The SC63 Topped Daytona's Time Sheets, Then Learned What LMDh Really Costs

A 1m35.027 made Lamborghini the fastest manufacturer at the December 2023 IMSA collective GTP test — on the car's very first run on American soil.

Andrea Caldarelli's lap at Daytona International Speedway was the quickest any manufacturer posted that day, and the SC63 covered 1,150 km across the two-day test without significant mechanical failure.

Why the fastest test lap meant less than the headline suggested

Collective tests lack Balance of Performance adjustments, so manufacturers run different fuel loads, tire compounds, and engine maps without the regulatory equalization that compresses the field on race day.

A debut season of points, pain, and unresolved engineering problems

The SC63 finished eighth in the FIA Endurance Hypercar Manufacturers Championship, with commentators noting rear suspension behavior affecting grip, difficulties with tire warm-up and wear, and suggestions the car ran above the minimum weight limit.

A paused program and the cost of competing against Ferrari and Porsche

Lamborghini paused the SC63 IMSA and Le Mans program for 2026, with Squadra Corse citing a strategic decision to refocus — leaving open whether the fastest lap at Daytona was the start of a factory prototype era or its only bright chapter.