Unlike Ferrari, Lamborghini doesn’t have much racing in its heritage. The Raging Bull has previously dabbled in both F1 and Le Mans competition — albeit with very little success on both fronts — though its next racing endeavor may very well be different, as the Italian firm has just pulled the cover off of its all-new long-awaited and highly-anticipated SC63 LMDh racer.
Presumably short for “Squadra Corse 1963” — with this latter number being the year the company was founded — the SC63 marks Lamborghini’s first-ever hybrid racing car prototype, as well as its first full-fledged effort to compete at the highest levels of motorsport competition. Unveiled at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the SC63 is constructed around a Ligier-made carbon fiber monocoque chassis that’s been draped in all-carbon-fiber bodywork penned by the Lamborghini Centro Stile. Though the vehicle is unmistakably of the LMDh prototype racer variety, it still sports a number of signature Lamborghini aesthetic elements such as its Y-shaped LED head and taillights and the profile of its nose and front splitter. Boasting a completely novel design, this suite of LM-style bodywork features a pronounced aero kit that includes the same signature rear wing found on all contemporary Lambo racers.
The carbon frame has been paired with a push-rod suspension setup with torsion springs and adjustable wishbones. The entire race car is powered by a twin-turbocharged hybrid 3.8-liter 90° V8 that’s helped along by an electric motor that assists in powering the rear axle. Good for a collective 680hp, this twin-turbo hybrid V8 has been mated to a seven-speed XTRAC transmission that sends all 680 horses to the prototype racer’s rear wheels. In total, the prototype machine packs a total of eight radiators, as well. And, as per regulations, the Lamborghini boasts a dry weight of 2,270lbs. The entire race car is cloaked in a Verde Mantis green and Nero Noctis black livery that’s been complemented via Italian Tricolore race stripes — an overall motif that’s similar to the race livery found on Lamborghini’s Huracán GT3 racer, albeit with larger swaths of black.
While there’s no arguing that the SC63 looks absolutely stunning, despite a solid spec sheet, it remains to be seen how Lamborghini’s first-ever full prototype racer will fare against the rest of the LMDh grid in 2024. Lamborghini Squadra Corse’s first-ever hybrid racing car prototype will make its competition debut at the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship in the Hypercar class, starting with the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
