Lamborghini gave the brand new Huracan GT3 Evo2 its debut in January’s Rolex 24 at Daytona, and in addition to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, examples of the automobile are additionally set to race in GT3-based collection such because the DTM and GT World Problem Europe this yr.
Nonetheless, long-time Japanese Lambo buyer JLOC remains to be operating its pair of entries in SUPER GT’s decrease GT300 class within the previous-generation Evo spec that has been used since 2019.
JLOC boss Isao Noritake defined {that a} deliberate supply date of April – proper across the time of the opening race in Okayama – meant a choice was taken to delay the transition to Evo2 equipment.
As a substitute, the workforce now plans to take supply of its upgraded machines between the third spherical of the season at Suzuka at the beginning of June and the fourth spherical at Fuji Speedway two months later.
“On the finish of final yr, Giorgio [Sanna, Lamborghini Head of Motorsport] stated, ‘No matter occurs, we need to do a ultimate check at Daytona,” Noritake informed Motorsport.com.
“They need to ship excellent automobiles to us, however the proposed supply date turned April. However for us, it was troublesome timing.
“There’s a lengthy hole after Spherical 3 [at Suzuka], so we’re considering one of the best time is to do it then. Now we’re in touch with them about it.”
The choice to delay the introduction of the Evo2 Huracan has additionally had a knock-on affect on JLOC’s hopes of recruiting a manufacturing facility Lamborghini driver for the 2023 SUPER GT season.
Noritake informed Motorsport.com final yr that he hoped to have entry to one of many Italian’s drivers for the primary time for the reason that COVID-19 pandemic in 2023.
“Truly, Giorgio additionally stated that if the automobile was on time for the opening spherical, having a manufacturing facility driver would no subject,” he stated. “However as a result of we ended up in a type of half-and-half scenario, we could not do it from the beginning.
“However there is a attainable we will get one as a 3rd driver later within the yr.”
JLOC’s pair of Huracans carried out nicely in final weekend’s Okayama pre-season check, with Takashi Kogure setting the general finest time within the GT300 class of 1m25.400s within the #88 automobile.
The sister #87 machine was fifth-fastest, just a little underneath 4 tenths behind within the arms of Natsu Sakaguchi.
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