Special Motorsports Event - Lamborghini Turns 50 Brings Race Series to America +VIDEO

By Henny Hemmes
Senior European Editor
The Auto Channel

THE HAGUE - January 30, 2013: Fifty years ago, Ferruccio Lamborghini had an ambitious plan: “I want to build the perfect car.” Lovers of sports cars all know what has been achieved since then, with big names such as the Miura, Countach, Diablo, Murcielago.

It speaks for itself, that with the current Gallardo and Aventador models being sold nowadays in 45 countries by 120 dealers, Lambo will be celebrating its 50th anniversary with dozens of activities all over the globe.

The main event will be a large reunion of Lamborghini drivers from all over the world with a ‘Grande Giro Lamborghini 50 Anniversary’. During a press conference in New York, last Saturday, communications director Raffaello Porro said that some 250 registrations from customers in 32 countries have already been received. The company expects to welcome over 300 owners. More than 40 per cent will bring their historical Lamborghini, which means a model that is not in the current line-up.

The ‘Grande Giro Lambo’ will take place from May 7 through 11 and will cover a distance of more than 1200 km (750 miles). The tour will start in Milan and goes via Forte di Marmi, Rome and Bologna to finish in the company’s home town Sant’Agata Bolognese in northeastern Italy, where the factory was founded in May 1963.

The celebrations started on January 12, with the opening of a new dealership in Long Island, New York. It is the brand’s largest showroom in the U.S. Stephan Winkelmann, Lamborghini President and CEO, said to be very happy with the premium location, since the Northeast is a leading market for Lamborghini in the US. Customers can see the 2013 Aventador LP700-4 Roadster there now.

Watch the Aventador LP700-4 Miami introduction

Super Trofeo race series comes to the US

The next important step is the introduction of the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo in America.

During four seasons in Europe and a first season in Asia, the racing series stood out as the only one-make four-wheel drive series and the fastest one-brand racing series in the world. There will be six events, each with two races and a total track time of 260 minutes. The official tests will be held on March 25-26, but the calendar has not been announced yet.

The racing season will be closed in November with a World Final on one of the Italian race tracks with winners from different world championships. In addition, Lamborghini will also officially enter the worldwide 2013 FIA championship in the GT3 series with the Gallardo, while other racing activities will also be offered. Besides the 50th anniversary, 2013 will also go into the history books as the year of Lamborghini’s biggest commitment in motor sport ever.

Improved Gallardo

The new Gallardo that will be entered in the Blancpain Super Trofeo has been considerably reworked with new brake ducts, new wheel arch design and a new rear spoiler and diffuser.

The 2013 Gallardo LP 570-4 race car has improved aerodynamics, cooling and down force. Better aerodynamics resulted in a 120 percent better efficiency, front brake cooling improved by 50 percent and down force by an additional 350 pounds in low drag, increasing to 160 kg in high-down force.

The body is almost entirely of carbon fiber reinforced material and the enormous rear wing has ten positions, dynamic performance has been increased, and the car has shed 10 kgs of weight.

Surprise in Geneva? Last year, with a total of 2,083 cars sold, Lamborghini saw its world wide sales increase by 30 per cent, with the Gallardo as the most successful model ever built. Compared to 2011, US sales went up by 53 per cent to 540 units.

During a press conference at the eve of the Detroit auto show, Stephan Winkelmann and Maurizio Reggiani, Research & development director and responsible for motorsport, were smiling broadly when announcing to present ‘ a big surprise’ at the Geneva auto show in the beginning of March.