Lamborghini Hypercar entrant to get all-new V8

09/20/2022

Squadra Corse confirms development of its first bespoke racing engine for 2024 LMDh car

By PH Staff / Tuesday, 20 September 2022 / Loading comments

We’ve been banging on about the new Hypercar class for what seems like years now (and it is) but the LMDh end of the competition – distinct from the more expensive LMH prototypes – is really hotting up. In recent months we’ve had BMW disclose that its new twin-turbocharged V8 will be a derivative of the old DTM unit (awesome) and Porsche fully unveil the (no less awesome) 963, which also gets a blown V8 that has roots in an older naturally aspirated engine – and that’s without mentioning the all-new V6 that Honda has cooked up for the Acura ARX-06 or the 5.5-litre V8 Cadillac is working on.

Now Lamborghini has joined club awesome by confirming that its own future LMDh project will be powered by a twin-turbocharged V8. This is significant not just for its own sake, but also because it will be the first racing engine fully developed in-house by Squadra Corse, the motorsport division that celebrates its tenth anniversary next year. Plainly the new unit will be distinct from the venerable V10 that features in the firm’s existing racing cars, although Lamborghini has not announced the size of the incoming V8. We only know that it’ll get a 90-degree vee and, as the regulations stipulate, weigh at least 180kg.

Of course, whatever the final technical specifications, the new engine will be twinned with a class-mandated Energy Recovery system featuring an electric motor developed by Bosch, storage and control unit courtesy of Williams Advanced Engineering, and a seven-speed hybrid gearbox from Xtrac. Additionally, it will need to weigh 1030kg without driver and fuel, be no more than 2m wide and 5.1m long, and use its combined 681hp output to get to a top speed of 211mph. Lamborghini will partner with French constructor Ligier Automotive when it comes to the chassis.

The latter was teased alongside the engine announcement on Monday, although the team has still not applied a name to its new contender, which is lined up for a WEC entry in 2024 after testing kicks off next year. Naturally, Lamborghini was at pains to remind everyone that it is ‘embarking on a future of hybridisation in its road car production’ and that competing in LMDh aligns not just with its latest company strategy, but also the experience of developing an upcoming generation of sports cars. That’s all as maybe – but for now, we’ll continue fixating on the thought of Acura, BMW, Cadillac, Porsche, Alpine and Lamborghini all vying for the lead at Le Mans. And Daytona.

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Lamborghini Hypercar entrant to get all-new V8

Squadra Corse confirms development of its first bespoke racing engine for 2024 LMDh car

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