Grosjean: Lamborghini SC63 Close to “100% Maximization”

Romain Grosjean feels Lamborghini is getting close to “100 percent maximization” of its SC63 prototype on the heels of equalling its best finish at the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen, in a race where the Swiss driver led most of the second hour in changing conditions.

After rain fell in the early portion of the race, Grosjean brought his No. 63 Riley-run factory entry up to the head of the GTP field from 11th on the grid, leading a total of 23 racing laps in a mixture of conditions.

While the car would fade from the lead in the warmer, second half of the race, it still managed to finish seventh overall, equalling its best finishing position in the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship to date after a seventh place finish in the car’s series debut at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring last year.

“We know there are still big limitations on the car,” Grosjean told Sportscar365. “But we were able to get some good performance out of it. We’re definitely close to 100 percent maximization. Sadly, it’s just not good enough.

“Yesterday in qualifying, we changed the setup from what we were running before, and I think that was a bit of a breakthrough in understanding that car. We kept a similar setup today, and I think it was working very well.

“Last time we finished seventh, it’s just because we finished the race. Here, there was a bit of everything. Wet [conditions] on slicks, wet on slicks, a drying track, a lot of yellows. It was not an easy one. But I think it worked well. We’re just missing a little bit of performance. ”

Both Grosjean and his co-driver Daniil Kvyat were complimentary of the team’s effort in the six-hour enduro following a difficult start to the season, which saw the team fail to reach the checkered flag in the first two Michelin Endurance Cup rounds at the Rolex 24 at Daytona and in Sebring.

“I think everyone on the team has done a very solid job,” said Kvyat. “We are getting there, and remember, we are not doing a lot of races compared to others here as well.

“So we just come here and we show up and we have to perform when others test and race all the time. So I hope we will be able to catch up soon and keep that positive trajectory going.”

Grosjean added: “Hats off to Riley Motorsports on the strategy and getting us up front. Honestly, when we were in clear air with a track temperature that was a bit cooler, the car was working well. Towards the end, with the higher track temp, it was a bit more difficult.

“That stint we were in, clear air, and managed to stay there, and it worked really well. That one was definitely something to put in the book for Lamborghini, leading laps on the racetrack properly. It’s good. I wish we had led the last one, the one that matters really.”

The next Endurance Cup round of the season takes place on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the only other track where the SC63 has led race laps in WeatherTech Championship competition, after Grosjean made a similar charge up the order in wet weather last year.

“I think Indy is a decent track for the car,” Grosjean said. “It’s pretty smooth, so that should help. So we will see what we can do then. We’ll do our best there and then Petit Le Mans, which is awesome.

“We knew that Watkins was going to be a better track for us, and I think we made the most of it. I think there are a lot of positives from today. But we’re still not quite on the podium.”