Photo: Mike Levitt/IMSA
Lamborghini will not introduce its second Evo to the Huracan GT3 until 2023 according to its head of motorsport Giorgio Sanna, who wants to “respect” the costs related to the upgrade for its customer teams.
Sanna previously revealed to Sportscar365 plans to debut the package in time for the 2022 GT3 regulations refresh but has since been delayed by one year due to the COVID situation.
Work, however, has begun on the package, which is expected to begin testing next year.
“We expect to homologate the car within the end of this year, but in any case we take time,” Sanna told Sportscar365.
“We will continue for the durability test of the car and for commercial reasons, we have decided, due to the COVID situation, to postpone the entry of the car to 2023.
“We prefer to wait and to give time to the teams, to the gentlemen drivers and owners of the existing cars, to have a bit more time to do additional investments. That’s our idea.”
Sanna indicated that the Evo2 is not currently planned to see race action in the launch of year of the GT3 regulations refresh and will instead debut in the hands of customer teams in 2023.
Despite the rollout of the new regs, GT3 manufacturers are permitted to race with its existing machinery through the car’s homologation date.
Sanna said a large focus on the new Evo will again be placed on the drivability of the car, particularly to encourage confidence with gentlemen drivers.
“A part of the technical regulations gives, not more, but different opportunities in relation to the existing regulations,” Sanna explained.
“In any case, we are always looking to do something innovative and something that can improve the quality, mainly the driveability of the car.
“Talking about performance doesn’t make sense particularly, because there is always the Balance of Performance. So you have to work on the reliability of the car, the maintenance and running costs.
“That’s the goal. And of course, the design for Lamborghini is always a priority.”
An “attention to cost” will also be observed with the new Evo2, which will be available either as an all-new car or an upgrade kit from the GT3 Evo.
“It’s a matter of philosophy and respect to the customers who have already invested money on us,” said Sanna.
Audi Still on Track for New Evo in 2022
Despite Lamborghini’s delay, sister brand Audi is still set to debut its second Evo kit for the current R8 LMS GT3 car next year according to its head of customer racing Chris Reinke.
“For us we are clear on rails,” Reinke told Sportscar365. “We are planning to do another Evo on the current car, being homologated to be ready for the race season 2022.”
Reinke said they are currently in the “test phase” with the kit, which is aimed at being very “cost-efficient” for its customers.
“There will be initially a launch date when we introduce the kit, with availability and pricing, which is to be announced yet,” he said.
“Until then, for sure we won’t change our very successful philosophy that we aren’t just desperate to be the most successful brand in the GT3 circuit, but also the one with the most reasonable running costs.
“And therefore don’t expect a complete rebuild of the car for us, because that would tie down the financial resources of our teams. We would rather see them investing that into racing, rather than investment into new machines.”
Reinke indicated that several test runs will be planned with the kit this year in order to gain FIA homologation and SRO Balance of Performance data for the start of the 2022 season.
Daniel Lloyd contributed to this report
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