The Lamborghini SC63 is back on track this weekend for the third round of the 2024 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, taking on the legendary and scenic Watkins Glen International in the Sahlen’s 6 Hours of the Glen.
This round brings a change to the driver lineup in the #63 LMDh, as Mirko Bortolotti will miss the race due to a scheduling conflict with the Nürburgring 24 Hours, where he’s competing in a Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 with Abt Sportsline. Stepping in for Bortolotti are his regular co-drivers and fellow Lamborghini Factory Drivers, Romain Grosjean and Daniil Kvyat.
Driver changes extend to the GTD Pro category as well. Lamborghini Factory Driver Sandy Mitchell will join Andrea Caldarelli in the #9 Pfaff Motorsports entry, as full-season driver Marco Mapelli is also racing at Nürburgring.
It’s been a challenging start to the GTP season for the Lamborghini SC63, with consecutive retirements at Daytona and Sebring. Despite these setbacks, the team aims to build on lessons learned and take encouragement from last year’s performance at Watkins Glen, where the car ran solidly within the top five before a mechanical failure ended the race prematurely.
In GTD Pro, Pfaff Motorsports arrives with momentum, having claimed Lamborghini’s first podium of the season at the Detroit street circuit, thanks to a strong showing from Caldarelli and Mapelli. The Huracán GT3 EVO2 has a strong track record at Watkins Glen, having contended for both GTD and GTD Pro wins last year before contact with a backmarker forced an early retirement.
Sandy Mitchell, a former British GT champion, joins Pfaff with a wealth of GT3 experience across Europe. He currently competes in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup (with VSR) and Sprint Cup (with Barwell Motorsport). The 25-year-old Scotsman also has IMSA experience, including appearances at Road America and Daytona in 2023, and is no stranger to Watkins Glen, having raced there in Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America back in 2019.
In the GTD class, team lineups remain unchanged for the Michelin Endurance Cup. Lamborghini Young Professional Driver Danny Formal once again teams up with Trent Hindman and Graham Doyle in the #45 Wayne Taylor Racing Huracán GT3 EVO2. The trio are seeking redemption after being denied a likely class win at Daytona and enduring a tough outing at Sebring.
Forte Racing also returns to the site of one of its proudest IMSA moments, when Loris Spinelli secured both class and overall pole in 2023. The #78 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 will again feature full-season drivers Mario Farnbacher and Misha Goikhberg, alongside Parker Kligerman.
Watkins Glen Weekend Overview
Racing at the 5.552km, 11-turn Watkins Glen circuit during the summer can be particularly demanding, with high temperatures and humidity challenging both drivers and machinery. Tyre management will be critical across both the GTP and GTD fields. The weekend schedule includes two practice sessions beginning Friday, followed by qualifying on Saturday. As with previous years, unpredictable weather—including potential rain—could play a pivotal role, making qualifying performance and strategic tyre calls all the more important.
