Lamborghini’s recent WEC testing with the SC63 LMDh car was a complete success, according to Romain Grosjean and Mirko Bortolotti. Another test follows in Daytona in December.
Lamborghini’s new SC63 LMDh car for the World Endurance Championship (WEC) and IMSA has proven extremely reliable in testing so far, according to drivers Romain Grosjean and Mirko Bortolotti.
“The tests went really, really well, it was very impressive how smoothly they went,” says former Formula 1 driver Grosjean in an interview with “Autosport”, a sister publication of “Motorsport-Total.com” on the Motorsport Network .
“We had no problems with the hybrid car, which is a year behind the competition, and it was a surprise for all of us how well we got along with the new car,” said Grosjean after the recent tests in Almeria and Jerez. “I hope the next tests go as well as the last ones!”
For the test drives in Spain, Lamborghini used two cars for the first time after the SC63 development program suffered a setback in the summer due to Bortolotti’s violent accident at Le Castellet, in which the only chassis at the time was damaged.
WEC: “Everything is going according to plan” for Lamborghini
According to Bortolotti, Lamborghini has now caught up. “Everything is going according to plan,” he says. “When you are in the development phase, it is clear that not everything always goes smoothly, but I have to say that we managed to cover a lot of kilometers in Europe, which makes me very happy and at the same time gives us the opportunity to work “To learn the car and develop it further.”
“I have to say I’m impressed with the work we’ve already done. The car has proven to be very reliable right from the start,” adds Bortolotti. “I have to say that I am very happy with the current state of things.”
Lamborghini’s test program in Europe has been completed this year. Now, before the first race at the 24 Hours of Daytona (January 25th to 28th, 2024), there are further test drives in the USA, where Lamborghini will meet the competition for the first time. “We will take part in the group test in Daytona on December 6th and 7th together with the other manufacturers,” says Grosjean. “That should give us a good overview of where we are.”
In the first year of the LMDh program, Lamborghini will field a vehicle throughout the WEC season and in the IMSA endurance races. A second example of the SC63 is expected to enter the WEC season at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June.
Grosjean, who joins the WEC team at Le Mans, and Bortolotti are among the four factory drivers signed up for the program alongside Daniil Kwjat and Andrea Caldarelli. Current Porsche contract driver Matteo Cairoli is in prime position to drive for Lamborghini in IMSA, while Edoardo Mortara is being considered for the last remaining spot in the brand’s six-strong LMDh squad.