Former Formula One driver Daniil Kvyat is set to make his Daniil Kvyat Super GT debut in 2026, joining the JLOC Lamborghini team in Japan‘s premier racing series. This move sees Kvyat continuing his career as a factory driver for Lamborghini after shifts across various sportscar disciplines.
JLOC’s History and Recent Performance Challenges
The Japan Lamborghini Owners’ Club (JLOC) has been competing in Super GT since 1994 and celebrated its first championship victory in the GT300 category in 2024. Additionally, the team earned the inaugural Asian Le Mans title in the GT1 class, solidifying their competitiveness in multiple series. However, the 2025 Super GT season proved difficult, with JLOC securing only a single podium finish.
Team principal Isao Noritake attributed the disappointing results largely to Balance of Performance (BoP) regulations that hampered the team’s straight-line speed by as much as 12 km/h. These constraints affected their overall pace, making it more challenging to compete against rivals.
Car Strategy and Future Plans
JLOC faced a key decision regarding whether to adopt Lamborghini’s new GT3 model, the Temerario, or to continue with the aging Huracán. Ultimately, they elected to stick with the Huracán for its final campaign at a major competition, while the Temerario is slated to appear in select series before eventually becoming the team’s primary race car.
Kvyat’s Racing Background and Transition to Super GT
Daniil Kvyat competed in Formula One from 2014 through 2020, earning three podiums over six seasons. Following his F1 career, he spent a year in the World Endurance Championship’s LMP2 class with PREMA before joining Lamborghini’s SC63 Hypercar program in 2024. In 2025, he progressed to the Lamborghini GTP effort in the IMSA SportsCar Championship.
With Lamborghini’s Hypercar program currently on hold, Kvyat will now join JLOC for his first experience racing a GT3 car in Super GT. Though unconfirmed, Kvyat’s social media post indicates he might continue other Lamborghini factory duties during the season, including potential involvement with the Temerario.
Significance and Outlook for Kvyat and JLOC
Kvyat’s entry into Super GT marks an important expansion in his racing portfolio, transitioning from prototypes back to GT3 machinery. For JLOC, pairing with a seasoned driver like Kvyat could help overcome recent BoP-related struggles and elevate the team’s performance in the competitive GT300 class. As Lamborghini phases in the Temerario fully, combined with Kvyat’s experience, this new chapter holds promising potential for both driver and team.
