The 24h of Le Mans is now upon us and at Lamborghini Iron Lynx there is great anticipation to see the SC63s on the track at the same time.
The Sant’Agata Bolognese company also brought the LMDh which races in the IMSA SportsCar Championship to the Circuit de la Sarthe, branding it with the #19 and entrusting it to the trio engaged in the GTP Class, namely Cairoli/Caldarelli/Grosjean, who will join their colleagues of the #63 of the FIA World Endurance Championship, Bortolotti/Kvyat/Mortara.
Recently the Toro team went to Magny Cours to carry out a shakedown in view of the French commitment, which will begin in all respects with the tests on Sunday 9 June, where among other things the #19 car will be presented brand new with a freshly baked frame.
With Mirko Bortolotti shuttling between Zandvoort, where he will race in the DTM this weekend, and Romain Grosjean arriving only later as he is at Road America for IndyCar, the other guys will be joined by Jordan Pepper, who will have the opportunity to get into the SC63 for Test Day on Sunday.
“We are looking forward to participating in the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time. This race is the pinnacle of endurance racing due to its importance, public support and sporting challenges,” said Emmanuel Esnault, director of Iron Lynx race operations.
“It requires teams to maximize everything they have. It’s incredibly challenging due to its length, of course, but also due to the variety of situations it presents and the pressure it puts on competitors, from the drivers to the team staff.”
“The preparations have been thorough and promising, so we can’t wait to get out on track on Sunday.”
#63 Lamborghini Iron Lynx Lamborghini SC63
Photo credit: Rainier Ehrhardt
In the meantime, the surrounding work has already begun, such as media activities and the famous ‘Pesage’ in the center of Le Mans, at the Place des Jacobins, where the drivers spoke while the cars were put on the scales by the stewards.
“It’s very nice and special to be here with such an important brand like Lamborghini, we know it won’t be easy because the car is still new, as is the challenge of Le Mans. There is still a lot of work to do to improve”, Kvyat admitted.
“It’s difficult to say today what the qualities of this car are, because as I said before, there is still a lot to do. But we have certainly improved a lot compared to Qatar and I hope that the next race can go better than the previous ones”.
“I think that with Edoardo and Mirko we form a very good crew, full of experience, which is fundamental for improving such a new car.”
Mortara added: “I have been racing for many years and I had long hoped to be able to take part in the 24h of Le Mans. I am very happy that Lamborghini gave me this opportunity, it is truly fantastic to be present this weekend.”
“It’s a legendary race, full of history and prestige, a bit like the Monaco GP and the Indianapolis 500, so for a driver to have the chance to take it on in his career is certainly fantastic.”
“What is a hybrid car like? The experience in Formula E has certainly helped me a lot in managing everything, and I am happy to be able to use this knowledge. Today it is easier to learn everything thanks also to the simulator, which gives you the opportunity to get to know the track and its peculiarities”.
#63 Lamborghini Iron Lynx Lamborghini SC63: Mirko Bortolotti, Andrea Caldarelli, Daniil Kvyat
Photo by: Emanuele Clivati | AG Photo
The microphone was then passed to Caldarelli: “I am proud to represent Lamborghini, I have already seen many enthusiasts come to see our car, probably for the very first time live, and I hope they can enjoy seeing us on the track. For me this brand was already a favorite since I was little and racing together at Le Mans is a dream come true.”
“For me it is the seventh year with Lamborghini, a second family for me. When I arrived here in 2016 my goal was to race at Le Mans, it was a long time, but we are finally here and I thank everyone who has worked hard for over a year to put this car on the track.”
“In Spa I was able to put in more km and get to know the WEC environment and its regulations better, as my main program is in IMSA. I think it was a good experience, we tried new things in the car and being able to check them out over a weekend race was important.”
#63 Iron Lynx Lamborghini SC63: Matteo Cairoli, Andrea Caldarelli, Romain Grosjean
Photo by: Art Fleischmann
Finally, the comment fell to Cairoli, who had been waiting for a very long time for the opportunity to race in the premier class at Le Mans: “I was very patient and I came close to it last year, but unfortunately there wasn’t the certainty of being able to achieve I honestly didn’t want to wait any longer and I jumped at the opportunity offered to me by Lamborghini; for me it’s an honor and a privilege to be part of an Italian brand and they welcomed me very well.”
“I’m trying to offer my experience and help in this project to grow as quickly as possible, but it’s also very important to have riders like Romain and Andrea at my side, who give me the opportunity to learn new things.”
“The primary objective for us is definitely to get to the finish line. I honestly can’t comment on the results because the grid is super competitive and our rivals have more experience than us, so it will be tough to beat them.”
“But every race we have faced has allowed us to make steps forward and I expect this to be the case at Le Mans too. I would like to finish in the Top10 and without technical problems.”
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