Jem Hepworth’s 2026 Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America campaign with RAFA Racing Team, alongside Tatiana Calderon, will feature new backing from Heyen Haus.
The collaboration connects the Houston-based motorsport organization with a passionate automotive family whose philosophy – “cars are meant to be driven” – aligns closely with RAFA Racing Team’s approach to motorsport and car culture.
For Hepworth, the partnership carries personal significance as she continues building her racing career in the United States.
“I’m so excited about this partnership because it’s very close to my heart,” Hepworth said. “I met Jake and Shari Heyen last year at the Spa 24 Hours when we hosted them with the team through the RAFA Racing Club. They absolutely loved the experience, and we bonded straight away.”
The relationship grew further after Hepworth relocated to Houston earlier this year as she prepared for the next stage of her career with RAFA Racing Team.
“They’ve been such a big help – not only with my racing but with everything involved in moving to a new country,” Hepworth said. “From getting settled in to sorting out all the day-to-day things, they’ve been incredibly supportive. It honestly feels like I have a family here in the US.”
Hepworth’s full-time move to the US
Moving to the United States marked a major step in Hepworth’s career, with the British driver balancing the logistics of relocating while continuing to build her racing program.
“The last couple of months have been chaotic with the move and getting everything in place,” she said. “There’s so much to sort out when you move countries, but having people around you who support you makes a huge difference. I’ve felt very at home here.”
As part of the new partnership, Heyen Haus will feature prominently on Hepworth’s RAFA Racing Team Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVO2 through a striking new livery designed by Jake Heyen.
The design reflects the aggressive character of the Lamborghini while celebrating the Heyen Haus family’s passion for performance cars.
“The livery is something very special,” Hepworth said. “Jake actually designed it himself and he’s been so excited about it. It’s going to look mean, it’s going to look aggressive, and it’s amazing to have their logo on the car.”
Hepworth emphasized that the relationship goes beyond traditional sponsorship.
“It’s not just a partnership,” she said. “They genuinely care about what we’re doing and they’ve been incredibly supportive. To have them on the car this year is really special to me.”
The connection with RAFA Racing Team developed organically for the Heyen Haus family through years spent immersed in the automotive community.
How the partnership began
Founder Jake Heyen first encountered the RAFA Racing brand at Houston-area car gatherings.
“I first heard about RAFA just by going to car meets,” he said. “I’ve been in the car community since I could walk. I remember seeing the RAFA cars at Coffee and Cars and eventually learning about the whole program and the racing team.”
After joining the RAFA Racing Club and visiting the organization’s Houston headquarters, the family quickly realized they wanted to become involved.
“We saw the whole RAFA ecosystem – the performance center, the club, the garage, the staff and the family atmosphere,” Heyen said. “We were just like, this is where we want to be.”
Their relationship with Hepworth began last summer during the Spa 24 Hours, where the family spent time with the RAFA Racing Team and quickly connected with the British driver.
“We met Jem there and immediately thought she was awesome,” Heyen said. “She’s incredibly talented and a really genuine person.”
That meeting eventually led to a deeper partnership as the family looked to support drivers while becoming more immersed in the motorsport environment.
Hands-on engineering
Alongside branding on Hepworth’s Lamborghini, the collaboration will also feature engineering student Jake Heyen working trackside as a shadow engineer during race weekends, gaining hands-on experience inside the RAFA Racing Team program.
The Heyen Haus family’s passion for cars stretches back generations.
“My family’s motto has always been that cars are meant to be driven,” Heyen said. “That’s something we really believe in, and racing is the ultimate expression of that.”
That philosophy will now appear on the Lamborghini Super Trofeo grid through the bold livery.
Hepworth will share the RAFA Racing Team entry with Calderon as the team targets a strong campaign in 2026.
Calderon brings one of the most diverse résumés in international motorsport to the program. The Colombian driver has competed in the FIA Formula 2 Championship, Super Formula, IndyCar and the IMSA SportsCar Championship, while also serving as a Formula One test and development driver. Her experience across both single-seaters and sports cars adds significant depth to the RAFA Racing Team lineup.
For Hepworth, the new partnership represents another important step as she continues establishing herself in American racing.
“This has been my goal since I was very young,” she said. “To be here in the United States racing with RAFA Racing Team and to have partners who believe in what we’re doing is something really special.”
RAFA Racing Team’s two-car Lamborghini Super Trofeo effort will begin this week at Sebring International Raceway with Jem Hepworth and Tatiana Calderon in the No. 2 alongside Ian Porter and Chloe Chambers in the No. 81.
