New Lamborghini builds the LMDh model for 2024

Good things come to those who wait: In January 2020, at the 24-hour race in Daytona, the ACO and IMSA announced a new top group consisting of LMDh cars according to US regulations and hypercars according to FIA/ACO regulations. From the first day there were also rumors about the entry of Lamborghini.

Initially, the prototype project of the Italian sports car brand was supposed to be announced in January 2021, at that time still as the second use of the VW Group platform developed by Porsche. Finally, it took until mid-May for the brand, which belongs to the VW Group, to finally confirm the entry for 2024.

Unlike previous plans for 2021, Lamborghini will start the program on its own and will not use the Porsche LMDh platform. With this new project, from 2024 Lamborghini will not only fight for class victories in GT3 races, but eventually also for overall victories in long-distance classic sports such as Le Mans, Daytona or Sebring.

“Moving to the top class of endurance racing is an important step in Lamborghini’s history,” said CEO Stephan Winkelmannn. “In the future, we will test ourselves against the strongest competitors in the most important long-distance races in the world. By entering the LMDh class, we will gain more visibility for our sports program, and we can also test future technologies for our road sports cars. at a new high level.”

Hybrid heart with 681 hp

On Tuesday (September 20), the manufacturer finally published the first technical information on the planned model. Based on this, the new racing bull is powered by a biturbo backed V8 hybrid. The device is said to have a total output of 681 hp through a seven-speed Xtrac gearbox to the rear wheels and, according to regulations, must weigh at least 180 kg.

The question of the driver, ie the main part that comes directly from the manufacturer in the new American concept of LMDh/GTP, is an important factor in the construction of a new high class: derivation from the series is desirable, but not absolute. important.

Big manufacturers like Porsche or BMW can go back to old racing engines because the direct brand relationship is not the goal. Small manufacturers like Lamborghini have to build a class of production sports car engines, because otherwise no one would understand the commitment. That’s why Lamborghini’s announcement that it will use a V8 biturbo in the next LMDH/GTP is so surprising.

V8 biturbo like in the Huracan series?

Lamborghini announced that the V8 biturbo will be built directly at Squadro Corse’s in-house racing department. So far, only the Urus model has been driven with a V8 biturbo from Audi’s shelf, and it has a bank angle of 90 degrees – just like the Lambo’s race-rated engine. It is quite possible that at least the engine layout is an Audi derivative.

Sources from the VW Group indicate that from a marketing point of view, the use of an SUV engine in the GTP concept makes little sense. Therefore, rumors suggest that The successor to the Huracanwhich is scheduled to debut in 2025, will have a V8 biturbo, which means that the legendary 5.2-liter V10 engine should have its day.

Lamborghini is in good company with this idea: Porsche and BMW also rely on V8 biturbo engines, Cadillac uses a naturally aspirated V8 engine. Lamborghini intends to present the final GTP concept in the spring of 2023 and begin testing immediately thereafter to start in the WEC and IMSA series from 2024.