Let Romain Grosjean Give You an Up-Close Tour of the Lamborghini SC63 Hybrid
On practice day for the 2024 Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring, Romain Grosjean caught up with motorsport journalist Marshall Pruett to give fans a closer look at the new Lamborghini SC63 hybrid race car.
This week, Grosjean will race behind the wheel of the new SC63 for the first time, along with Matteo Cairoli and Andrea Caldarelli.
Lamborghini has been working closely with the former F1 and current IndyCar driver to develop a hybrid car that can propel the brand to the pinnacle of closed-wheel racing both in IMSA and the WEC.
Beneath the hood, the Lamborghini SC63 has the first competition engine designed by Squadra Corse, Lamborghini’s in-house motorsports department. Its power comes from a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V-8 connected to an electric motor that drives the rear axle.
In true driver fashion, when Grosjean stumbled over explaining the engine’s components, he handled it with levity.
“I just drive it,” Grosjean laughed. “I don’t know what it is. I just say that I need more power; that’s what I do.”
The most important goal for the U.S. debut is to finish the race. Every lap, every hour, and every driver change will give Lamborghini more experience and data with the new hybrid as the company hopes to become a threat at the top of the WEC and IMSA.
“I think finishing the 12 hours of Sebring is the number one priority,” Grosjean said. “If we can finish the 12 Hours of Sebring, we know that we can finish the 24 hours of Le Mans because that track is something else. I’m not even sure you can call it a race track. I mean, I love it, but bloody hell, it is bumpy.”
Grosjean stated that the bumps are the number one area that the team still needs to work out.
Cairoli qualified the SC63 in 14th out of the 53 teams total teams and had the eighth fastest lap with a time of 1:53:574. The new hybrid will start the 72nd running of the 12 Hours at Sebring in the highest starting spot for a Lamborghini this year
Preparations for the 12 Hours of Sebring are underway! ⏳
The first race of the Lamborghini SC63 on American soil is approaching fast, but tomorrow is qualifying day in Florida so let’s focus on that! pic.twitter.com/TbMDsOYVnh— Lamborghini Squadra Corse (@LamborghiniSC) March 15, 2024
World Endurance Championship Debut
Earlier this month, the WEC No. 63 crew of Mirko Bortolotti, Daniil Kvyat, and Edoardo Mortara completed the Qatar 1812KM at Lusail International Circuit and finished in 15th place, setting a strong precedent for the U.S. debut.
“I love the project,” Grosjean said, “I love that I’ve been part of it since almost the beginning.”
While talking about his excitement for the new car, Caldarelli walked into the garage, and Grosjean stopped to praise the work his teammate had put into the project.
“He is the man that has been doing most of the development since day one, working really hard with Lamborghini. A lot of kudos to him for making that car the way it is."
You can catch Caldarelli, Grosjean, and Cairoli in the SC63 tomorrow by streaming the race on IMSA TV and the Peacock App, which will start just after 9:30 a.m. EST and conclude around 10:00 p.m.
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