► Lamborghini Temerario GT3 revealed
► A Temerario without the hybrid bits
► We chat to Lamborghini’s CTO Rouven Mohr
Lamborghini has revealed its new Temerario GT3, its next-generation racing car that promises to be quicker and easier to drive than its old Huracan.
Shown for the first time at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, it’s the first GT3 car that has been designed, developed and built in-house by Lamborghini, with the racing car being conceived while Lamborghini was penning the Temerario road car.
Promising some big improvements over the previous Huracan GT3 car, it swaps out that car’s old-school naturally-aspirated V10 for the turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 engine used in the regular Temerario. However, unlike the road car it doesn’t feature any hybrid element, with this not being permitted in the GT3 racing class, nor wanted by customers because of the hybrid’s complexity for racing teams to work on. The Ferrari 296 Challenge also drops the road car’s PHEV setup in place of a V6.
Compared to the 907bhp produced by the road car, the GT3 puts out what seems like a fairly meagre 542bhp, though features a new smaller turbocharger and compressor unit (required to meet GT3 regulations), which alters the way the power is limited . It’s paired with a six-speed transverse gearbox, and also features a specific Capristo exhaust.
There are three main improvements over the old Huracan GT3, as explained to us by Rouven Mohr, chief technical officer at Lamborghini, who is open about the Huracan being an ‘old-generation’ car and having some ‘weaknesses’ next to the competition.
‘The main thing we say [which lets us down] is the engine torque based on the naturally-aspirated engine, but now with the new torque curve and how the torque is delivered, we have a lot more freedom with this turbo engine.’
That’s one box ticked. The second is improving the modularity of the Temerario GT3, essentially how easy it is to rebuilt if it’s in a crash. It’s built around a simplified version of the road car’s aluminium spaceframe, allowing for easier removal and reattachment of the front and rear subframes. The bodywork is also said to have been ‘engineered for quick disassembly and assembly’, reducing the time it will spend in the pits.
‘Our car today is still quite limited and old-generation compared to the newer ones,’ says Mohr. ‘For sure, that gap will close.’
The third area Lamborghini has worked to improve is how easy to use the GT3 is, especially during endurance races. Mohr says the Huracan’s ‘steering wheel is quite old-fashioned’, so ergonomics have been improved with a new one along with revised switchgear with new graphics.
‘So if you have hot conditions in an endurance race, if you have rainy conditions, it’s not so comfortable, to be honest to drive our old car is much tougher. In an endurance race the comfort of a driver is important. For gentlemen drivers, the Huracan GT3 has been quite tough to drive.’
Other differences for the Temerario GT3 include a new system that enables an increased refuelling rate, while revised fuel sensors can give a more accurate reading to the team.
The Temerario GT3 has a longer wheelbase than its predecessor, and combined with a wider track aims to improve stability in the corners. New six-way KW dampers are also fitted, which can now be changed quickly in the pits.
There’s no word on pricing, but Lamborghini has said it plans on exceeding the Huracan GT3’s sales of 200 units over the course of the Temerario GT3’s lifetime and says it has the car do it.
Senior staff writer, car reviewer, news hound, avid car detailer.
By Ted Welford
Senior staff writer at CAR and our sister website Parkers. Loves a car auction. Enjoys making things shiny
