Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni
Driving fun with absolute precision
He has long been revered as one of the many legends surrounding the
world’s most uncompromising sports car brand – Valentino Balboni, a
remarkable test driver
with his
own personal cult status. Automobili Lamborghini now presents a model
in his honor and bearing his name – the Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino
Balboni.
The latest version of the Gallardo, Lamborghini’s most successful model
of all time - overall, more than 9,000 units of the model range have
already been produced - boasts not only its own distinctive design and
exclusive equipment, but its technology is unique too, as indicated by
the model badge: the 550 stands for the power output in hp and the 2 is
for rear wheel drive. The special exclusivity of the Gallardo LP 550-2
Valentino Balboni is guaranteed – it is limited to 250 units.
For several decades, Valentino Balboni has had a distinct influence on
the character of the super sports car bearing the sign of the bull. With
his fine-tuning and testing work, he has helped to shape many
automotive legends, from the Lamborghini Miura of the 60s through to the
current Gallardo and Murciélago models. Balboni was hired in 1967 by
company founder Ferruccio Lamborghini himself. From early on, it was
evident that the young Balboni had a special feel for cars, that most
sensitive of all instincts that connects to the ‘life blood’ of an
automobile and defines the soul of a test driver.
“A Lamborghini must always combine the precision of a race car with the
reliability of a good friend,” says Balboni. Since 1973, he has sat at
the wheel of every prototype built by the brand, and even most
production cars have passed through his hands before being delivered to
their customers. This has turned Balboni into one of the most important
representatives of the brand, with an outstanding reputation and status
among the brand’s fans and customers worldwide. After over 40 years with
Lamborghini, Balboni is now officially retired. Yet, Valentino Balboni
continues to travel to many countries around the world as an ambassador
of the brand.
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