The start was five years ago, in 2009

As you know, 2013 marked a memorial year, the50th anniversary of the Italian supercar manufacturer, Lamborghini.In addition to 50th-anniversary events held in Italy, a limited-production special model, the "Veneno" and its open-top version, the "Veneno Roadster" were also unveiled. Lamborghini fans worldwide also held various events to commemorate this historic milestone in their respective countries.



In Japan, the "Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo Asia Series" has been held since last year. The race attracts not only professional drivers but also many gentleman drivers (amateur drivers). Many of these "bull tamers" are world-class supercar collectors or individuals who decided to participate in this race because they couldn't fully experience the potential of their Lamborghinis on public roads.

Competing with times close to international standards

Although it's a gentleman's race, the series follows a rigorous program, with two races per round held while touring various Asian countries. This means it's not merely a playground for the wealthy. This is also true for the race car, the "Blancpain-Super Trofeo," a one-make machine that uses Pirelli control tires but boasts high potential.

For instance, the fact that the pair of #63 Johnson Yaptonaga (Indonesia) / Manabu Orido (Japan) achieved a qualifying time of 1:43.412 in this event is sufficient proof of the car's capabilities. For reference, the top qualifying time was 1:43.121. This time is only a few seconds slower than the 2012 record set by theWEC (FIA World Endurance Championship)LMGTE Pro classPorsche911 RSR (997).




Lamborghini's "Blancpain Super Trofeo Asia Series" coordinator, Cristiano Invernizzi, explained, "We have succeeded in generating 20 percent more downforce (compared to the 2012 model), achieving potential comparable to GT3 machines." He added, "Depending on the setup, it can generate downforce ranging from 128 kgf to 160 kgf, which is two to four times that of a standard Gallardo."

A parade of raging bulls celebrating the 50th anniversary

Before the first day's race, 50 Lamborghinis, including "Aventador", "Gallardo", "Murciélago", "Diablo", and "Countach," gathered from across Japan for a spectacular parade lap on the full Grand Prix circuit, drawing significant attention from attendees. Among them was the unique Lamborghini "Countach QVX," featuring a C-car chassis powered by the Lamborghini "Countach Quattrovalvole" V12 engine, attracting a constant stream of photographers.



The appearance of the elusive Countach QVX, rarely seen outside of niche automotive magazines, was a surprise. However, the event also served as a significant social gathering for Lamborghini enthusiasts from various countries, featuring displays of the latest models and a specially designed owner's lounge by Lamborghini.

The luxurious lounge featured Barcelona chairs, identical to those found at official Lamborghini dealerships, and displayed a collection from Blancpain, the event's luxury watch partner. The latest timepieces captivated the attendees, and it's anticipated that these new Blancpain models will soon adorn the wrists of Lamborghini owners.

Winkelmann Speaks About Japan

Automobili Lamborghini President and CEO, Stephan Winkelmann, also visited Japan for this event, and we had the opportunity to speak with him. As the interview took place at the end of September 2013, please forgive any slightly dated information included.Lamborghini

Winkelmann stated, "Japan is a very important country for Lamborghini. Our customers are of a very high caliber, leading the Asian market, and it serves as a crucial base for developing motorsport activities in Asia. While many Asian countries are just beginning to enjoy cars and racing, Japan already possesses a history and foundation for enjoying automobiles, with an understanding of racing comparable to Europe and North America.

As you know, Japan also has a long history as a host country for Formula 1. It is with immense pleasure that we can hold our race at Fuji Speedway, a Grand Prix circuit, in this year of Lamborghini's 50th anniversary. At the same time, it has allowed us to re-emphasize how much importance we place on the Japanese market."



For a period after its founding, Lamborghini completely abandoned racing. However, over its 50-year history, Lamborghini has deepened its ties with motorsport through one-make races with the Diablo and participation in Formula 1. Today, Lamborghini and the racetrack are inseparable.

"Lamborghini owners do not purchase their vehicles for practicality or out of necessity. They acquire them as a means to realize a dream or express their passion. Of course, speed and the enjoyment of driving are also significant factors. Therefore, Lamborghini and motorsport are intrinsically linked.

By continuing race and track events, we want to create opportunities for future owners and fans to experience the world of Lamborghini. Just as we focus on social media and websites, we are also investing in real-world events to create a complete Lamborghini experience."

Lamborghini: Towards the Next 50 Years

With the successor to the Gallardo set to be unveiled next year and development of the super SUV model "Urus" progressing rapidly,Lamborghinicontinues to be a source of excitement in the world of super sports cars, and we will be watching closely.—This is where we would normally conclude, but there is one point of interest.

If we take Automobili Lamborghini President and CEO Stephan Winkelmann's word that "While we cannot specify a date at this moment, we will present the successor to the Gallardo in early next year," then the highly anticipated new model should appear around the Geneva Motor Show in March 2014. (Editor's note: The successor to the Gallardo, the "Huracán", was announced in December 2013, and its public debut is expected to be at Geneva as anticipated.)



This raises the question of what will happen to the "LamborghiniBlancpainSuper Trofeo," based on the Gallardo, in the coming years. We turned to Cristiano Invernizzi, the race coordinator, once again with this question.

"Actually, the racing version of the next model is already under development within the Sant'Agata facility. We may be able to unveil the racing machine at almost the same time as the new model's debut. We are planning a schedule where the first year after the new model's introduction will involve mixed races with the Gallardo, and the following season will transition to a one-make series for the new model."

The Gallardo racing machine, the Super Trofeo, was developed by Reiter Engineering in Germany at Lamborghini's request, as the production Gallardo model already existed. However, this time, the base is a pre-production model, and considering the transition of race cars, the racing machine must be developed concurrently with the production car. This naturally explains why they cannot rely on external racing constructors.

The "Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo" will continue, transitioning from mixed races with the Gallardo to a one-make race series with the new model. The day we can witness the new machine's prowess on the circuit is not far off. I'm sure I'm not the only one who is now even more keenly anticipating this race.