– Start of a new era: As the first Lamborghini DTM team, Gottfried Grasser’s squad received the new Temerario GT3 a few days ago and began testing in Monza on Tuesday. The vehicle is out in a full carbon look, with only the lettering of the Grasser team and sponsor TGI above the windshield and under the door revealing its origin.
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At the wheel are DTM drivers Mirko Bortolotti and Maximilian Paul, as well as GT World Challenge Europe reinforcement Franck Perera, who are taking turns during the four-day test until Friday. And initial video footage shows that the car is already being driven fully at the limit, which is a good sign.
The number of laps is also impressive: 108 laps were completed with the brand-new vehicle on Tuesday, and a notable 97 laps on Wednesday. “It’s going better than expected,” says a pleased team principal Gottfried Grasser. But why has his team already received the new car while Abt is still waiting?
Grasser receives new car before Abt: What Lamborghini says
“The allocation of customer vehicles was determined based on the respective sporting and testing calendars of the teams involved,” explains a Lamborghini spokesperson when asked by Motorsport-Total.com.
Abt will receive its first Lamborghini Temerario GT3 by the end of this week, after which the remaining customer teams will follow. “Before delivery, each vehicle undergoes a full shakedown and validation process carried out by Automobili Lamborghini’s internal staff to ensure the highest quality standards,” explains the Lamborghini spokesperson.
Grasser tests new Lamborghini Temerario GT3 in Monza
The fact that Grasser received the car about a week before the Abt team, which wants to return to the top in 2026 after a difficult Lamborghini debut year in the DTM, is due to the fact that the Austrians are also competing in the GT World Challenge Europe (GTWCE).
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Does Grasser still have a tire advantage over Abt?
The official test – also called the Prologue – will take place on April 8 and 9 in Le Castellet, with the season opener following in the days after. The Grasser team is competing with the Temerario in the SRO series alongside the DTM, while Abt is only using the new car in the DTM.
Because on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife, Abt is competing once again this year with the mature Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo2 – and the DTM season opener takes place two weeks after the GTWCE on April 25 and 26 in Spielberg (DTM calendar).
At least one disadvantage Abt should not have this year: In the DTM, an exclusive Pirelli tire will be used in 2026, meaning the Grasser team can only use the experience gained from the GTWCE, where the Italians’ DHG tire continues to be used, to a limited extent (SPONSORED LINK: Secure tickets for the 2026 DTM season now!).
Intensive testing phase for Grasser team in Italy
The Grasser team is currently using every opportunity for test drives to get to know the Temerario GT3 as well as possible before the season. “In March, we will certainly test every week,” Grasser announced. “We have to find out how the car reacts to certain changes and gain an understanding of the car.”
After the test in Monza, where the team enjoyed dry conditions and temperatures just above ten degrees on the first two days, the team also wants to test next week before the first test with the exclusive DTM tire from Pirelli for the teams in Vallelunga is scheduled for March 24 and 25.
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