Lamborghini could be considering taking part in Le Mans in the new 'Hypercar' class

Lamborghini could be considering taking part in Le Mans in the new ‘Hypercar’ class and it is that the new class of supercars that will replace the LMP1 category in the World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans from 2020 promises to rejuvenate this already legendary motor racing competition.

Manufacturers such as Aston Martin, Toyota and the Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus have already confirmed that they will take part in the series and now Lamborghini does not want to miss the party and has just revealed that it could also join them.

During an interview with Stefano Domenicali, head of the bull brand, he has stated that the Italian carmaker could be studying a possible opportunity to achieve glory at Le Mans, one of the sacred temples for every lover of speed and motoring.

“There are discussions on the subject and we are trying to understand the regulations to see whether or not it is in our interest. There is nothing to say until the evaluation is finished, and at that point the answer could be yes or no. For now, it is possible,” Stefano Domenicali has said.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJInhK1WeBE

Could Lamborghini be in the new Le Mans class?

The head of Lamborghini has stated that the company does not have the budget to develop a brand-new, limited-run racing hypercar to meet the homologation requirements for the new class, but that “the Lamborghini SC18 shows that we have a foundation for what could be an interesting approach”, adding that “the car shows that we have in-house capabilities for such a project”.

According to the hypercar regulations, manufacturers must compete with a vehicle based on a road car, of which at least 20 street-legal units must be built within a maximum period of two years. The vehicles must have a maximum weight of 1,100 kilograms and an average power output of 750 CV. Hybrid systems are not mandatory, but they can be used and will have a power limit of 270 CV.

The possible date of entry into the competition would be 2021, and it is worth noting that some conclusions were reached during the recent Goodwood Festival of Speed. Although it is not yet clear whether the bull brand will ultimately take part, the other participants already know which model they will field in this new category. This is the case of Aston Martin with its Valkyrie and Toyota with the Gazoo GR Super Sport.

Should Lamborghini decide to take part, it would be with the Lamborghini SC18, this one-off project car built for a customer by Lamborghini’s racing division, Squadra Corse. It has also demonstrated its ability to launch a Le Mans car should it decide to do so.

The SC18 is a road-legal car based on the Lamborghini Aventador, but it was created mainly for track use, where its extreme aerodynamics can be used to full effect. It is based on the same powertrain used by the Lamborghini Aventador SVJ, with the V12 engine delivering 769 CV at 8,500 rpm and a maximum torque of 719 Nm at 6,750 rpm.

Lamborghini has previously hinted that more bespoke projects could be carried out, as it satisfies demand for unique creations from wealthy buyers, which increases the possibility that a factory Le Mans programme could also be co-financed by customers.