Lamborghini Race Cars

Lamborghini Squadra Corse, the division that handles Lamborghini’s motorsport efforts is teasing what looks to be a new hardcore race car via a short video that leaves us wanting for more. Especially since it’s hard to pinpoint what this car is and where and if it will race.

The 1990s were a difficult time for Lamborghini. The Italian company offered only two vehicles and one of them was the weird LM002 SUV, which was eventually discontinued in 1993. The other one was the Diablo, which went on to become one of the brand’s most iconic models. The supercar that made the transition between the legendary Countach and the Murcielago, the Diablo was the first Lambo to spawn an official factory-built race car. It’s called the SV-R, Lamborghini made only 31 of them, and you can buy one until February 21, 2021.

Just when you thought it was safe to call the recently unveiled Jaguar Vision Gran Turismo one of the edgiest VGT cars to come out of the video game racing program, a certain Italian automaker comes out and smacks you over the head with its own Vision Gran Turismo. This one comes from Lamborghini, and it’s called the V12 Vision Gran Turismo. For a company that’s known for designing some of the most aerodynamically outrageous cars in the world, the V12 Vision Gran Turismo makes all of those models look like doodles on a sketch pad. It doesn’t hurt that the V12 VGT carries the same powertrain as Lambo’s other recent madness-of-a-creation, the Sian FKP 37. Just like every other Vision Gran Turismo model that has come before, the Lamborghini V12 Vision Gran Turismo is not earmarked for real-world production. It will instead be available in Gran Turismo Sport for the PlayStation 4 in 2020.

The 2020 Lamborghini Urus ST-X is a race-spec concept version of the Urus, the company’s first-ever SUV. The concept vehicle previews a full-production SUV designed for a single-brand championship that will debut in 2020 in Europe and the Middle East. Conceived as a new "arrive and drive" experience in Lamborghini’s motorsport program, it will offer customers a complete package including the vehicle and technical support during race weekends.

Yes, the 2020 Urus ST-X will compete in a series very similar to the Lamborghini Super Trofeo, reserved for race-spec Huracan models. Like all other track-bred Lambos, the 2020 Urus ST-X was designed and built by Lamborghini Squadra Corse.

Lamborghini’s Squadra Corse racing division is about to unleash its second bespoke model. Following last year’s introduction of the SC18 Alston, Squadra Corse is working on a track-only suspercar. It’s also based on the Aventador and the first teaser gives us a glimpse at some of the details.

In order to even begin understanding what to expect from the upcoming track-only Aventador, we must first look at Lamborghini’s supercar roster from two standpoints: one of them relates to Sant’Agata Bolognese’s road-going cars over the years, while the other has to do with its race cars currently involved in various motorsport competitions around the world.

Lamborghini Squadra Corse already released a CGI-filled teaser video that drops small hints at its upcoming track-only beast under the “purest track experience” punchline. Join us as we try to anticipate what can such a car deliver in terms of performance, especially acceleration and top speed...

When you think about prototype racing, you probably envision the mighty Audi racers that squashed everyone on their way to Le Mans glory in the noughties or, maybe, one of the many glorious machines to come out during the Group C days. Scroll back the years and, now, it seems we may be on the verge of a new resurgence of sports car racing, one led by the world’s top supercar makers and the list may just grow further as Lamborghini looks at moving up from GT racing and into prototype racing.

Lamborghini, once a brand completely uninterested in motorsport, is preparing to build a racing version of its Urus Super SUV, dubbed the ST-X. It should lead to a single-make racing series that will feature Rallycross-style courses.

The manufacturer from Sant’Agata Bolognese unveiled the Urus ST-X concept that is a very accurate preview of Lamborghini’s first racing utility vehicle. It was presented to the press at the Vallelunga circuit, near Rome, where Lamborghini hosted its annual World Finals for the Super Trofeo series.

Unlike another SUV-based series that should kick-off next year, the Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy, the Urus ST-X will race on mixed surfaces similar to rallycross events where cars have to run on tarmac as well as on gravel. Lamborghini says the championship will take teams and drivers on a tour of FIA-approved tracks in Europe and beyond.

Lamborghini has revealed the most aggressive version of its smallest offering, the $430,000 Huracan GT3 Evo racer, which as its name suggests, is an evolution of the original Huracan GT3. It improves the first GT3 in several ways and is available for purchase both as a standalone model or as an upgrade for any existing Huracan GT3.

Winning not only the GT Asia Series Championship in 2016, as well as the Rolex 24 at Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring, the Huracan GT3, has proven highly successful, and the Evo is further refined and enhanced to bring out its qualities. The main point of focus was enhancing the car’s aerodynamics with the help of the Dallara Engineering.

Back in 2014, during the annual auto extravaganza that is Monterey Car Week, Lamborghini revealed the Huracan LP 620-2 Super Trofeo, a hardcore, race-ready iteration of the popular Lamborghini Huracan road car. Framed as an entry into the exciting world of GT3 racing, the Super Trofeo offers world-class performance at a relatively affordable price point. Built to spec for competition in the international one-make Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo series, more than 150 examples of the Super Trofeo have sold worldwide in the three years its been on the market, with racers taking to the track in Asia, the Middle East, Europe and North America. As many as 90 cars participate in the series annually. Now, the motorsports geeks from Lamborghini Squadra Corse just released an updated version of the Super Trofeo at a special event at Sant’Agata Bolognese, and it’s got improved aerodynamics and new safety measures, all with the same Super Trofeo fun.

“As it is a single-brand series, there are no regulatory demands that mean a successful model has to be altered. But with the Evo we wanted to give our customers an even more thrilling experience at the wheel, with superior performance and improved safety,” says Lambo’s Head of Motosport, Giorgio Sanna. Lambo’s CEO Stefano Domenicali adds, “Lamborghini Squadra Corse is continuing its plan to grow and consolidate its position as a trend setter on the competition scene.” So then – is this six-figure speed toy worth the outlay?

Continue reading to learn more about the Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo Evo.

Lamborghini may have Stefano Domenicali at the helm as its new chief executive officer, but even having the man who once took charge of rival Ferrari’s Formula One team isn’t enough for the Italian automaker to consider entering motor racing’s highest level of competition. Domenicali himself said as much in a conversation with AutoWeek, saying that Formula One “is not a priority” for the Italian automaker.

The new CEO’s statements are not different from his predecessor, Stephan Winkelmann, who also shut down any possibility linking Lamborghini back to Formula One for the first time in 20-plus years.

Sure, it would look cool to see Lamborghini return to Formula One, but there are a multitude of reasons that can be tied into its refusal to make the jump. Domenicali talked about “other priorities” and that’s true, both from a manufacturers and motorsports perspective. Right now, the biggest and most important priority is to expand its production capabilities with the impending arrival of the Urus SUV, which is projected to be the biggest volume model of the automaker. Having the facility and the resources in place to accommodate the SUV’s production is important for Lambo to continue functioning to its normal capacity. That also ties into its two existing models – the Aventador and the Huracán – as well as the multitude of special edition models it routinely creates.

Then there’s Lamborghini’s motorsports priority. It’s easy to overlook the company’s absence from Formula One and dismiss its motor sports credentials. That couldn’t be further from the truth though. Lamborghini is heavily invested in the sport. It builds GT3 race cars for competition. It has its own single-make series (the Super Trofeo). It also has an in-house driver development program that goes all the way to the grassroots level, specifically the recently launched Kart Driver’s Program.

Based on all of these, Domenicali does offer a fair assessment of what Lamborghini’s priorities are and how those priorities take precedent over any ambition to enter the chaotic world of Formula One.

Continue after the jump to read the full story.

Being able to drive a Lamborghini Huracán is easy enough if you know someone who actually owns one. Better yet, you can just buy one yourself so you can drive it as many times as you want. But even if you are a proud Huracán owner, there’s no guarantee that you can drive its racing counterpart, the Huracán LP620-2 SuperTrofeo.

For that, you have to be part of the Super Trofeo racing series, either as a driver or a team owner. Easier said than done, right? There is one other way to be able to drive the Huracán LP620-2 SuperTrofeo on the track. The Smoking Tire host Matt Farah demonstrated the benefits of networking and building up your friend’s list on Facebook. Farah is neither a race car driver nor is he a team owner in the SuperTrofeo racing series. But since he has friends in the right places, he was able to get invited by Dream Racing to take the Huracán SuperTrofeo out for a few spins in Las Vegas.

The whole experience is pretty exciting, especially for Farah, who seems to have that giddy look in his face throughout the 10-plus-minute video. Can you blame him? I certainly can’t. In fact, I’m pretty envious that he gets to take the race car iteration of the Huracán out for what looks to be a handful of quality laps around the Vegas race track.

One year after blazing its trail in European racing, the 2015 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 will finally make its North American GT3 racing debut in 2016 after a handful of teams confirmed their intention to race in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GT Daytona (GTD) class with the new Lambo race car. The Huracan GT3’s maiden racing run in the series will take place in the season-opening race — the Rolex 24 at Daytona — on January 30 and 31, 2016.

The arrival of the Huracan GT3 comes at an opportune time for customer teams, thanks in part to the adoption of the 2016 FIA GT3 specifications for all of its entries in the GTD class. Change Racing and O’Gara Motorsports are the first two teams that plan to use a Huracan GT3 next season. The two racing outfits are known for their involvement in the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North America, the one-make Lamborghini racing series that’s now in its third season. Change Racing, in particular, has been involved in the series since its inception in 2013, winning the first two seasons of the series on top of claiming the 2014 Pro-Am Super Trofeo World Finals title.

Likewise, O’Gara Motorsport has also been involved with the Super Trofeo North America from the very beginning and is on its way to claiming its first series victory in three years. Another team, Europe-based Konrad Motorsport, will also race in the 24 Hours of Daytona with a Huracan GT3.

Continue reading for the full story.

Lamborghini isn’t exactly known for its competitive heritage. In contrast to his rival, Enzo Ferrari, Ferruccio Lamborghini wasn’t a huge fan of racing. But, as Enzo figured out long ago, racing is an essential marketing tool for a performance car company.

Lamborghini has since come around to this way of thinking with its Squadra Corse GT racing program, which has a great record of fostering young driver talent around the world. Lamborghini has recommitted to young drivers for the 2015 season with the Squadra Corse Young Drivers Program, and has also added two new initiatives: the GT3 Junior Program and Formula Junior program.

Let’s pretend for a moment that you’re an exceptionally talented racing driver under 26 years of age. If you actually are, then bully for you. The first rung on the ladder to Lamborghini stardom is the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo series, a spec series in which entrants race identically prepared Lamborghini Huracán LP620-2 Super Trofeo race cars. Once you’ve proved your merits there, you move into the GT3 Junior Program, where you’ll be groomed to drive the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 and eventually race in one of the many GT3 series around the world.

If you’re an open-wheel racer, then the Formula Junior Program is your avenue to Lamborghini Squadra Corse greatness. Lamborghini will support select grass-roots single-seater teams and scout for the best talents among them throughout the 2015 season.

Continue reading for the full story.

The 2015 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 made its Blancpain Endurance Series debut with a bang at the 2015 3 Hours of Monza, crossing the finish line 37 seconds ahead of the second-place Ferrari 458 GT3. All that after setting the fastest lap during qualifiers. The victory, however, was short-lived as the No. 19 car of Fabio Babini, Jeroen Mul, and Andrew Palmer was excluded from the event a few hours later, after Monza stewards ruled that the winning Huracan had infringed refueling restrictor rules. But despite being stripped of its hard-earned success, the fact remains that the Huracan GT3 introduced itself as one of the main contenders for this year’s championship trophy.

Needless to say, this Italian track beast has everything it needs to defeat the mighty Audi R8 LMS. It’s powerful and it has a team of experienced drivers. It may be less important on the track, but the Huracan GT3 also wears a cool livery and roars like all hell breaking loose. That must be exciting for those in the stands.

In case you missed the Monza race, the video above is enough to show you what I mean. The track footage comes via Autocar, who had the chance to send Matt Saunders to test the GT3 racer around the Adria race track in Italy. Of course, Saunders isn’t as fast as the drivers that manhandle the Huracan in the Blancpain Endurance Series, but it’s enough to give a taste of what this Lambo is capable of.

Developed as a replacement for the aging Gallardo FL2 race car and launched earlier this year, the Huracan GT3 is being prepared for the upcoming racing season as we speak. With the first stage of the 2015 Blancpain Endurance Series scheduled to kick off on April 12th with the 3 Hours of Monza, Lamborghini took its new race car to the same Italian track for some last-minute honing before the Huracan is thrown into battle against GT3-spec versions of the McLaren 650S, Ferrari 458, Audi R8 LMS Ultra, Nissan GT-R, and even the Gallardo it was built to replace.

If you want to see the Huracan GT3 doing its thing but don’t want to wait for the Blancpain Endurance Series, then I have just the video for you. YouTube user "NM2255 Car HD Videos" was lucky enough to catch the supercar lapping the Monza track during a private test day and he put together four minutes of awesome accelerations, flybys and downshifts. Making the footage that much more enticing is the sound of the Huracan’s high-revving V-10 engine. Make sure you turn up the volume for a preview of what’s to come later this racing season.

Continue reading to find out more about the Huracan’s racing campaign for 2015.

The 2015 Lamborghini Huracan has been assigned the near-impossible mission of replacing the mighty Gallardo as the company’s entry-level supercar. Before the 610-horsepower machines even began rolling off the Italian assembly lines, Lamborghini was already developing new, faster versions. First on its list was the 2015 LP620-2 Super Trofeo, the race car that comes with a one-make series of its own to displace the Gallardo’s. With the 2015 racing season just around the corner, the Italians revealed yet another iteration of the Huracan: the GT3. As the moniker suggests, we’re still in racing territory, but this time in a more disputed department — the Blancpain Series — in which Lamborghini faces competition from a handful of manufacturers, Audi and McLaren included.

The brand-new race car comes to replace the Gallardo FL2, the company’s sole offering for privateers in both the Blancpain Endurance and Sprint Series. Gentlemen racers, it’s time to grab your helmets, there’s a new kid in town!

Based on the road-going Huracan that arrived in 2014, the GT3 comes with all the goodies specific to an endurance race car, including an aggressive body kit, a stripped interior and a curb weight of only 2,731 pounds.

Updated 01/21/2015: Lamborghini released the official details on the new Huracan GT3, which was unveiled at the company’s headquarters in Sant’Agata Bolognese. Click past the jump for the new details.

Click past the jump to read more about the 2015 Lamborghini Huracan GT3.

If you’re a fan of the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North America Championship Series, this announcement should be music to your ears. Lamborghini and the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) have announced an extension of their partnership for another four years. Part of this extended partnership calls for the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North America series to continue under IMSA sanctions.

As far as one-make racing series are concerned, the Blancpain Super Trofeo Series is as good as it gets, so it’s definitely great to hear that we’ll be seeing it for the next four years. The 2015 season is particularly special because it will be the first time we get to see the Huracan Super Trofeo in action.

The arrival of the Huracan Super Trofeo means that we’re gonna see it and the Gallardo LP 570-4 Super Trofeo share the grid in the 2015 Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo season, albeit with separate standings. Still, that’s something to look forward to.

As for the season itself, the 2015 Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North America event calendar was also recently unveiled with 10 rounds being raced at five venues across the U.S., including Laguna Seca, Watkins Glen, Road Atlanta, and the Circuit of the Americas. A World Final has also been scheduled to take place in November 2015 with competitors from all three global Blancpain Super Trofeo Series — Europe, Asia and North America — vying to became the world champion.

Click past the jump to read more about the Lamborghini Huracan LP620-2 Super Trofeo.

The Lamborghini Gallardo was a powerful milestone for the Italian company. It set new records for sales and production while simultaneously propelling the brand into a more mainstream audience. The Gallardo also marked Lamborghini’s return to one-make racing with the Super Trofeo series. Now that the record setting Gallardo has been replaced with the new Huracan, there is a large gap in the Lamborghini lineup.

Initial sales are strong, and it looks like the Huracan will quickly claim the top sales spot from its older sibling, and now Lamborghini has officially announced a Super Trofeo version of the new supercar to fill the race car slot as well.

Gentlemen racers, grab your helmets.

We knew it was coming, but now it is official, and we have all the details and information waiting for you after the break. With more power, a lighter weight and major drivetrain alterations, the new cars are promising to be much faster than the previous racing Gallardos could have ever hoped to be. You can find out all the new details about the engines, chassis aerodynamics and more after the break.

Click past the jump to read more about the 2015 Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo.

All in-person images from Monterey Car Week are courtesy of Carninja and are used with express permission.