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Sanna: No Lamborghini DPi in Pipeline

Giorgio Sanna: No Lamborghini DPi in pipeline, GTE update…

Photo: Jamey Price/Lamborghini

Head of Lamborghini Motorsport Giorgio Sanna says a DPi project is not currently in the pipeline, with the Italian manufacturer set to focus on its Super Trofeo and GT racing activities in the short-term.

Lamborghini, along with sister brands Audi and Bentley, have been among the manufacturers linked to IMSA’s growing prototype formula, although Sanna has dispelled reports that a program is currently in the works.

“At the moment [the focus] is GT racing because it’s in line with our strategy on the product [level] as well,” Sanna told Sportscar365.

“I’ve said it a few times that I like DPi. I like the idea, the concept and the vision of IMSA to have this correlation between the racing prototypes with the DNA of the road cars.

“But at the moment we cannot make this kind of effort. We have to move step by step but never say never for the future.”

Sanna, who has ruled out a DPi effort for at least the next two years, indicated Lamborghini’s next logical step would be its heavily rumored expansion into GTE, although a final decision has not yet been taken.

Lamborghini CEO Stefano Domenicali told Sportscar365 last month there’s “no rush” to enter the GTE ranks, although recent developments in LMP1 could put a larger focus on the production-based category in the years to come.

“We continue to evaluate the full radar of motorsport,” Sanna said. “The last few days we’ve seen a lot of news.

“As I’ve said many times, we are seriously evaluating the many opportunities.

“We don’t have a rush as we have to consolidate the actual platform (GT3) that’s working very well. We’re ambitious so I hope there will be some news [on the GTE program] in the future.”

It’s understood a number of proposals from Volkswagen Group manufacturers have yet to receive final decisions, with motorsports programs under a greater scrutiny amid the fallout from VW’s dieselgate scandal.

Sportscar365 understands the proposed Bentley DPi program is currently at a standstill, with the status of a possible venture from Audi believed to still be in preliminary stages.

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John

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