dunhill | Jean Alesi Drives a Gallardo!?

dunhill Motorities Challenge

Jean Alesi Drives the Gallardo

With a wide array of travel goods for automobiles, it was said that they handled "Everything but the Motor."dunhillheld an event titled "dunhill Motorities Challenge" at Sodegaura FOREST RACEWAY. Jean Alesi drove theLamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale.

Text by SUZUKI Fumihiko (OPENERS)

Dunhill, Lamborghini, and Jean Alesi

"Would you like to experience the Lamborghini Gallardo Super Trofeo Stradale with Jean Alesi?"

This was hardly a question. After all, there was no reason to refuse.

After readily accepting the invitation, I examined the sent invitation, pondering what this was all about. Why Alesi in a Gallardo at Sodegaura FOREST RACEWAY? And even more curious, why was dunhill inviting me?

There's no point in building suspense, so here's the background to this unusual combination: dunhill was sponsoring Rally Nippon, which concluded the day before, and had invited Mr. Alesi as a guest.

Mr. Alesi happened to have some free time after Rally Nippon, and the plan was to hold an event. Lamborghini Japan cooperated with this.

Or so it seems.

It was a peculiar pairing, but after actually experiencing the event, I felt ashamed of my own curiosity.

Before I explain why I felt ashamed, let me begin with the event's details.

The guests invited to this event were all from lifestyle media. The program consisted of two parts: a ride-along experience in the Lamborghini "Gallardo LP570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale" driven by Mr. Alesi, and a circuit drive where participants actually took the wheel of the car.

However, both Alfred Dunhill CEO Carlo Galli and Lamborghini Japan Country Manager Eginardo Bertoli seemed to be enjoying themselves as much as the guests, creating a friendly atmosphere at Sodegaura where everyone felt like part of the same group.

The sun quickly set beyond the final corner, disappearing among the trees of Sodegaura.

There was no talk of dunhill clothing or Lamborghini cars. That's because there was no need to discuss them from the start. One superior experience speaks louder than a hundred words.

The Super Trofeo Stradale, refined from the "Gallardo" base, feels like a true sports car because it can be controlled with precision, without ever intimidating the driver. Mr. Alesi operates it with the same ease as if he were going to the local shop for groceries. The ride is exceptionally smooth. The passing scenery and the G-force felt on the body suggest speeds that are almost unbelievable, yet according to Mr. Alesi, the car was only operating at about half its potential. You can see this in the video below, filmed by me.

It's a reminder that true power breeds composure. Just as throwing a ball towards the sky won't send it to the ends of the universe, the greatest people and things naturally possess a sense of ease due to their boundless capabilities.

This, in turn, naturally reveals what kind of brand dunhill is, having gathered first-class people and cars in one place to provide a relaxing time.—

That's likely how it is. Realizing this, I felt ashamed of myself.