Lamborghini Preps Its Pair of LMDh Prototypes for Le Mans, Daytona

Lamborghini has found success in many kinds of racing around the world with various versions of its Huracan. But that wasn’t enough. Now Lamborghini is taking a step up from its Squadra Corse's participation in Super Trofeo and GT3 racing with the Huracan and has announced it will enter hybrid endurance racing starting in 2024. It's all-new hybrid prototype will run at Le Mans and Daytona, as well as the full slate of races on the European and American calendars.

The prototype will be called SC63 in honor of Lamborghini’s founding 60 years ago in 1963. The car will compete in the Hypercar class of the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and in the GTP class of the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship Endurance Cup, including the 24 Hours of Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring. Lamborghini made the announcement at the Goodwood Festival of Speed today.

Lamborghini will build its own engine for the cars, an all-new 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 that Lambo says has been developed specifically for these racing programs. Power in the series is limited to 671 hp for all participants, which Lamborghini says allows it to concentrate on aerodynamics and grip. The turbos will be on the underside of the cylinder banks for better cooling and serviceability.

“This solution, combined with a specifically developed aero balance and attitude, has been identified as the most effective to achieve the best tire grip, and perfect balance, drivability, and consistent speed both over a single lap but also across long distance races,” Lamborghini said in the announcement.

Class rules also specify standard gearboxes, batteries, and motor generators for the hybrid components to help contain costs for the teams.

The chassis will be built by Ligier. It will be Ligier’s first crack at an LMDh prototype.

“As the first manufacturer to select Ligier on an LMDh project, there was freedom for Lamborghini to specify its requirements, including the development of the pushrod front suspension design, overall weight distribution and ease of service for critical parts of the car,” Lamborghini said.

Lamborghini claims the body of the car was designed by its Centro Stile design department in conjunction with the race team, but the spec rules are fairly clear about parameters of the body, so Lambo really had to try to make its prototype look unique.

“We wanted to create a car that is immediately recognizable as Lamborghini,” said Mitja Borkert, Lamborghini’s head of design at Centro Stile. “The main recognition of the front and rear of the SC63 is driven by the Y-shaped signature light. The size of the cabin and the main character of the car is driven by the sporting rules, but we have also implemented our own brand styling cues throughout the car. Integrated into the side panel of the body you can see a NACA duct that was inspired by the air intake of the Countach. When you look at the rear wheel arch, we gave the impression of acceleration toward the front, and this relates to the wheel arch design language of Lamborghini that can also been seen on the Revuelto.”

That color you see is called Verde Mantis green, with a black Nero Noctis strip running over the cabin, hood, diffuser, rear fin, and wing.

Drivers will include Lamborghini factory pilotes Mirko Bortolotti and Andrea Caldarelli, together with Formula 1 veterans Daniil Kvyat and Romain Grosjean.

There will be two cars in competition starting in 2024, one in the full FIA World Endurance Championship, and the second in the IMSA North American Endurance Championship. Both teams will be entered by Iron Lynx Racing. Look for the car in action starting at Daytona 2024.