challenge emerged in the form of lapped traffic. Calderón negotiated slower cars while maintaining her lead, but Redford remained glued to the rear of the McLaren, waiting for an opportunity.
Eventually, with only two laps remaining, the British driver launched a decisive late-braking move and found a way past into the lead. Calderón's tyres had begun to lose performance after leading for virtually the entire race, allowing the Mercedes to edge clear over the final lap.
Calderón crossed the finish line in an excellent second place after leading the majority of the contest, providing the Nacent Racing team with an solid foundation heading into Race 2.
Hernández took over driving duties for the second race and immediately maintained the momentum established by his teammate. Starting from second on the grid, the Guatemalan made an outstanding getaway to seize the lead into the opening corner, overtaking the #42 Mercedes at lights out.
The race, however, would prove every bit as dramatic as the first; an early safety car followed after a spinning Audi, before Hernández executed a clean restart to retain first place. Soon afterwards, heavy rain swept across the circuit, dramatically worsening conditions.
Although Hernández briefly lost the lead to Redford, worsening weather forced race control to red flag the race.
When racing eventually resumed, Hernández found himself back at the head of the field after Redford's Mercedes encountered problems during its pit stop. With clear track ahead, Hernández immediately controlled the pace, pulling away from the chasing pack and comfortably taking the chequered flag to win Race 2.
With Calderón's runner-up finish in the opening heat, the combined results secured the overall event win for the Nacent Racing pairing, completing a remarkable weekend in Guyana.
Despite no prior experience with the car, Calderón and Hernández immediately adapted to the machine, taking pole position, leading the majority of Race 1, winning Race 2 and securing the overall Guyana Grand Prix victory.
For Calderón, the result once again highlighted the adaptability that has become a hallmark of her career. Whether competing in single-seaters, prototypes or GT machinery, the Colombian is consistently maximizing every opportunity, and Guyana proved no exception.
"Sometimes the best stories happen when plans change", Calderón said, reflecting on the weekend.
"What looked like what was going to be a difficult weekend ended with an unforgettable victory. Huge thanks to Nacent Racing, Juan Diego Hernández and everyone who made this result possible. Adapting so quickly to the McLaren 720S GT3X, taking pole position, setting the lap record and ultimately winning the event was incredibly rewarding."
Calderón will now turn her attention back to NASCAR Brasil, where she is scheduled to compete at the next championship round on 1–2 August.