The Goodwood Festival of Speed is officially underway and Lamborghini Squadra Corse has used the event to unveil their new LMDh race car, known as the SC63.
Set to compete in the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship and the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship, the SC63 will enter iconic races including the 12 Hours of Sebring, the 24 Hours of Daytona, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
To compete on the world’s stage, the car has been outfitted with an all-new twin-turbo 3.8-liter V8 engine designed specifically for racing. It features a ‘cold V’ configuration that sees the turbochargers “mounted outside the vee angle of the engine, which makes them easier to cool and to service.” Lamborghini went on to say the setup reduces weight and helps to optimize the car’s center of gravity.
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The engine is paired with a hybrid system and the output is limited to 671 hp (500 kW / 680 PS) by regulations. That isn’t the only stipulation as the automaker noted the “LMDh rule set specifies a standard gearbox, battery and motor generator unit, which helps to contain the development costs for the prototype.”
While some aspects of the car were set in stone, the automaker noted they partnered with Ligier early on and this gave them the freedom to specify certain features such as the push rod front suspension design, overall weight distribution, and ease of service for critical parts.
The company’s influence can be seen elsewhere as the design was crafted by Lamborghini’s Centro Stile and certainly looks on-brand. A large part of this is due to the colorful livery as well as the Y-shaped lighting units that telegraph its identity.
Those aren’t the only special touches, as Head of Design Mitja Borkert explained: “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 towards the front, and this relates to the wheel arch design language of Lamborghini that can also be seen on the Revuelto.”
The SC63 will begin testing soon and the automaker noted the car was “designed and developed to offer the widest ‘operating window’ possible to optimize performance, while also being able to look after its tires even on the most aggressive track surfaces.” This is important as regulations are strict and the company can only make limited modifications to prepare for various tracks and races.
Speaking of which, Lamborghini has partnered with Iron Lynx to run the SC63. One car will compete in the World Endurance Championship, while another will battle in the IMSA series. The full roster will be announced later this year, but confirmed pilots include Lamborghini factory drivers Mirko Bortolotti and Andrea Caldarelli as well as Formula 1 alums Daniil Kvyat and Romain Grosjean.
Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann celebrated the car’s unveiling by saying: “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.” The executive added, “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.”
