10:24 AM
Racing. Lamborghini. Racing a Lamborghini. An amazing fantasy? Oh, yeah. And now it's reality.
Lamborghini is launching what's being billed as the world's fastest one-marque racing series in May 2009, called the Blancpain Super Trofeo.
It will have a grid of 30 cars, and teams will get to drive the Super Trofeo, a race-car version of the Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4.
It's open to individual, professional and "gentleman" drivers, as well as Lamborghini dealer teams. The factory also will have a car earmarked for celebrity guest drivers.
The series starts May 3 at Silverstone in Britain and will crisscross Europe with races in Italy, Germany, Belgium and Spain. It wraps at Monza in October 2009. The races will be held alongside other events, including the FIA's GT championship and the World Touring Car championship.
It costs about $250,000 at current exchange rates for the Super Trofeo car-and-parts package, and there's also an entry fee and taxes. Drivers get three 40-minute races each weekend, with the results added together. It also includes qualifying and practice sessions.
The Super Trofeo is a lightweight version of the Gallardo LP 560-4 slimmed down to a dry weight of 2,866 pounds with a reworked chassis. Power comes from a 5.2-liter direct-injection V10 that makes 570 hp, which is channeled through permanent all-wheel drive.
It's paired with a six-speed gearbox. Other enhancements include a carbon-fiber wing, racing brakes and a safety cage.
