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FIA WEC at Imola, IMSA at Long Beach: BMW M Hybrid V8 faces an eventful double-header weekend.

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Imola/Long Beach. Four BMW M Hybrid V8s, two continents. The BMW M Motorsport LMDh prototypes are dealing with an intense racing weekend. While BMW M Team WRT competes at Imola (ITA) with two Hypercars within the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) for the second race of the season, BMW M Team RLL is aiming for the season’s first podium within the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IMSA sequence) at Long Beach (USA). The BMW M4 GT3 is concentrating on the rostrum in each Italy and California.

 

FIA WEC: BMW M Team WRT competes at Imola.

At the 6 Hours of Imola, the FIA WEC is making its first European cease this yr. BMW M Motorsport engineers and BMW M Team WRT have analysed the difficult season opener in Qatar with the 2 BMW M Hybrid V8s over the previous weeks and have labored intensively to enhance the automotive. Behind the wheel of automotive #15 are Raffaele Marciello (SUI), Dries Vanthoor (BEL), and Marco Wittmann (GER). The sister automotive, the #20 BMW M Hybrid V8, is shared by Robin Frijns (NED), René Rast (GER), and Sheldon van der Linde (RSA).

In the LMGT3 class, Team WRT made a powerful impression in Qatar, with the #46 BMW M4 GT3 narrowly lacking the rostrum on the opener. At Imola, the crew will likely be carried by a particular tailwind; Valentino Rossi (ITA) begins his dwelling race, with the Imola monitor being lower than two hours’ drive from his birthplace Urbino (ITA). The 45-year-old Italian will be a part of Ahmad Al Harthy (OMA) and BMW M works driver Maxime Martin (BEL) for the 6 Hours of Imola. Driven by quite a few Tifosi anticipated alongside the monitor, the native hero and his team-mates are aiming for a podium end. In the sister automotive, the #31 BMW M4 GT3, BMW M works driver Augusto Farfus (BRA), Sean Gelael (INA), and Darren Leung (GBR) will take turns.

The Imola race begins on Sunday at 13:00 CEST.

IMSA sequence: Street circuit at Long Beach as a great omen.

Two BMW M Hybrid V8s are additionally required within the IMSA sequence this coming weekend. BMW M Team RLL begins with good recollections on the Long Beach avenue circuit. Last yr, Connor De Phillippi (USA) and Nick Yelloly (GBR) celebrated second place on the rostrum within the #25 BMW M Hybrid V8. Philipp Eng (AUT) and Augusto Farfus (BRA) accomplished the robust group outcome within the GTP class with a fourth place.

With the momentum from 2023 outcomes, the group and drivers wish to underline the robust efficiency of the BMW M Hybrid V8 from the primary two weekends of the present yr and at last reward themselves with the primary podium within the third race of the IMSA season. As final yr, De Phillippi and Yelloly begin within the #25 BMW M Hybrid V8. Eng shares the sister #24 automotive this yr with Jesse Krohn (FIN).

In the GTD class, BMW M Motorsport groups additionally look again on a formidable historical past at Long Beach. Paul Miller Racing triumphed final yr with the #1 BMW M4 GT3. In 2024, Turner Motorsport sends a BMW M4 GT3 onto the three.167-kilometre monitor. BMW M works driver Robby Foley and Patrick Gallagher (each USA) enter the 100-minute dash race with automotive #96. The shortest race of the season – alongside the Detroit Grand Prix – begins on Saturday at 16:35 native time (22:35 CEST).

Statement earlier than the races at Imola and Long Beach:

Andreas Roos (Head of BMW M Motorsport): “We are facing the first race weekend where we are competing with the BMW M Hybrid V8 at two major events on two continents simultaneously. We are competing on the biggest stages of prototype racing against top-notch competition. It’s spectacular and exactly the challenge we’ve been looking forward to since BMW M Motorsport’s entry into the LMDh category was confirmed. At the FIA WEC opener in Qatar, we realised that we need to improve significantly to compete at the level we expect of ourselves in the world championship. We have worked hard over the past weeks and expect to be able to make the first progress at Imola. In the IMSA series, we experienced one of our strongest races at Long Beach in 2023. With second and fourth places, we were very close to our first victory with the BMW M Hybrid V8. Now we hope that we can fight for the lead again this time and thus convert the speed we have already shown at Daytona and Sebring into top results. Both in the FIA WEC and in the IMSA series, we are also very well positioned with the BMW M4 GT3. I expect our teams to have a chance of winning in both racing series.”

Marco Wittmann (BMW M Team WRT, #15 BMW M Hybrid V8): “I am really looking forward to competing in the FIA WEC again this weekend. Italy is a beautiful country. I like the ambiance, the food, and the people – so I’m really looking forward to it. Imola is a very historic racetrack that I know from DTM. In 2022, I made it to the podium there, so I have good memories. We have conducted some tests and simulator sessions since the opener in Qatar and hopefully will make a step forward.”

Maxime Martin (Team WRT, #46 BMW M4 GT3): “It will be a special weekend for us because it’s Valentino’s home race in the FIA WEC. I therefore expect it to be very crowded, and I anticipate many spectators with high expectations at the track. Our first race in Qatar was really solid with a fourth-place finish. We will try to improve our package and aim for the podium. That would be a good result, also in terms of the world championship. I know the track and am confident that Ahmad, Valentino, and I will be competitive. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Philipp Eng (BMW M Team RLL, #24 BMW M Hybrid V8): “I am really looking forward to the race at Long Beach. It’s a very cool track for the first sprint race of the season. Last year we had a strong race here. We have developed the car in a good direction, and the result of the 12h Sebring did not fully reflect our performance. We have made some adjustments, and I am confident that we can achieve a top result.”

News

Everything You Need To Know About The Lamborghini SC63 LMDh

Summary

  • The Lamborghini SC63 LMDh, a hybrid racing prototype, will compete in the Hypercar division of the World Endurance Championship and the GTP class of the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship in 2024.
  • The SC63 stands out with its superior aerodynamics, lightweight design, and potent hybrid drivetrain made specifically for racing.
  • The SC63 incorporates traditional Lamborghini design features, has advanced engineering, and tactfully plays with the LMDh rule book.

The Lamborghini SC63 LMDh will be racing in the Hypercar division of the World Endurance Championship as part of the Iron Lynx team in 2024. It will also be participating in the GTP class of the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship. For motorsport enthusiasts, this exciting news ignites the anticipation for an exhilarating thrill awaiting them. The name SC63 pays homage to Lamborghini’s esteemed motorsport department, Squadra Corse, and the year it was founded, 1963 – what a great way to celebrate its 60th anniversary! The Hypercar is Lamborghini’s first hybrid endurance racing prototype and represents a significant milestone in the Squadra Corse department’s ten years of operation. To put it simply, it’s the most advanced racing car to come out of Lamborghini’s production line.

Wraps went off the SC63 officially in the just concluded Goodwood Festival of Speed, and it was nothing short of goals. What makes this Lamborghini version stand out is its superior aerodynamics, lightweight design, and potent hybrid drive train that is specifically made for racing. Indeed, the SC63 aligns with the company’s vision of achieving high-performance mobility in the future.

Related: 10 Fun Facts You Need To Know About The All-New Lamborghini Revuelto

The New SC63 LMDh Incorporates Lamborghini’s Styling Cues Throughout

A closer scrutiny of the SC63 reveals a lot of traditional Lamborghini design features. The race design team at Lamborghini worked with the Centro Stile design department to create the curvy bodywork. As seen on the new Revuelto, Lamborghini’s most recent ride has a Y-shaped headlight signature at the front and rear, surrounding some bulbs that illuminate in the dark. The aggressive design philosophy of Lamborghini complements the sports prototype’s unwavering focus on function. As a matter of fact, it’s right to say that the New Lamborghini resembles the Lamborghini V-12 Vision Gran Turismo in most parts.

The fenders of the new Lambo’ have pressure-relief holes that run along their length and are designed to release excess pressure in the event of a crash. This helps to prevent the fenders from buckling or collapsing, which could protect the driver and passengers from injury. These holes blend into louvered rear vents on both the front and rear fenders. The car also has multiple air intakes on both sides that feed eight different radiators. Furthermore, the engineering team has integrated a total of eight different radiators, including;

  • Two intercoolers
  • Two water radiators
  • One gearbox radiator
  • One condenser for air conditioning
  • One radiator for the Energy Recovery System (ERS)
  • One radiator for the Energy Storage System (ESS)

Sporting regulations and the integration of Lamborghini’s own brand aesthetic elements throughout the vehicle influenced the size of the cabin and the principal character of the vehicle. A NACA duct, inspired by the air intake of the Countach, can be observed integrated into the side panel of the body. In addition, the rear wheel arch design gives the impression of acceleration towards the front, drawing inspiration from Lamborghini’s signature wheel arch design language seen on the Revuelto model.

Related: 10 Electric Supercars Everyone Should Drive Once In Their Life

Tactfully Playing With The LMDh Rule Book

Lamborghini SC63 hybrid
Lamborghini
Shot of the Lamborghini SC63 hybrid endurance racing prototype.

The SC63 is a special racing car built in accordance with the LMDh rules. Under these rules, cars can be built differently but will end up achieving the same level of performance. For instance, only four companies, namely ORECA, Dallara, Ligier, and Multimatic are licensed to produce the monocoque and the suspension, also referred to as the spine of the car or simply the chassis. Lamborghini procured the SC63’s chassis from Ligier Automotive, which, as a requirement, must be the next-generation LMP2 design. By so doing, the SC63 became the first LMDh car to partner with the French-based auto company Ligier.

While Ligier was responsible for manufacturing the chassis, Lamborghini’s engineers contributed to the development by specifying some features, such as requesting a push rod-type front suspension system and ensuring the structure had an even weight distribution and could support easy servicing. The car’s 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 engine is brand new and was designed by Lamborghini engineers specifically for racing. This engine is set up in a layout called a ‘cold V’ configuration, which attaches turbochargers outside the engine’s V-angle. This promotes faster cooling and serviceability and also increases the car’s stability on the racetracks.

Lamborghini SC63 LMDh Specs

Engine Specs

New 3.8-liter twin-turbo V-8 and electric motor

Total Power Output

671 horsepower

Drive Type

Rear-Wheel Drive

The overall power output from the hybrid system is 671 horsepower, which also happens to be the maximum power competing cars are allowed to generate. Bosch’s electronic control unit manages this power unit. To control costs, certain parts like the gearbox, battery, and motor generator unit (MGU) are standardized for all LMDh cars. However, the rules for LMDh racing limit the power output of the SC63, as well as all other cars in its class, to 671 horses. This is to ensure fair competition and keep the racing exciting and competitive. Lamborghini still has some freedom to customize the gearbox to their liking. They can choose the gear ratios and the way the mechanical differential works. This customization allows them to optimize the car’s performance for racing.

Related: 10 EVs That Can Outrun The World’s Best Supercars

A Chance To Showcase Another Lamborghini Win In The Biggest Endurance Races

Lamborghini SC63 hybrid
Lamborghini
Shot of the Lamborghini SC63 hybrid endurance racing prototype.

Lamborghini SC63 LMDh comes in a striking Verde Mantis green hue on the SC63s, which is accentuated by a modern Nero Noctis black stripe that covers the interior, front hood, carbon diffuser, rear fin, and wing. Additionally, these cars proudly showcase the iconic Italian Tricolore colors of green, white, and red. Notably, the branding of Lamborghini’s trusted long-time partner, Swiss watch manufacturer Roger Dubuis, will also be prominently displayed on the vehicles.

Next year, the Lamborghini SC63 will make its debut on the racetracks, and it will be managed by the experienced Iron Lynx team, known for its success in GT3 racing. The team’s driver lineup is truly impressive, featuring two former Formula 1 drivers, Romain Grosjean and Daniil Kvyat, who will be joined by Lamborghini’s factory racing drivers, Andrea Caldarelli and Mirko Bortolotti. Together, they will form a formidable team ready to take on the challenges of the racing season.

The SC63 is Lamborghini’s most technologically advanced racing vehicle ever manufactured, according to the company’s chairman and CEO Stephan Winkelmann. It follows their strategy, “Direzione Cor Tauri,” which defines their goals for electrifying their whole product line. The SC63 LMDh represents a significant step into the highest echelons of motorsports and embodies the future of racing for their Squadra Corse team.

Related: 15 Most Powerful Production Cars In The World

What’s Next For Lamborghini SC63 LMDh?

Lamborghini SC63 hybrid
Lamborghini
Shot of the Lamborghini SC63 hybrid endurance racing prototype.

The Lamborghini SC63 LMDh is a cutting-edge race car designed with endurance competitions in mind. As for what the future holds for the car, Lamborghini does not have any plans to add another car on top of the LMDh. But most importantly, this hypercar demonstrates something more than just trying to become the best in racing. It spells the pursuit of technical solutions, such as aerodynamics, that can be applied to other production cars to improve their functionality. Turns out that the experience Lamborghini is getting from the SC63 will be instrumental in shaping their transition from ICEs to hybrid and all-electric models.

Lamborghini

Lamborghini Introduces SC63: Hybrid Racing Prototype for Endurance Racing

The LMDh car, SC63, has been unveiled at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. It will compete in the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship and IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship racing programs.

Sant’Agata Bolognese/Goodwood, 13 July 2023 – Lamborghini Squadra Corse has unveiled its first hybrid endurance racing prototype, the SC63, at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The SC63 will undergo testing and compete in the Hypercar class of the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship, including the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans race, as well as in the GTP class of the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship Endurance Cup, which features iconic races like the 24 Hours of Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring. Italian team Iron Lynx will partner with Lamborghini to run the car in international competition, and the team has signed top-tier drivers from Formula 1 and endurance racing.

The LMDh project is part of Lamborghini’s strategy for electrification, focusing on hybridizing the entire model range by the end of 2024 to enhance performance and driving experience. The SC63 embodies this approach in the motorsport program, becoming a new pillar of the Lamborghini Manifesto: Driving Humans Beyond.

“The SC63 is the most advanced racing car ever produced by Lamborghini, following our electrification roadmap ‘Direzione Cor Tauri’,” says Stephan Winkelmann, Lamborghini Chairman and CEO. “Competing in major endurance races with a hybrid prototype aligns with our vision for high-performance mobility, as demonstrated by the launch of the Revuelto road legal car. The SC63 LMDh represents a step into the highest echelons of motorsports and the future of Squadra Corse.”

The SC63 features an all-new 3.8-liter twin turbo V8 engine developed specifically by Lamborghini engineers for the racing program. It employs a ‘cold V’ configuration, where the turbos are mounted outside the vee angle of the engine for better cooling and servicing. This configuration also reduces the car’s weight and optimizes its center of gravity. Combined with a specially developed aerodynamic balance and attitude, this solution allows for excellent tire grip, balance, drivability, and consistent speed over both single laps and long-distance races.

Regulations restrict the power from the engine and the hybrid system, standardized across LMDh-category cars, to 500kW (680 CV). The Power Unit is managed by a Bosch electronic control unit. The LMDh rule set specifies standard gearbox, battery, and motor generator unit (MGU) to control development costs for the prototype.

Lamborghini engineers have leveraged their expertise in various aspects of the car’s design and performance. Despite a standardized gearbox for LMDh cars, customization is allowed, including gear ratio selection and mechanical differential slip. The monocoque for the SC63 is developed and built by renowned experts Ligier, with Lamborghini able to determine specific requirements such as the push rod front suspension design, weight distribution, and ease of service for critical components. The bellhousing, which connects the rear of the engine to the front of the gearbox, enhances torsional stiffness and houses the electric engine.

In terms of braking, the system must deliver high performance and reliability in all conditions. The challenge is to strike a balance between weight and durability, effective cooling, and the ability to accommodate different driving styles.

The exterior design of the SC63, created by Lamborghini’s Centro Stile design department in collaboration with the race design team, incorporates distinctive brand features, including the iconic y-shaped lights at the front and rear.

Team drivers Mirko Bortolotti, Andrea Caldarelli, Daniil Kvyat, and Romain Grosjean have provided valuable input in tuning the LMDh system. The latter two have recent experience with hybrids in Formula 1 and have contributed to designing the steering wheel controls to enable the driver to manage the hybrid system effectively.

“Motorsport is a valuable and demanding proving ground for our technology,” says Rouven Mohr, Lamborghini Chief Technical Officer. “Our LMDh car, the Lamborghini SC63, represents an exciting technical and human challenge. Developing our internal combustion engine, efficient aerodynamics, and overall technical package has pushed us to constantly raise our standards. Now, it’s time to hit the track and be ready to compete in the 2024 season. We also aim to transfer our learnings from motorsport to our future production cars whenever possible.”

The SC63 will run in a livery consistent with the branding seen on Lamborghini’s Huracán GT3 challenger. The cars will have a Verde Mantis green color with a black Nero Noctis strip over the cabin, front hood, carbon diffuser, rear fin, and wing. They will also feature the Italian Tricolore colors of green, white, and red, as well as the branding of Lamborghini’s long-time partner, Swiss watch manufacturer Roger Dubuis.

With its cooling layout greatly influencing the engineering and design, the SC63 incorporates eight radiators, including those for intercoolers, gearbox, air conditioning, Energy Recovery System (ERS), Energy Storage System (ESS), and water.

Due to regulations, there is only one allowed body kit configuration with limited changes between races. As a result, the design team has to consider worst-case scenarios, such as high ambient temperatures, and manage the thermal efficiency of the car at both IMSA and WEC circuits.

The SC63 has been designed and developed to provide optimal performance while ensuring tire preservation, even on demanding track surfaces. Prior to on-track testing, extensive development work has been conducted using a Driver in the Loop (DiL) simulator.

Starting in 2024, Lamborghini will enter one car in the full FIA World Endurance Championship and another in the North American Endurance Championship races of the IMSA series. Both cars will be run by the Iron Lynx team, which was introduced as a partner at the 2022 Lamborghini Grand Finals. The driving lineup will include Bortolotti, Caldarelli, Grosjean, and Kvyat, with more drivers to be announced later in 2023.

ABOUT ROGER DUBUIS

Roger Dubuis is a watchmaker known for its distinctive character and horological expertise. Since 1995, the brand has been at the forefront of expressive watchmaking, constantly reinventing Haute Horlogerie with its bold Hyper Horology™ concept. With its fully-integrated manufacture, Roger Dubuis is committed to performance and excellence, crafting traditional yet contemporary masterpieces that showcase radical skills and ancestral craftsmanship. The Maison brings its avant-garde and daring energy to an exclusive circle of clients, offering the most exciting way to experience Hyper Horology™.

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Motorsport

Lamborghini to Unveil LMDh Race Car at Goodwood, Revuelto to Participate in Hill Climb

Lamborghini will showcase its LMDh race car at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed. The vehicle will compete in the Hypercar and GTP classes in the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship and the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship Endurance Cup. It will be seen in action at prestigious races such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans, 12 Hours of Sebring, and 24 Hours of Daytona.

The official unveiling of the car is set for Thursday, July 13, exactly a week from today. Last year, it was revealed that Lamborghini’s race car will be equipped with a hybrid-assisted, twin-turbocharged V8 engine. The LMDh class has a maximum power output of 671 horsepower, making it the first racing engine developed entirely by Lamborghini’s Squadra Corse competition division.