Lamborghini’s new Temerario GT3 endured a nightmare begin to life in final weekend’s DTM season-opener on the Pink Bull Ring.
Its ends in the Austrian double header raised critical issues concerning the automotive’s competitiveness and the construction behind the programme. The dimensions of the issue is such that accountability throughout the organisation seems unclear, an element extensively seen as contributing to the present scenario on the Italian marque, which is a part of the Audi Group.
The Temerario GT3 is a automotive that’s, by all accounts, so problematic that it has already earned itself the “Lamaghini Dromedario” moniker within the paddock.
Only a yr in the past, Lamborghini was combating for the DTM title with the Huracan GT3 till the finale. Now, Grasser Racing Crew and Abt Sportsline discovered themselves successfully working their very own race in the back of the sector on the brand new automotive’s debut.
Even high driver Mirko Bortolotti, who completed sixteenth on Sunday as the most effective Lamborghini, was 36.082 seconds adrift after 37 laps – roughly one second per lap regardless of the Stability of Efficiency (BoP), which is meant to equalise the vehicles. Even Nicolas Baert in an Aston Martin – hardly thought-about a top-tier GT3 driver – was round 0.6 seconds per lap sooner.
Bortolotti mentioned “the hole is gigantic” and it might have been loads worse. Spielberg, with its lengthy straights, is definitely a circuit that masks a few of the Temerario’s most evident weaknesses. Excessive monitor temperatures of almost 40C and the brand new DTM tyre, which comes as much as temperature extra shortly, additionally helped.
Had the season began, as in earlier years, on the twisty Oschersleben circuit with its 14 corners, the debut would possible have been much more embarrassing. The automotive has main points below braking and resists handing over, largely as a result of it generates too little mechanical grip by means of the suspension.
Programs akin to ABS and traction management aren’t but correctly refined, and the automotive was delivered to groups late in its improvement cycle and not using a useful base set-up.
Why Lamborghini ought to take into account withdrawing the automotive
Jordan Pepper, Grasser Racing Crew Lamborghini Huracán EVO GT3
Photograph by: Markus Toppmöller
The worrying half is that this might flip right into a unending downside. Fixing the problems throughout the season is nearly not possible as a consequence of strict testing restrictions within the sequence. On high of that, FIA homologation freezes improvement.
Lamborghini can be properly suggested to withdraw the Temerario retrospectively and run the Huracan once more in 2026, whereas fixing the brand new automotive within the background. That may be a short-term lack of face, however it will a minimum of take away the issue early as a substitute of turning it right into a long-term embarrassment.
These accustomed to the programme say clearly that solely an Evo model might realistically save the mission. Nevertheless, such an replace isn’t potential within the quick time period, as FIA guidelines usually solely enable it after two years – that means 2028 – except it issues security.
An answer through BoP can also be unrealistic. The automotive is already near the minimal weight restrict, and experience peak has been lowered virtually as a lot as potential. Extra turbo enhance can be technically potential, however the ensuing improve in high pace would power drivers to brake even earlier, providing little actual achieve. The BoP adjustment from Saturday to Sunday in Spielberg underlined this – extra of a sign than an actual repair.
Why nothing has modified since November
There may be additionally a way that these accountable at Lamborghini don’t absolutely know learn how to tackle the scenario. “They don’t have the individuals or the experience for it,” mentioned one insider.
That will clarify why, regardless of clear warning indicators half a yr in the past, little has modified. “The automotive is nowhere close to the place I would really like it to be, however we already knew that in November,” Bortolotti mentioned on Saturday. Manufacturing facility drivers first examined the Temerario GT3 in October 2025 at Circuit Paul Ricard and reportedly raised issues instantly.
The identical issues had been evident once more throughout DTM testing in Vallelunga in March, but no decisive motion was taken.
Danger of wider penalties
How did it come to this? Lamborghini’s comparatively small motorsport division in Sant’Agata Bolognese has been hit by quite a few personnel adjustments throughout the Temerario’s improvement, following the departure of former motorsport boss Giorgio Sanna two years in the past after an inside investigation.
Chief technical officer Rouven Mohr has since moved right into a broader position at Audi, leaving a management hole. New motorsport head Andrea Reggiani solely took up his place initially of April and continues to be attempting to evaluate the size of the issue.
Extra is at stake than Lamborghini’s picture – and the truth that the model now needs to promote its troubled GT3 automotive to gents drivers and buyer groups. The way forward for DTM outfits like Grasser and Abt can also be on the road, as they rely on sponsors who anticipate outcomes.
And finally, the DTM itself could possibly be affected. Alongside Mercedes-AMG, Lamborghini is the one producer fielding two groups and 4 vehicles. Dropping them would scale back the grid to simply 17 vehicles – a worrying state of affairs for a top-level GT3 championship.
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