JLOC Keeps Huracan and Temerario Options Open for 2027 SUPER GT

JLOC is buying a Lamborghini Temerario GT3 but hasn't settled whether it will race one in SUPER GT next year. Team boss Isao Noritake wants to keep at least one Huracan GT3 EVO2 in the line-up. My read is that the Temerario decision depends less on sporting arguments for the older car and more on how quickly the newer one is developing.

A team leaving Motegi on a high

The timing makes the uncertainty more interesting. Takashi Kogure and Daniil Kvyat closed the season at Motegi with the team's first win in two years, lifting JLOC to fourth in the GT300 standings. That's a meaningful result for an operation that has run the Huracan for a long time, and it gives Noritake a strong case for continuity.

Why the Huracan was supposed to be finished

Factory support for the Huracan was expected to end after 2026 as Lamborghini moved its GT3 effort to the Temerario, which debuted this year in Europe and North America. That plan shifted when motorsport boss Andrea Reggiani confirmed that Huracan support will continue into 2027. Here's the thing: a continued factory commitment doesn't automatically give customer teams a free choice of car. When a manufacturer splits its attention between two platforms, questions about parts, engineering time and development pace all come into play.

Three realistic paths

JLOC can run two Huracans, run one Huracan alongside one Temerario, or move fully to the newer car. Each option carries trade-offs. Two Huracans keep a known package in the hands of mechanics who, in Noritake's words, know the EVO2 "inside out." A split effort puts Temerario data on track while keeping a proven race car in the field. Going all-in on the Temerario means a learning curve on a car that Noritake says is getting faster "bit by bit."

Ordering a car and racing it are separate decisions. Noritake confirmed that JLOC's place in the production queue is already set and that the team is buying the car, with delivery expected in the coming months. What's still open is whether it goes on the grid in 2027. Taking delivery without committing to race it keeps options open, and a car sitting in the garage still gives the team something to talk about with the manufacturer.

The balance of performance question

Noritake acknowledged "a lot of noise lately" about the balance of performance, the set of adjustments that determines how competitive each car is within a series. He still believes the Huracan has "more than enough potential" when run to SRO standards. That's the crux for anyone watching the grid. GT3 results in a series like SUPER GT are heavily shaped by BoP, and a car that looks strong on paper can lose ground after a single adjustment. Teams in this position usually weigh a mature, well-understood car against the upside of a newer one whose setup window is still being explored.

Kvyat's seat is tied to the car

The driver question runs on the same track as the car decision. A Lamborghini spokesperson clarified that using one of the marque's factory drivers, such as Kvyat, would depend on the adoption of the Temerario. Kvyat is under contract with Lamborghini, so Noritake said that conversation will happen with the manufacturer. He was non-committal on whether Kvyat would return in 2027, but he was openly complimentary about the Italian-licensed driver's first season in GT3 competition.

"He has a natural, innate talent," Noritake said. "The more he drives, the faster he gets. His lap times are incredibly consistent; it's truly impressive." He added that he wished he could have given Kvyat a better car, and that the GT300 category had surprised the driver in many ways. Kvyat, 32, said nothing is confirmed yet. "I love the racing in Japan, it's very competitive here," he said. "Now I have learned all the tracks." He wants to stay, but he's weighing his options.

What to watch next

The next concrete step is Noritake's trip to Italy, where he plans to meet Lamborghini and settle the car mix. Three things are worth tracking. First, whether JLOC confirms one or two Huracans for 2027. Second, when the Temerario arrives and how quickly the team gets it running in a representative setup. Third, whether Kvyat's programme gets locked in with the manufacturer. If the answer is a split effort, expect the Temerario to be a development project before it becomes a results tool. And if JLOC commits fully to the Huracan, that tells you the EVO2 still has enough life for a serious customer team to bet on another season.