2024 Lamborghini SC63 #63
Pilots: M. Bortolotti, D. Kvyat, E. Mortara
Team: Lamborghini Iron Lynx
Race: 10th overall (Hypercar class) at Le Mans in 2024
Spark - S9125 (resin)
Published 10/08/26
When Ferruccio Lamborghini started making his own cars, he didn’t want nothing to do with racing. He just wanted to make better cars than his archrival, Enzo Ferrari. The brand first got officially involved in racing in 1989, as an engine supplier to F1. Only after their acquisition by Volkswagen in 1998 that they did become serious about motorsports. In 2009 they launched the Super Trofeo, a GT championship exclusive to Lamborghini cars. But at La Sarthe their presence was virtually nil. In 1975 a privateer enrolled a 400 GT Islero that didn’t even qualify. Their only “successful” participation (if you can even call it that…) came in 2006. The Japanese Lamborghini Owners Club (JLOC) enrolled a Murciélago RG-1LM, that DNC. Well, it did finish, which is nothing to sneeze at, but didn’t complete the minimum 70% distance of the winner. Things would only improve in 2024…
In May 2022 Lamborghini announced that they would enter both the WEC and the IMSA Sportscar Championship, beginning in 2024. In fact, they were going to race in both LMGT3 and Hypercar classes. For LMGT3, in the WEC, they partnered with Iron Lynx and fielded a Huracán GT3 Evo 2. A second Huracán also raced, in the hands of the Iron Dames. However, for the Hypercar class, they fielded a LMDh in a works team. The car? The brand new SC63. Shortly after, they announced that Ligier would supply the chassis – the first LMDh car to use a Ligier chassis. They also disclosed that the SC63 would use a hybrid powertrain. With that, the car would have a V8 twin-turbo ICE and hybrid drivetrain components, from Williams, Bosch and Xtrac. In November that year they confirmed that Iron Lynx would also be responsible for the Hypercar factory effort.
Designed by Mitja Borkert, the SC63 relied on Ligier’s LMP2-based carbon fiber monocoque chassis. All four wheels used a push-rod suspension system with power steering up front. The ICE that came out of Lamborghini’s race department (Lamborghini Squadra Corse) was a DOHC 3.8 liters 90° V8 twin-turbocharged. Longitudinally-mounted at midship, it was supplemented by a rear-mounted Bosch electric motor. Combined, both delivered 500 kW (671 hp) of power, and for braking Lamborghini used Brembo carbon fiber disk brakes. With a carbon fiber body covering everything up, the SC63 weighed 1030 kg. The SC63 debuted in the Qatar 1812 km, in March of 2024. Just two weeks later, it debuted at IMSA, at the 12 Hours of Sebring. Despite being quite reliable, it was unfortunately slow, with the best result a 7th place at Sebring.
At La Sarthe, that June, Iron Lynx arrived with two cars, SC63 #19 and #63. Despite proving to be very reliable, the SC63 lacked speed. With that, car #63 finished in 10th and #19 came home in 13th place. Considering that 2024 was Lamborghini’s first Le Mans race as a factory, that’s not a terrible race result. Nonetheless, later that year Lamborghini announced that they would leave the WEC, both in the Hypercar and LMGT3 classes. For Hypercar they alleged that the new two-car rule for 2025 was not viable for them. And for the Huracán GT3, they would stop development due to the introduction of the new Temerario GT3. Moreover, in August of 2025 came more bad news. They announced that they would halt their LMDh program, so they also left the IMSA Sportscar Championship.
With all that, it’s hard to know what to think about Lamborghini 🤨. With banking from the all-mighty Volkswagen Group, it’s hard to understand why it isn’t a racetrack powerhouse yet. Perhaps that’s exactly the problem: Volkswagen doesn’t want more competition for Audi and Porsche. Maybe they just want Lamborghini as their “bonkers brand”, the subdivision that produces fast and mental cars. I also read that, from the start, there was tension between Lamborghini Squadra Corse and Iron Lynx. Maybe Volkswagen didn’t interfere and just let Lamborghini be Lamborghini… Who can say? Don’t think we’ll ever know. Nonetheless, in my eyes this is a total shame. And being 100% honest, infuriating even. Come on, just look at it: the SC63 #63 is absolutely stunning! And we won’t see the likes of it again at La Sarthe…😢
In model form, however, we’re lucky that Spark makes high-level 1:43 stuff 😎. Just like my Huracán GT3 Evo 2, the SC63 is a-w-e-s-o-m-e. Fantastic detail level and with a terrific paint job. One of those models that deserves to be bought just because “it looks so darn good”. However, that’s not the only reason why I REALLY wanted one. And also, not just because the SC63 was the first Lamborghini to race in a top class at Le Mans. No, my reason is a bit more personal. That exact same car (chassis #SC63-004) raced at the 6 Hours of São Paulo, just one month after Le Mans. Not only was I there, but I touched the thing during my pit walk before the race 🤘. Yeah, yeah, I’m a geek. But a happy geek that touched a Lambo SC63 that raced at Le Mans 😁.