Lamborghini Sets Huracán GT3 Testing, Customer Delivery Plan

Photo: Brecht Decancq

While currently focused on its race program in the Blancpain Endurance Series, the new Lamborghini Huracán GT3 will soon be on track on other parts of the world ahead of customer deliveries later this year.

Speaking with Sportscar365, Head of Lamborghini Motorsport Giorgio Sanna confirmed a factory testing and development program targeted at two of its major markets for the V10-powered car.

“We’re starting in the next few months to work with one car in Asia and one in the U.S. to prepare for next season,” Sanna told Sportscar365.

“At the same time, we’re doing the Blancpain Endurance Series, which for us is a learning program that is focused to collect all the data needed for the customer cars next year.”

Sanna said the development program, which will be undertaken by Lamborghini Squadra Corse, will begin in Asia in June, followed by the car’s U.S. testing debut in September.

As previously revealed by Sportscar365, there’s a possibility to see the car make an end-of-season race debut in the U.S., potentially at Petit Le Mans, although Sanna said a decision has yet to be made.

“We’re continuing to work because we want to be sure we have a competitive car everywhere,” he said. “As you can imagine, the tires are one of the most different technical aspects from one series to another.

“So you need to continue to always work on this kind of fine tuning to make sure everything is OK.”

The Italian manufacturer will also enter the car in a handful of races in national championships this summer, in order to get additional data and help showcase the Huracán GT3 to prospective customers in Europe.

It will include a single-car entry in the ADAC GT Masters round at the Red Bull Ring next month, with additional races in series such as the Italian GT Championship also under consideration.

“From one side, we want to get as much experience as possible but we also have a lot of requests, especially in Europe, from the national series,” Sanna said.

“So we’ve decided to do some races in the national series to also promote the car. Right now, Red Bull Ring is only fixed. Then we’ll see until the end of the season if we’ll enter in some other national series.”

Sanna expects customer deliveries of the Huracán GT3 to begin in October, which is likely to enable teams to contest some end-of-season races, such as the Sepang 12 Hours and Gulf 12 Hours.

The newly FIA-recgonized Macau GT World Cup, scheduled for Nov. 19-22, will not be possible due to logistical and car availability reasons, Sanna said.

“At the moment, we’re already starting to sell some cars in Asia because they are looking to use the car in December, January and February because it’s possible to race [there] during the winter,” he said.

“We’re looking with interest in the Sepang 12 Hours because it could be the first race for the customer teams, especially in Asia.

“There’s also a lot of interest in the U.S. from the IMSA series and Pirelli World Challenge. At the moment it looks very good.”

Given the current level of interest in the Huracán GT3, Sanna expects around 35 cars to be produced through the end of 2016.

He stressed a customer focus for next year, with its current factory program with GRT Grasser Racing Team not to continue in the same capacity.

“It will only be customer teams but we’re looking to support the best teams that we will consider strategic in the most important series,” Sanna said.

“GT3, as you know, is a customer racing program. We want to give the best technical support to our customer teams.

“Also for marketing reasons, GT3 is very important. We want to do everything in the right way.”

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John