Lamborghini Squadra Corse’s new Huracán GT3 EVO2 made a resounding statement in its debut race, securing an impressive first-ever win at the DTM season opener held at Oschersleben, Germany.
Franck Perera of SSR Performance delivered a commanding lights-to-flag performance, solidifying the Huracán GT3 EVO2‘s triumph and marking Lamborghini’s maiden success in the DTM since joining the series last year. The race also marked a promising start to SSR Performance‘s collaboration with Lamborghini Squadra Corse.
Giorgio Sanna, Lamborghini’s Head of Motorsport, expressed his delight at the team’s historic victory in the DTM, coinciding with the debut win of the Huracán GT3 EVO2. He praised SSR Performance for their remarkable performance in their first race with Lamborghini Squadra Corse, instilling optimism for the upcoming championship. Recognizing the high level of competition, Sanna emphasized the team’s motivation to continue pushing their limits.
The DTM weekend at Oschersleben witnessed both Lamborghini-supported teams, SSR Performance and Grasser Racing Team, arrive with confidence following productive pre-season tests. After completing three private group tests on Thursday, the teams commenced the weekend with free practice on Friday morning. Mirko Bortolotti, a Lamborghini Factory Driver, topped the practice session in the #92 SSR Performance Huracán. In the second practice, Mick Wishofer of Grasser Racing Team secured the highest Lamborghini position, finishing fourth.
The DTM showcased intense competition, with less than one second separating the top 26 drivers. This trend continued into Saturday’s qualifying session, where Perera narrowly surpassed Jack Aitken’s Ferrari by 0.018 seconds, with Bortolotti securing third place, just 0.038 seconds behind. At the start of the first race, Perera made a strong getaway, leading into the challenging first corner, while Bortolotti settled into second position. Perera maintained his advantage at the front, retaining the lead even after his mandatory pit stop.
In contrast, Bortolotti dropped to eighth place after his stop. Perera, driving the #94 Lamborghini Huracán, faced no significant obstacles and extended his lead in the latter half of the race, finishing with a comfortable 3.987-second gap ahead of the second-place Porsche.
Perera’s victory in the opening round of the season secured him the maximum score of 28 points, including the three points earned for pole position. It was a flawless performance for the Lamborghini Factory Driver on Saturday.
However, Perera faced a tougher challenge in race two, starting from 18th on the grid due to another fiercely contested qualifying session. GRT’s Clemens Schmid emerged as the highest-placed Lamborghini driver, finishing third, one position ahead of Bortolotti. Schmid delivered an impressive performance, securing fifth place in race two, while Bortolotti crossed the finish line in sixth. Perera, the race one winner, finished 12th in the second race.
The next round of the DTM season will take place at Zandvoort in the Netherlands on the weekend of 24-25 June.
British GT and International GT Open Success
Following a podium finish at Silverstone earlier in the month, Sandy Mitchell and Shaun Balfe of Barwell Motorsport continued to collect points in the British GT Championship with a seventh-place finish at Donington Park.
The weekend started positively, as the #72 Huracán GT3 EVO2 achieved the fourth-fastest combined time during free practice. Subsequently, Mitchell and Balfe secured pole position in both qualifying sessions on Saturday, establishing their dominance with a four-tenths-of-a-second advantage.
Barwell Motorsport enjoyed double success as Will Tregurtha and Mark Sansom also claimed pole in the Am-Silver category. Despite serving a 15-second success penalty from Silverstone during the two-hour race, Mitchell and Balfe showcased their skill, delivering a clean drive to secure a top-ten finish. Tregurtha and Sansom overcame an early puncture and achieved ninth place overall, securing the second position in the Silver-Am class.
Additionally, two Huracán GT3 EVO2s competed in the International GT Open at the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium. The Oregon Team’s duo of Maximilian Paul, Pierre Louis Chovet, Daan Arrow, and Pietro Perolini sought redemption after a disappointing start to their campaign.
Chovet and Paul qualified in fourth place for the standalone 140-minute endurance race. Although the Bonaldi Motorsport Pro-Am pairing of Sandro Mur and Martin Kodrić emerged as the highest-placed Lamborghini team, narrowly missing the podium in fourth position.
These recent achievements highlight Lamborghini’s strong presence in both national and international GT racing, underlining the exceptional performance and capabilities of the Huracán GT3 EVO2.
In conclusion, Lamborghini Squadra Corse’s victorious debut of the Huracán GT3 EVO2 at the DTM season opener, coupled with commendable performances in the British GT Championship and International GT Open, solidifies Lamborghini’s status as a force to be reckoned with in the world of motorsport. With remarkable drivers, exceptional teamwork, and a relentless pursuit of excellence, Lamborghini continues to dominate and thrive on the race tracks worldwide.