Lamborghini presented its new Huracán GT3 race car at its headquarters this morning, and it looks like Lambo's serious effort at racing is really paying off. Look at this car. Look at it and try to argue that it won't kick sand in your face and take your lunch money. Then cry when you fail.
Lamborghini's been sort of teasing this car for the past day or so, and I say "sort of" because they're bad at it. They showed the car in testing in their first video, gave us a grey box with a noticeable livery render underneath yesterday, and gave us a Vine of the car itself coming out in way too much annoying stage fog this morning. So, it was basically hiding in plain sight.
None of that matters. Shh. Shh. Look at it.
Lamborghini's powers-that-be are excited about taking a marque that was never known for racing into the wide world of motorsports through its Squadra Corse division.
Lamborghini CEO and exceedingly dapper man Stephan Winkelmann had this to say about the new race car in a company press release:
With the Huracán GT3, Lamborghini Squadra Corse takes a further step forward in the development and production of a race car for this category, which is among the most prestigious and challenging in international motorsport. Lamborghini is thus for the first time directly involved in GT motorsport activities with the in-house development of this new mode.
FIA GT3-spec cars race a ton of places nowadays, from the Blancpain Endurance Series to the Pirelli World Challenge here in America. Soon, TUDOR United SportsCar will be adopting the spec for its GTD class as well.
Please bring one to America, folks. It's your patriotic duty to bring us more racing V10s. They may not be our racing V10s per se, but they will be of great service to anyone within earshot. V10s. For 'Murica.
What about the technical specs? I'll let Lamborghini's release speak for itself:
The Lamborghini Huracán GT3 is equipped with an Alu-Carbon chassis and a fully integrated FIA-compliant roll-cage. The subframe has been modified both at the front and rear to accommodate a high performance water radiator (front), and for a better positioning of the gearbox (rear), improving aerodynamics. The kerb weight is 1239 Kg with a 42/58 front/rear weight distribution. The final weight will be set by the FIA BOP.
The bodywork is in composite materials and, along with the aerodynamics, has been developed in collaboration with Dallara Engineering with the direct involvement of the founder Gian Paolo Dallara. Aerodynamics have been tuned to grant the best possible air flow penetration, and maximum adherence and traction in any condition on any asphalt. Efficiency has been improved thanks to the rear adjustable wing, adjustable front diffuser and louvres. The new aerodynamics also allow improved cooling of the braking system.
As [with] the Huracán Super Trofeo, the GT3 is equipped with new bodywork fast- fittings and equipped with a new, enhanced-performing engine and gearbox oil cooler.
Special attention has been given to safety, with the new Lamborghini Huracán GT3 equipped with a carbon frame 8862 specification seat; an OMP fire extinguishing system; and an innovative roof hatch which enables, in case of need, quick assistance by medical personnel through the roof of the car. Seat belts are provided by OMP, the fuel tank is an FT3 type and the pedals are adjustable.
Front and rear lights are LED. The new multifunction steering wheel has been re-engineered along with OMP.
The new rear-wheel drive Huracán GT3 adopts the V10 direct injection engine mounted on the road car, managed by a Bosch Motorsport control unit that also manages traction control, gearbox and the TFT display on the dashboard. All wiring and connectors are designed specifically for racing. The engine is fixed on the chassis by rigid mountings and is coupled with a sequential six-speed gearbox, according to FIA regulations, and a three-disc racing clutch.
The braking system is made up by 380 x 34 mm steel discs at the front (6 pot), and 355 x 32mm steel discs at the back (4 pot), according to FIA regulations, equipped with Bosch ABS. This system features 12 different settings that can be actioned directly from the steering wheel, as can traction control. The tyre sizes are 315/680 at the front and 325/705 at the back. The car is equipped with a pneumatic lifting system.
Finally, a race car that's directly based on its road car counterpart. The road car, of course, is properly insane in its own right.
They haven't released pricing for outside of Europe yet, but the European price has been set at 369,000 Euros ($427,004.96). It's a bit pricey for a GT3 car, but Lamborghini is also positioning this car as its works racer, too, so expect a ton of factory support for whoever buys one.
Already, they have promoted test drivers Fabio Bambini and Adrian Zaugg to works driver roles and have signed on Andrew Palmer, Jeroen Mul and Giovanni Venturini from Lamborghini's Young Drivers Program to their Squadra Corse GT3 Junior Team. Edoardo Piscopo and Milos Pavlovic are signed as test drivers for the Squadra Corse effort.
Now it's on that team of drivers to deliver. V10 race car + tons of aerodynamic bits and baubles = please let this car be as fast as it looks and sounds!