It seems Lamborghini is obsessed with having its cars thrashed to within an inch of their lives. Fresh from handing a brand spanking new Gallardo to the
Italian State Police, the maker has announced it will build 30 cars for a one-make race series.
The Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo will be open to dealership teams, racing pros and amateur 'gentleman' racers - so expect to see liberal use of turn signals and plenty of apologising for cornering manoeuvres that could be construed as acts of aggression...
Not really. The Lambo Super Trofeo should be the fastest one-make series ever and is, in fact, the only all-wheel drive one-make series in the world. Bizarrely though, one of the 30 cars at each race will be reserved for a celebrity guest driver, sort of like Star in an Outrageously Priced Car.
For 200,000 Euros (plus taxes) you get a stripped out, re-worked
Gallardo LP 560-4, with a 562bhp 5.2-litre V10 engine powering a hatchback-light 1,300kg. Lashings of carbon fibre, paper thin racing buckets and a full roll cage are all present and correct.
Races will take place at some of the world's most prestigious tracks - including Silverstone, Spa and Monza - and start in May next year. Seven in total are scheduled so far. Competitors will also get to hang out at Lamborghini Village, which despite sounding like a tacky shopping complex, is actually a luxury paddock for rich racers and their hangers on. Let's hope Dave is bidding for the television rights as we speak.
Mark Nichol - 29 Oct 2008