Winkelmann: Lamborghini to go racing, no Superleggera planned
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To the outside observer, Lamborghini and Ferrari may appear to be peas in a pod, and while the two exotic automakers may arrive at similar points, they come from completely different directions. While Ferrari remains essentially a racing team that produces road cars to support their motorsport campaigns, sporadic privateer entries notwithstanding, Lamborghini has never had the same degree of racing pedigree. That may be about to change, however.
This year's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance highlighted Lamborghini as a featured marque, and the guys over at Garage419 had a chance to talk with Stefan Winkelmann. The Lamborghini CEO revealed that the company is preparing a full-on factory racing program, and though details are still a few weeks away, Winkelmann said the factory racing effort would start in Europe. Winkelmann also dispelled rumors of a potential RWD-only variant of the new Gallardo LP560-4, as well as a Superleggera version, saying that Lamborghini had no such plans for the time being. Follow the jump to watch the video.
[Source: Garage419 via eGMCarTech]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
BLS 9:18AM (8/21/2008)
Could those two dudes be any more different?
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Chuck 9:26AM (8/21/2008)
Exactly what I was thinking
John R 9:26AM (8/21/2008)
Really. Classy and Classless. But who knows how they are as people in real life.
Mark 10:20AM (8/21/2008)
Winkelmann looks exactly how i would expect the CEO of a company like Lamborghini to look
John P. 9:28AM (8/21/2008)
Man, they both look strange, one looks like he should be standing perfectly still in the window at Macys, the other one looks like he doesn't get out of mom's basement much.
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Lou 9:29AM (8/21/2008)
It is true Lambo has very little racing heritage. It probably has been more of a function of finances than anything else. Since Lambo is part of the VW/Audi group, aren't they about to be owned by Porsche??? When I think of automobile companies who are synonymous with racing I think Porsche and Ferrari.
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Chuck 9:30AM (8/21/2008)
I was half expecting him to ask for a set of Lambo doors for his Mustang.
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BMWsRock 10:25AM (8/21/2008)
Dude! I want to be one of the first racers!!! I test drove the Gallardo Spyder in July and it was frieking amazing. Ciao.
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dinkar.varma 10:33AM (8/21/2008)
Does Winkelmann drive a Reventon ? I wonder what his daily driver is.... anybody know?
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Dan Isaacs 1:55AM (8/23/2008)
An Audi R8.
jdl 10:31AM (8/21/2008)
Wow..
1) remove the press cred when on air
2) If you can afford to attend Pebble, buy some wireless mikes
3a) Shave and look like an adult
3b) dress like you belong there
unreal
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hashiryu 10:52AM (8/21/2008)
+1
Sir Chumley 7:32PM (8/21/2008)
Yes, the interviewer looks and dresses like a real slob. Quite embarrassing, to say the least. In the old days, he would have been quickly shown the door.
Will 10:52AM (8/21/2008)
I want to be Stephan Winkelmann when I grow up.
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ckm 11:38AM (8/21/2008)
Ferruccio Lamborghini is rolling over in his grave.
One of the things that set Lamborghini apart from Ferrari is that it never raced. In fact, Ferruccio had a 'no racing' clause written into the incorporation by-laws of the company....
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tom 1:30PM (8/21/2008)
Why? You have to be kidding. I've never heard of this. I really want to know the reason if you have any details.
Did their clause say they can only use lambos as farm equipment?
They made an experimental F1 engine in the 90s. It didn't go so well. Does that count as racing?
Lamborghini sucks.
jerryl 11:52AM (8/21/2008)
They better be thinking about RWD only for their GT-1 enteries because they are not at all competitive with Corvette and AM. They are not even competitive with the GT-2 Porsche and Ferrari enteries. In GT-3 the Gallardo is competitive.
BTW their top line Murcielago GT-R is already RWD and not competitive.
Of course they could always pray for Audi technology to arrive quickly. The R8 is due to be ready for the upcoming World GT series.
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why not the LS2LS7? 11:53AM (8/21/2008)
I'll believe it when I see it. Lambo created a one-make series about 6 years ago and it came and went in a single season.
Besides, Audi owns Lambo and they already spend a lot of money racing, in the exact same kind of races you'd see Lambo running in.
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Pat 5:43PM (8/21/2008)
Lamorghini is a company founded to spite Ferrari and will only enter racing because of marketing. I think companies like Ferrari, Porsche, and even Honda were founded with racing in mind, which gives them their racing pedigree.
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hotcams 4:05PM (8/21/2008)
Conversation of The Year. The best since Pulp Fiction.
Italian Armani Man - Weuee er imprroof.. de hors powher by 4teee, de topp speed er... tooo 201 mile per hour er.. itz an oudsdanding en klassy kar, az u can zeeer.
American Kacha Dood - man I got a chance to drove the sucker and its extreemely fast heheheehahahaha wowohoo... yeah yeah all the horse power whatever you said is kinda like nice but yaknow I like doing donuts too!! hahawoo! So will we see a superleggeera version soon you know?
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