Lamborghini’s New Temerario GT3: A Rocky Start or a Recipe for Disaster?
As the adrenaline-fueled world of motorsport prepares for the DTM season opener in Spielberg, Lamborghini is grappling with alarming challenges surrounding their latest creation, the Temerario GT3. This high-octane vehicle, which is supposed to replace the illustrious Huracan GT3 Evo2 for the 2026 season, is struggling to make its mark in the competitive arena. Factory driver Mirko Bortolotti didn't hold back in expressing his concerns: “Time will tell what’s possible with the car, but if I look at the first few months, including the [GT World Challenge] race a few days ago in France, I don’t think we’ll be in the mix at the front.” This sobering admission raises questions about Lamborghini’s ability to compete at the highest levels right out of the gate.
Bortolotti, the reigning DTM champion who recently rejoined Grasser Racing after a tumultuous season with Abt, acknowledged the uphill battle ahead. “I think that will be difficult, especially at the start of the season,” he added. The stringent testing restrictions in DTM only exacerbate the pressure to refine the car quickly. “We really have to use every lap and make sure we learn as much as possible and develop the car as quickly as we can, because there’s still a lot of work ahead of us,” he emphasized, revealing the daunting task that lies ahead for the team.
The Temerario GT3, unveiled in the summer of 2025, represents a monumental shift for Lamborghini. It marks the first race car entirely developed in-house at the Sant’Agata Bolognese factory, a stark departure from previous collaborations with Audi that shaped the Huracan program. The car made its racing debut just this March at the prestigious Sebring 12 Hours, showcasing a radical new concept powered by a twin-turbo V8 engine—an audacious move away from the beloved naturally-aspirated V10 of its predecessor. Bortolotti remarked, “The car is completely new and feels totally different. There is absolutely nothing that reminds me of the Huracan. That makes it a big adjustment for both the team and us drivers.”
However, the transition has been anything but smooth. Reports indicate that Grasser Racing only received their cars at the tail end of the first week of March 2026, and the Abt squad faced even longer delays. Moreover, the vehicles arrived without a fully optimized base setup, leading to troubling issues with braking and a lack of responsiveness during cornering. Paddock insiders are increasingly skeptical about whether the Temerario can reach competitive levels through Balance of Performance adjustments alone.
Despite these hurdles, one glimmer of hope has emerged: reliability. Both at Sebring and the GT World Challenge Europe opener in Le Castellet, the Temerario completed the full race distances of 12 and six hours, respectively. Team principal Gottfried Grasser praised this aspect, stating, “The most positive aspect is reliability. The car has no problems. At least that allows you to do a lot of running and a lot of testing.” This reliability was also showcased during the official DTM test day in Spielberg, where the four Temerario drivers collectively completed an impressive 497 laps. Nevertheless, the performance gap remains a glaring issue; rookie driver Luca Engstler was the fastest Lamborghini competitor but still lagged behind the benchmark set by Ben Dorr in the McLaren by a staggering 0.990 seconds.
Grasser candidly acknowledged the deficiencies, stating, “It’s all related to setup and suspension. We’re still searching for the right direction.” This sentiment echoed during the Paul Ricard round of the GT World Challenge Europe, where Grasser's team failed to make a significant impact in the race. “It was more difficult than we expected,” he lamented. Despite finding a seemingly solid balance in the setup, they struggled to get the tires within the optimal working window, creating a significant performance gap that was technically insurmountable.
As the team gears up for the DTM, Grasser remained optimistic, noting “very positive steps” in testing. One critical factor could be the new exclusive DTM tire, which appears to reach operating temperature quicker than the Pirelli DHG used in the GT World Challenge Europe. Yet, the stark reality is that reliability alone won’t suffice in the cutthroat world of DTM, where performance reigns supreme. Bortolotti stated emphatically, “In DTM, it’s all about performance – and if you don’t have the performance, you won’t be successful.”
What does the future hold for Lamborghini and the Temerario GT3? Bortolotti is ready to tackle the challenge head-on, stating, “That’s why I think we have a lot of work ahead of us, but I’m also happy to take on this challenge, together with the team and the brand, just like we did 12 years ago with the Huracan. It’s a process we now have to go through, and I hope we can get up to pace as quickly as possible.” As the countdown to the DTM season opener ticks down, all eyes will be on Lamborghini to see if they can turn this turbulent start into a triumphant comeback.