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On Saturday night, February 16, 2002, at the Prototipo ring in Nardo / Puglia, Lamborghini's newest supercar obtained three international speed records for a series production car.
Between 22.21 (10:21PM) and 23.21 (11:21PM) a yellow Lamborghini Murcielago, registration BW 257 TY, covered 305.041 km (189.543 miles) from a standing start. Driven by Lamborghini Research and Development test driver Giorgio Sanna, 26, the Lamborghini completed 22 of 25 laps on the 12.6 km ring at an average lap speed in excess of 320 km/h. This established the 1 hour international speed record for a series production car (Category B), four-stroke non-turbo reciprocation engine (Group II) for cars with a total engine displacement over 6,000 cc (Class 18).
The Lamborghini Murcielago, strictly a production standard vehicle, also established two additional international records. Fastest speed and time to cover 100 km and 100 mile distances. In both records the average speed was in excess of 198 mph. The 100 km marker was passed in just 18:44.9 minutes while it took only 30:09 minutes to cover 100 miles! All records start from a standing start.
These three records - which are about to be homologated by the International Automobile Federation FIA - were obtained in strongly adverse weather conditions with a sustained south easterly wind that would have discouraged this high speed test by cars without the excellent high-speed stability of the four - wheel drive Murcielago.
Due to its confidence in the pilot's ability and experience, Lamborghini decided to attempt the records, with the intention of achieving an even better performance in the future in more favorable weather conditions. The 1 hour record drive even included a refueling stop. As no modifications to the production car or fuel pump were permitted, the relatively long fuel stop penalized the overall result. The quick refueling system used by prototypes and racing cars would have facilitated even more stunning figures.
The record holding Murcielago is a standard production car with a powerful 6.2 Liter Lamborghini 12-cylinder engine, 580 bhp, 6 speed gearbox, full time 4 wheel drive with standard Pirelli P Zero Rosso tires size 245/35 ZR 18 in front and 335/30 ZR 18 at the rear.
This record drive underscores the Murcielago's impressive overall reliability, even under extreme conditions, as well as it's excellent stability and road holding at high speeds.
The vehicle's weight distribution, suspension, chassis, aerodynamics and four-wheel drive characteristics facilitated not only safe driving at maximum speed, but also excellent response characteristics under the added stress of strong winds and high centrifugal forces at very high speeds, even on a large diameter track such as Nardo.
Sales of the Lamborghini Murcielago started in Europe at the end of last year and in the US and Japan at the beginning of 2002. Some 400 deliveries are planned for this year with the US accounting for 35% of sales, Germany for 20% followed by Switzerland and the UK with 10% each and Italy and Japan with 5% each.
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