WEC Bahrain November testing
Lamborghini assessing LMDh future; won't rule out axing programme
The Italian marque is likely to scale down its involvement in one of the two leading endurance series, though a full withdrawal is on the table
Gary Watkins
Published: Nov 4, 2024, 4:26 PM
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Lamborghini looks set to downscale its LMDh programme for 2025 and to compete in either the World Endurance Championship or the IMSA SportsCar Championship.
The Italian manufacturer, which has partnered with the Iron Lynx team in both series, is undertaking a review of its activities with the SC63 LMDh.
All options are on the table, including axing the programme entirely, according to Lamborghini chief technical officer and acting motorsport boss Rouven Mohr.
Mohr explained that the new regulatory requirement in the WEC next year for manufacturers competing in the Hypercar class to run two cars is the reason for the reassessment for next year.
“At the moment we are investigating all the opportunities for next year,” Mohr told Motorsport.com.
“The biggest issue for us is that the second car [in WEC] was not foreseen. “It generates in our company issues to support the second car in an adequate way.”
#63 Lamborghini Iron Lynx Lamborghini SC63: Mirko Bortolotti, Edoardo Mortara, Daniil Kvyat
Photo by: Andreas Beil
“Our wish would have been to continue with one car in IMSA [for the full season rather than in just the endurance races as this year] and one car in WEC.
“Now we are in a situation where we need to find a way to manage two cars in WEC and one car in IMSA, or it could be that we have to decide which programme we run.”
He said that a decision “depends a little bit on the package we can afford”, adding “this at the end of the day, this is the question mark”.
Asked if ending the SC63 programme was the least likely option, he replied: “Yes, for sure."
“I can say it could be every option, but our wish and clear target is to continue,” he added.
Mohr pointed out that Lamborghini, although part of the Volkswagen group, is a small company in comparison with its rivals running in Hypercar in the WEC and GTP in IMSA.
“We are different to other manufacturers because we are quite new in this field of motorsport,” said Mohr.
#63 Lamborghini Iron Lynx Lamborghini SC63: Mirko Bortolotti, Edoardo Mortara, Daniil Kvyat
Photo by: Andreas Beil
“Squadra Corse [Lamborghini’s in-house motorsport department that manages the LMDh project] is less than 30 people.
“Before we did GT3 and this is another step for us - you cannot grow from one week to the other.”
Mohr's latest comments represent a slight change in rhetoric from Lamborghini.
At the Le Mans 24 Hours in June, the company’s top brass stressed the benefits of running two cars in WEC, at the same time as stopping short of continuing in IMSA.
Lamborghini’s slot for the 2025 IMSA series was listed as an enduro-only entry when IMSA took the wraps off next year’s grid last month.
Should Lamborghini opt against continuing in WEC, it would close the door on its participation next year at Le Mans.
Iron Lynx boss Andrea Piccini told Motorsport.com that the team was ready to run two cars in WEC and one in IMSA next year, but directed questions about the future of the programme to Lamborghini.
He pointed out in Bahrain ahead of last weekend’s WEC finale that Iron Lynx and Lamborghini were taking part in the official rookie test the day after the race and also in a Michelin test focussed on development of a new range of tyres for 2026 on Tuesday.
The presence of Michele Gatting and Celia Martin – who are part of Iron Lynx’s Iron Dames programme for female drivers – in a Manthey Racing Porsche 811 GT3-R at the Bahrain rookie test has fuelled speculation of a breakdown in the relationship between the Italian team and Lamborghini.
Mohr suggested that not too much should be read into this and it should not be “interpreted as a negative thing”. He insisted that Lamborghini and Iron Lynx are “still in partnership”.
It appears increasingly certain, however, that the Iron Dames programme will switch to a Manthey Porsche from one of the Iron Lynx Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2s for next year.
Mohr pointed out that time was ticking for Lamborghini and that it was taking longer than expected to come to a decision.
Entries for the WEC close on 18 November.
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