Lamborghini Gallardo R-EX - Final Evolution of Gallardo GT3
Lamborghini Gallardo R-EX, also known as the Reiter Gallardo Extenso, is the latest version of the Gallardo GT3 race car developed by a tuning company from Germany and a racing team Reiter Engineering. The car was introduced in 2014 and was prepared for the competitions all over the world starting with 2015 GT season.
Reiter Engineering, owned by Hens Reiter and located in Kirchanschoering, Bavaria, is an exclusive Lamborghini partner since 2000. Reiter built more than 100 Lamborghini race cars, most of them were Gallardos. Since its introduction in 2006, Gallardo GT3 collected more than 200 victories and over 400 podiums finishes.
Face to face: Gallardo R-EX (left) and Gallardo FL2 GT3
Instead retiring Gallardo, Reiter has built Extenso
Although Lamborghini Huracan was introduced as Gallardo’s successor in 2014, with a GT3 version of Huracan being prepared for the 2015 season, Hans Reiter decided that Gallardo isn’t ready for retirement yet. The result of this decision was the ultimate race car, the last GT3-spec Gallardo, the Reiter Gallardo Extenso.
Reiter Engineering announced that it would build only ten examples of the R-EX model, selling it for about €250,000 to customer teams all over the world. The Gallardo R-EX is an improved version of the previous model Gallardo 560-4 FL2 GT3, featuring the same chassis with the mid-mounted 5.2-litre V10 engine.
The main changes are new front and rear lights, increased width to 205 cm, 13 cm wider rear axle and new rear quarter panels made from carbon fibre instead of aluminum. The engine also underwent some improvements. The power (over 600 hp) comes from race camshafts and Mahle pistons that reduce fuel consumption and increase reliability.
#25 Lamborghini Gallardo R-EX – victorious car at ADAC GT Masters race at Red Bull Ring
Two wins for Reiter Engineering in R-EX’s debut season
Reiter Engineering tested a new car in racing conditions in the 2015 Blancpain Sprint Series, participating in all seven rounds with the #88 car, driven by Albert von Thurn und Taxis, Nick Catsburg and Peter Kox (one round). Thurn und Taxis and Catsburg scored one victory, in the qualifying race at Moscow Raceway, finishing sixth in the Teams’ championship.
Another victory came in the 2015 ADAC GT Masters, where Reiter Engineering debuted with the #25 Gallardo R-EX in the second round at Red Bull Ring, with Tomaš Enge and David Russell as drivers. They immediately won the Race 1, finishing in second place in Race 2.
Five Gallardo R-EX cars participated in the 2016 Australian GT Championship
Australians love Gallardo R-EX
The Australian team Lago Racing purchased Gallardo R-EX and used it in the Australian GT Championship, but the team also visited Europe in July 2016, participating at 24 hours of Spa. The #132 Gallardo finished 12th in Pro-Am Cup standings.
Five R-EX cars participated in the 2016 Australian GT Championship. M Motorsport’s Justin McMillan and Glen Wood finished fourth in the points, Roger Lago was two places behind. In the 2017 Australian GT Championship season, the number of Gallardo R-EX cars increased to seven.
One out of seven Gallardo R-EX cars in the first round of the 2017 Australian GT Championship
Running R-EX in North America and Japan
Before conquering Australia, Gallardo R-EX had a racing debut on the other side of the world, in North America. Blancpain Racing team participated with R-EX in the selected rounds of the 2015 Pirelli World Challenge, not scoring wins or podiums.
In the Japanese Super GT Series, R-EX also had a debut in 2015 and Vattana Motorsport used a car in one round, at Thailand’s Chang International Circuit.
Lamborghini Gallardo R-EX in motion
Lamborghini Gallardo R-EX technical specifications
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Photos: reiter-lamborghini.com,
