Eni Lamborghini Squadra Corse S.p.A. have presented their new car, the Lambo 224, for the 2024 FV season at a launch event in Bologna, Italy. The glitzy event was held at the Museo Ferruccio Lamborghini with media personnel present alongside a wide range of celebrities and important figures from several Italian companies including Giuseppe Zafarana from Eni, a sponsor of Lamborghini in FV. Also seen were Sabato de Sarno, Giovanni Ferrero and Flavio Cattaneo from Gucci, Ferrero and Enel respectively, sparking rumours of new sponsorship details from these famous companies. Stephan Winkelmann, CEO of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A., was present but only to cast a watchful eye over proceedings as the leaders of his Squadra Corse division did the talking. Aldo De Lucia, CEO of Lamborghini Squadra Corse, led the event. “Thank you all for joining us today as we launch the new FV car for 2024,” Aldo began. “This season is a new era for FV and the Lambo 224 is our proud step forward. For the first time since the purchase of this team we have developed this car from the same starting point as our rivals and we are confident of great things to come. The support of our partners is already allowing us to commit many more resources to our development plan and I hope that we will soon be able to announce some new partnerships. For now, please sit back and enjoy the show.” A film plays on big screens around the room, showing the proud history of the Italian marque, meanwhile the stage floor opens up with a platform rising from beneath the smoke and light display. On the platform is the new Lambo 224 with drivers Felix Beyer, Enzo Domenicalli and Giani Ledesma stood behind, all looking slightly in awe of the show. A moment of almost total silence is followed by an eruption of noise as the attendees move around to get a better view of the new, aggressive looking car and livery. Team Principal Shane O’Connell and Technical Director Andrea Belli emerge to join the stage. O’Connell collects the microphone and addresses the audience. “Wow, this is a really impressive turnout, thank you to everyone here today and thank you of course to Lamborghini for making this event what it is. Everyone at Lamborghini Squadra Corse is truly excited for what is around the corner when the season starts in Adelaide in April, there’s a real sense of anticipation for the season ahead and indeed the next few years. On the sporting side of things, myself and Luca Gray are very confident in the team in place to deliver results. The Lambo 224 is the new chapter in this team’s history and we do believe we’re in the best position we’ve ever been in as a team to really push forward. Andrea and his team have worked tirelessly over the last year to find the best in these new technical regulations so hopefully we’ll see good results.” “As Shane says, this new car is the product of a full year of hard work,” followed Belli. “Giani in particular has been instrumental in helping the team to understand the link between simulations and actually feeling the car out on the circuit. This year we think we have got the engine right, the Lamborghini LE2412 should be the most powerful of all the suppliers. When we go to the test in one month we will see how we have done but hopefully we did it all right.” The three drivers, Beyer, Domenicalli and Ledesma then speak briefly on their hopes for the season ahead. “This is an amazing feeling to finally be excited to drive a car for the first time in so long, maybe since the Lufthansa AMR days,” said Beyer. “I know how hard everyone has worked, Andrea, Stefano, Luigi and all the team. I want to reward all their hard work by putting in some performances to be proud of this season. In myself, I feel as good as ever, I’m ready to compete with whoever we are fighting this season.” His teammate, Domenicalli, was cautiously optimistic. “It is important to not be carried away but the data does look really nice. Because we are now in a new generation of FV it is hard to say exactly how good things are but for sure I am excited. The test will tell us what we really need to know, then we go to Australia hopefully with our heads high.” Test and reserve driver Giani Ledesma, meanwhile, could hardly contain himself. “Actually I think this year the team can surprise a lot of people. Of course, it depends how other teams have made their new cars with these regulations, maybe some teams have found something like a loophole, but I hope it’s us. Downton are always the team to try to get close to so hopefully we are not far away. If it’s the case then maybe the team can get a podium after so many years!” The team, which was originally called Meteor under the ownership of Kazuki Armos, won 4 races and collected 15 podiums in 120 races from 2013 until 2019. In late 2019, Armos sold the team to the Caliri family, headed by businessman Piercarlo Caliri and his son, Guido. Under the new ownership and new name of Scuderia Meteor, the team endured three long years with more controversies and legal battles then race appearances as the cars regularly failed to qualify; at one point going 14 months without appearing in a race. The latter stages of 2022 saw huge financial issues and Caliri finally put the team up for sale with Lamborghini coming in to save the team they supplied engines to. Last season, despite scoring just one point, saw a marked improvement in the running of the team as they failed to qualify on just four occasions and the second half of the season saw a huge improvement in performance. At the very least, there is now clear investment and professionalism at a team which almost disappeared entirely just 18 months ago. This season will be telling to see if Lamborghini are all talk or if they really can fight.
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