Lamborghini to narrow customer team focus when new Temerario GT3 arrives

Yahoo

05-02-2025

Lamborghini's technical director Rouven Mohr has revealed that a new approach to customer GT racing will be adopted by the Italian brand next year when the Temerario GT3 makes its debut.
'We have changed our philosophy a little bit. In the future, we want to concentrate more on performance-oriented teams where the ambition fits ours,' Mohr said.
'Less, in this case, is more. In the past, we were a bit wider spread. In the future, because the level of GT3 is very competitive, we want to concentrate our support with the maximum level of support to fewer teams than in the past.'
Lamborghini is fresh from a hugely successful 2024 season with the Huracan GT3 EVO II. Highlights included a dominant British GT Championship title win with Barwell Motorsport and a maiden DTM championship triumph with German team SSR Performance. The current car clearly has a lot still to give, thus, the Italian marque feels a commitment to 'quality over quantity' for the rollout of its forthcoming flagship customer GT car makes the most sense.
There will be a phased introduction for the new car into key championships – with programs in Europe, Asia and North America targeted. However, concrete decisions are still yet to be made on which teams will receive cars first and where they will race. A final judgement, according to Mohr, will come after Q3 this year while the Temerario GT3 is undergoing testing.
'It all depends on how fast the progress of the car is, what the strengths are,' he continued. 'The first step is on our shoulders then for sure later we will bring teams on board and then it depends a little bit which championships we are targeting.
'You can be sure that in the middle of the year, we will see test activities. This is something we take very seriously because, on one hand, we are not in a hurry to replace the current car, but on the other, requests for new GT3 cars on our side, are immense. And since the Huracan is running out of production, for sure, we are not bringing additional race cars more or less, on the grid.'
An obvious choice for 2026 would be to debut the car at IMSA's blue-riband endurance event, the Rolex 24 Hours At Daytona, in January. At this point, though, Mohr feels it's too early to say whether or not that would be possible.
'I wouldn't say it's the idea, but it would be a dream,' he said. 'Sometimes dreams come true, sometimes not. If you ask me if we would like to, 'yes', but it has to make sense.
'We are not going to Daytona if we have too many problems we know about. To start at Daytona with a new car is a tough challenge. Some manufacturers decide to skip Daytona and enter a bit later.'
It's also too early to speculate whether or not we will see Lamborghini back in the FIA WEC's LMGT3 class any time soon. Following its exit from the ACO and FIA's globetrotting championship at the end of the 2024 season, Mohr downplayed suggestions that the Temerario GT3 will line up on the grid at the first opportunity.
'Unfortunately, it depends on LMDh. There is a link,' he said. 'It's not for granted that you can run the GT3 without LMDh. We are focused on the programmes we have today. And for sure next year with the Temerario GT3 it will only be on selected race series because it's the learning curve of the car.
'We will go step by step. At the moment, if you ask me, LMGT3, I would say 'no' even if you can say never say never. I think it's too early to do it. If we are in WEC it's a different story but to be honest, let's see. First, we consider an improvement of the LMDh, then if we are competitive and we find interest from a team to re-enter WEC, then let's see. LMGT3 is the third question.'
Before the Temerario arrives there's the not-so-small matter of the 2025 season to get through.
Lamborghini will continue to have a presence in GT World Challenge Europe's Pro class this year, and the Huracan GT3 EVO II will compete in both Intercontinental GT Challenge 24-hour races at Spa-Francorchamps and the Nürburgring. At least one car and team will be entered into each of the two races, which will be held back-to-back in June, the weekend after the Le Mans 24 Hours.
Mohr also stressed that Lamborghini 'has no ambition to cut' its DTM program after winning the 2024 title.
Story originally appeared on Racer