WEC: Lamborghini unveils 2024 Hypercar-class contender
Lamborghini Squadra Corse has launched its first hybrid endurance racing prototype, the SC63, revealed at Goodwood Festival of Speed. The car is set to participate in the Hypercar class of the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship, operated by WEC regulars, Iron Lynx
Lamborghini has partnered with the Italian team to run a single car in the full 2024 WEC campaign. In parallel, the manufacturer will also have a one-car presence in Michelin Endurance Cup, part of IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship.
The SC63 features an all-new 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 engine that has been developed by Lamborghini engineers specifically for the racing program. Lamborghini has selected the renowned expert company Ligier as its partner to develop and build the monocoque as the first manufacturer to partner with Ligier on an LMDh project.
The bodywork has been designed by Lamborghini’s Centro Stile design department, in conjunction with the race design team. It features the brand’s styling cues, including the iconic Y-shaped lights at the front and rear.
The driver line-up will include experienced Lamborghini GT3 racers Mirko Bortolotti and Andrea Caldarelli as well as drivers with Hybrid-era Formula 1 experience, Romain Grosjean and Daniil Kvyat. The rest of the line-up will be confirmed later on in 2023.
The cars will be dressed in Lamborghini’s familiar livery, running in verde mantis green, with a black nero noctis strip over the cabin, front hood, carbon diffuser, rear fin and wing. The cars will also feature green, white and red Italian tricolore stripes.
“The SC63 is the most advanced racing car ever produced by Lamborghini and it follows our roadmap ‘Direzione Cor Tauri’ laid out by the brand for the electrification of our product range,” said Stephan Winkelmann, Lamborghini Chairman and CEO. “The opportunity to compete in some of the biggest endurance races in the world with a hybrid prototype fits with our vision for the future of high-performance mobility, as demonstrated for road-legal cars with the launch of the Revuelto. The SC63 LMDh is the step into the highest echelons and into the future of motor sports for our Squadra Corse.”
“This year marks not only the 60th anniversary of our brand but also the tenth anniversary of Squadra Corse, Lamborghini’s motorsport division,” said Giorgio Sanna, Lamborghini’s Head of Motorsport. “Over the last decade we have achieved great results. Starting from scratch we have won some of the most prestigious endurance races in the GT category for our production-based racing cars. These include three class wins at the 24 hours of Daytona, and two wins in a row at the Sebring 12 hours. Now we are ready for what is our biggest step into the future of motor sport, measuring ourselves against the best manufacturers in the world.”
Iron Lynx Team Principal and CEO, Andrea Piccini, said: “Being involved in such an ambitious project is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We are honoured and extremely excited to be part of it and to start a new chapter for Iron Lynx with Lamborghini. It’s been amazing to see everything finally come together for the reveal of the SC63. Everyone at Iron Lynx is eager for testing to get underway. This is undoubtedly one of the biggest challenges we’ve ever faced as a team, and we are now looking forward to seeing the SC63 on track.”
