As can be expected with the famed Italian automaker, the Lamborghini LMDh teaser image looks nothing short of a space-ship inspired creation and if it goes anything near as rapid as it looks, it should set the top level of sports car racing alight.
The first thing that comes to mind when your eyes behold the Lamborghini LMDh teaser image would probably be that of the highly-limited Sian model but the latest model won’t be reserved for the ultra wealthy. The hybrid race car will compete on behalf of the Sant’Agata Bolognese-based supercar manufacturer in the top level of sports car racing like the FIA World Endurance Championship and the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship in the highest class.
The new LMDh category stands for Le Mans Dayton hybrid and is a novel category of motorsport which will debut on racetracks in 2023 and already has companies like BMW, Peugeot, Toyota and Porsce signalling their intentions to participate. The program for Lamborghini will complement the Squadra Corse’s GT platform which comprises a Super Trofeo and GT3 program which will remain core to their motorsport division.
Stephan Winkelmann, Lamborghini CEO, stated: “This step up into the highest echelon of sports car racing marks an important milestone for our company. We will be measuring ourselves against the very best, on the most demanding proving grounds. On one hand, this will give our successful motorsports program even more visibility, but it will also allow us to test future technologies: our LMDh prototypes will become our most sophisticated open laboratory on four wheels.”
There isn’t much information about the latest Lamborghini LMDh racer but the new class of prototypes like every other form of motorsport has its restrictions and regulations. In a nutshell, LMDh prototypes will need to have a minimum weight of 1,030 kg and the drivetrain may not deliver more than 500 kW of power. In addition to this, the wheelbase is set at 3,150 mm, and maximum width and length at 2,000 mm and 5,100 mm respectively. Toyota and Peugeot have opted for a V6 engine while Porsche have retained a racing-derived V8, perhaps the Lamborghini V10 or V12 might live on here, in this new category of motorsport!