Last chance for Lamborghini SC63 in IMSA this weekend?

This weekend, the Lamborghini SC63 makes its final appearance on the road. IMSA before pausing the program.

Sixteenth and final outing in competition for the Lamborghini SC63? An example of the Italian car will be lining up this weekend at the start of the Petit Le Mans, the final round of the IMSA North American championship. The ten-hour race takes place this Saturday on the Road Atlanta circuit (USA).

Number 63 will be entrusted to Romain Grosjean, Daniil Kviyat and Edoardo Mortara. At the same race last year, the Frenchman set the fastest lap of the race. And in the final round at Indianapolis, the Lambo looked set to mingle with the top cars...

But this Saturday may well be the last chance to gauge the untapped potential of the angular Italian car. In August, the brand had announced the "pause" of its program for next season in IMSA's premier class.  

" We need to find the right partner "explained Stephan Winkelmann, head of Lamborghiniat a round table including DailySportsCarto explain this strategic withdrawal. This year, the brand had commissioned the American Riley team to make the most of its SC63.

In 2024, Sant'Agata's technical and financial partner was Iron Lynx. According to an article by Thibaut Villemand for The RaceThe separation between the lynx and the bull has its origins in the regulations requiring brands to enter two cars in the World Endurance Championship (WEC). And the disagreements that ensued.

Modifications that pay off...

Despite this, Lamborghini made a number of modifications to its GTP this summer. One of the drawbacks of the first version of the original Ligier chassis was the running gear. More specifically, the rear suspension was ill-suited to aggressive driving over vibrators. The suspension was particularly problematic in terms of rigidity.

" One of the problems was exploitation of pneumaticssaid Rouven Mohr, Lamborghini's Technical Director. We had a lot of trouble getting them up to temperature and, what's more, we had a high level of degradation. ".

Michelin in IMSA until 2035

Some partnerships last longer than others. In Georgia, Michelin and IMSA announced the continuation of their partnership... for the next ten seasons! In the coming campaigns, the Clermont-Ferrand-based manufacturer will continue to supply tires for all the cars entered in this much-appreciated championship in the United States. " IMSA provides us with an ideal ecosystem for testing new products.ew technologiesunder extreme conditions - and it is precisely on this terrain that Michelin excels "said Alexis Garcin, Business Director and member of the French group's Executive Committee. The announcement was made on the Road Atlanta circuit, also known as Michelin Raceway under a partnership agreement with Michelin. naming.

The problem was identified when the car made its racing debut in the spring of 2024. The brand gave itself time to study the problem before spending a Joker Evo, i.e. an evolution modifying the car's homologation. These "credits" are limited over the lifetime of Hypercars in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) or GTPs entered in IMSA.

Lamborghini's first outing with the advanced SC63 was a satisfying one. The car was clearly on the pace on the Indianapolis circuit, and the turbocharged V8 was not strangled by engine damage after two consecutive retirements earlier in the year.

" The car's handling was a big, big improvement.says Romain Grosjean, who has been involved in the project since autumn 2023. It was great to find ourselves battling it out in the top 5 for most of the race. "

" It's clear that the new rear suspension has enabled us to make progress and fight with the leading pack. l'IMSAcontinues the French driver. Let's hope that we'll have all the ingredients we need to end on a high note. ". To date, Lamborghini's best result remains two 7s.^e places at the 12 Hours of Sebring 2024 and the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen this summer. Improving on this mark before this withdrawal would be a great source of satisfaction.