Barwell Targeting Le Mans as Part of Lamborghini EVO2 Plans

Barwell Motorsport is targeting a future participation in the 24 Hours of Le Mans as it maps out its prospective programs with the new Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2.

The British squad will remain with Lamborghini through the manufacturer’s introduction of a fresh GT3 upgrade package, which is arriving next year and will be eligible for Le Mans and the FIA World Endurance Championship from 2024, when GT3 replaces GTE.

Barwell intends to convert two of its three Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evos to the new specification, while the remaining one has been sold to a collector. Depending on its 2023 programs, the team could introduce a brand-new third EVO2 model to its stable.

According to team principal Mark Lemmer, the eligibility of GT3 cars in ACO competitions such as the WEC, European Le Mans Series and Michelin Le Mans Cup is an attractive proposition to Barwell and its partners.

“It’s perfect for us, really,” Lemmer told Sportscar365.

“Now is the time. We’ve set the bench as far as Pro-Am teams are concerned, but we could never really compete as a Pro car at Le Mans. Now it’s Pro-Am only, it’s right up our street.

“There will be plenty of other top teams thinking the way we’re thinking.

“If we do have one or two cars [in Le Mans Cup], hopefully it’ll be part of a 15-car minimum field where we can really challenge each other.

“We’re a customer-led team, but the sort of customers we have are there to be challenged and win. We want to provide strong opposition. Hopefully, it will provide that.

“It’s still very unclear as to how many entries the manufacturers will be awarded, and how many will be up for grabs in the various series.

“It’s going to be tough and always has been tough to get an entry for Le Mans. But chasing one is fun as well.”

Barwell has raced in SRO’s Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS for many years, however that is up for review as the team puts “one foot in the ACO camp”.

Lemmer explained that Barwell is “still open” to getting a GTWC Europe program together for next year and expressed high interest in fielding an entry at the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa, where the team has taken class victories in Silver Cup and Pro-Am.

“The bottom line is that we love GT World Challenge,” Lemmer said. “But one of our customers has stepped away from this level, and it’s expensive now.

“We’re not ruling it out, but the landscape’s changing with ELMS, WEC and Le Mans opening up to GT3 from 2024.

“Lamborghini, as well as Black Bull and our other commercial partners, are keen for us to represent them in that area.

“It makes absolute sense for us to do ELMS in 2024. The problem is: what do we do next year? We’re customer-led, so it’s one thing having a bit of backing, but we’re still reliant on customer money for the bulk of our programs.

“We have people who we’re speaking to very seriously about Michelin Le Mans Cup. So it makes sense to do that, as a precursor to ELMS.”

Lemmer is optimistic that the Michelin Le Mans Cup grid will improve from the low numbers that were posted this season at the rounds outside the Road to Le Mans.

“We’ve been proving ourselves, albeit at Silver and Pro-Am level, to be a benchmark team in GT World Challenge,” he said.

“Le Mans Cup hasn’t been that attractive on the basis that it hasn’t been much of a challenge. But things will change next year.

“We’re expecting that championship to expand.”

British GT Remains Cornerstone of Program

Barwell’s presence on the domestic stage is set to continue, with the multiple British GT title-winning team aiming to return to a two-car setup in the SRO-run series next year.

“We’re Lamborghini’s reference team in their second biggest global market,” Lemmer stated.

“They need, support and encourage us to field two good reference cars there.

“We would have had two cars this year, if it wasn’t for Leo [Machitski] being unable to come over and defend his crown. We’re looking good to have two cars out, so that’s great.”