The hybrid powertrain used by LMDh cars is seen as an ideal fit for the company, which will only be selling hybrid road cars from 2024.
Lamborghini has indicated that its LMDh entry will be run by customer teams, building on its continuing GT3 programme, which has seen success in IMSA, winning the GTD championship in 2018 and 2019, along with class victory in the 24 Hours of Daytona for three successive years from 2018.
“LMDh will play a special role in Lamborghini’s motor sports strategy, giving us the unique opportunity to expand our customer racing activities to new platforms and enforce our long-term partnership with customer teams and drivers,” said the company’s head of motor sport, Giorgio Sanna.
The timing of Lamborghini’s entry could fit with Valentino Rossi’s ambitions to race at Le Mans. The nine-time motorcycle GP champion is currently competing in the GT World Challenge Europe Series in an Audi, a sister company in the Volkswagen Group. Audi is understood to have pulled its own LMDh programme in favour of Formula 1.
Huraçan has won IMSA’s GTD class twice
“Lamborghini is an iconic brand but it has never competed in the premier class of endurance racing before,” said Frédéric Lequien, WEC CEO. “They will join the WEC at a very exciting time in its history. For the 2024 season there will be an exceptional line-up of marques competing in our premier class.
“The competition will be fierce but we have no doubt that Lamborghini will be in the thick of the fight. Lamborghini has been highly successful in other classes of endurance racing so we cannot wait to see them compete for overall victories.”