Lamborghini Eyes Future in LMDh: Focus on Performance and Partnerships
DAYTONA BEACH, FL – Lamborghini’s commitment to its LMDh project is under scrutiny as the Italian manufacturer aims to establish its competitiveness in this year’s IMSA SportsCar Championship. Following a split with Iron Lynx, Lamborghini has taken direct control of its race program for the 2024 season, with a focus on the five endurance races, including the recent Daytona 24 Hours.
Lamborghini’s Chief Technology Officer, Rouven Mohr, emphasized the company’s future strategy: “It is not our ambition in the future to be a racing team. If we go to the next step and enlarge the programme, it makes only sense if the car’s performance matches that of our GT3 cars.” The SC63’s development is a priority, as Mohr noted, “We will judge the future programmes depending on how fast we are progressing with performance development.”
Mohr expressed optimism regarding the SC63’s competitiveness, stating he is "super-positive" about progress throughout the season. However, he cautioned that future plans for 2026 remain tentative, contingent on performance developments and potential partnerships with customer teams.
CEO Stephan Winkelmann indicated a long-term vision for Lamborghini in both IMSA and the World Endurance Championship (WEC), highlighting the prestige of the Le Mans 24 Hours: “It gives a lot of visibility, and I would love to be back as soon as possible.” The company is committed to maintaining a presence in the WEC, despite past challenges with team partnerships.
The split with Iron Lynx has prompted Lamborghini Squadra Corse to manage the SC63 project autonomously. Mohr clarified that the decision stemmed from a desire for greater control over development, as previous efforts showed potential for improvement. The isolated SC63 campaign is now supported by Riley Motorsports, which entered the car for the Daytona race after a last-minute arrangement.
However, the Daytona 24 Hours did not yield the results Lamborghini hoped for, with the SC63 retiring from the race after 58 minutes due to powertrain issues related to the cooling system. Mirko Bortolotti was the only driver to take the wheel during the event, having started ninth and reached as high as eighth before the retirement.
The development trajectory will focus on enhancing vehicle dynamics, suspension, and aerodynamics, labeled as the “three pain points” of the SC63 by new Squadra Corse head Maurizio Leschiutta. An "evo joker" update is planned for the 2025 season to bolster performance.
Looking ahead, Lamborghini’s immediate goal is clear: to validate the SC63’s competitiveness in IMSA, paving the way for potential partnerships that could secure a robust presence in future endurance racing.
