Lamborghini is all set to race in the top flight of the World Endurance Championship (WEC) and IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship for the very first time next year. And the carmaker has finally revealed its new challenger, the SC63 LMDh hybrid prototype.
Lamborghini SC63 gets a 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8
The SC63 will run under the LMDh ruleset, which requires a 680hp hybrid powertrain with a standardised gearbox, battery and motor-generator unit.
At the heart of the powertrain is an all-new 3.8-litre V8, onto which Lamborghini has strapped a pair of turbochargers. These are mounted outside the cylinder banks in what the firm calls a ‘cold V’ set-up, helping with cooling and ease of servicing. This will prove to be critical to the car’s success in endurance races, where parts are expected to fail as the stress of constant high loads – for hours between stops – takes its toll.
This ‘cold V’ also weighs less and lowers the car’s centre of gravity, improving the SC63’s handling characteristics, said Lamborghini.
Lamborghini SC63 uses Ligier chassis
The LMDh regulations require manufacturers to use a base chassis provided by one of four constructors, and Lamborghini has partnered with Ligier. Lamborghini is Ligier’s first LMDh partner; an advantage, according to the Italian firm, as it was able to work from a blank slate with greater freedom to tweak elements such as the front suspension design.
The monocoque is wrapped in bodywork penned at Lamborghini’s Centro Stile design studio, featuring cues set to become familiar on upcoming road cars such as the Y-shaped lights at the front and rear end.
Lamborghini to race in WEC and IMSA
One SC63 will be entered into the 2024 WEC, which also includes the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Another car will be entered into the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship in USA. Italy’s Iron Lynx racing team – which also runs a set of Lamborghini Huracán GT3 racers – will be responsible for both entries.
So far, Lamborghini has confirmed factory drivers Mirko Bortolotti, Andrea Caldarelli and former F1 drivers Romain Grosjean and Daniil Kyvat as part of its driver line-up. But more drivers will likely be announced soon.
The Lamborghini SC63 will compete against challengers from BMW, Porsche, Cadillac and Alpine in the LMDh class. All these LMDh competitors will also battle it out against entries in the Le Mans Hypercar class from the likes of Ferrari, Toyota and Peugeot.