FIA WEC – LAMBORGHINI IRON LYNX GEARS UP FOR PROTOTYPE RACING DEBUT, TWO-CAR LE MANS CHALLENGE

About to land in Qatar for the FIA World Endurance Championship opener at Lusail International Circuit, Lamborghini Iron Lynx is finally set to make its debut in the Le Mans Hypercar arena, fielding the brand-new Lamborghini SC63 LMDh racecar.

Making its first foray into prototype racing, the team will compete with the #63 car for the full season. In addition, the 2024 plans were solidified with the release of the 2024 Le Mans 24 Hour of Le Mans entry list, featuring the #19 car in a double effort.

As previously announced, the 2024 line-up will feature three Lamborghini Squadra Corse factory drivers: Mirko Bortolotti, Daniil Kvyat, and Edoardo Mortara. The 34-year-old Italian will be moving to hypercar racing to cap a decade-long partnership with the manufacturer. On the other hand, 29-year-old Kvyat, who shared the cockpit of a PREMA Racing LMP2 car in 2023 with Bortolotti, will return to a top-class environment after a successful F1 career. The latest to join the driver roster, 37-year-old Italian-Swiss Mortara, will make his first prototype appearance, providing an invaluable amount of experience and high-tech know-how.

The hybrid racecar has recently been tested at Sebring International Raceway with its IMSA crew of Matteo Cairoli, Andrea Caldarelli, and Romain Grosjean, completing its pre-season program. More testing will come ahead of Le Mans, where the two crews will be reunited.

The WEC Prologue in Qatar will provide more time to gain chemistry and insight into the new car, the first hybrid racecar, and the first prototype for the Italian manufacturer. Four sessions between February 24th and February 25th will carry teams and drivers from late morning into the dark, replicating the same conditions expected for the 10-hour March 2 opener.

The 5.4-kilometre Qatar venue, home to the F1 and MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix, will be hosting the world’s top endurance championship for the first time, and with high anticipation goes the chance to make a positive first impression.

Emmanuel Esnault, Racing Director, said: “We are looking forward to our WEC debut with this brand-new operation. Developing a completely new car and programme from scratch is always challenging, and we have come a long way to where we are, ready to make our first competitive run in the Prologue. We are aware that there is still a lot of work ahead. Racing is always different from testing, and there are things that can’t be simulated. Luckily, we have three amazing and incredibly accomplished drivers to guide us, and that’s a very, very important asset to rely on as we face our first competitive run.”