Sant'Agata Bolognese/Geneva, 5 March 2002
Lamborghini Murciilago establishes three international records:
Series production car 1 hour-100 km and 100 miles international speed records
On Saturday night, February 16, 2002, at the Prototipo ring in Nardo/Puglia, Lamborghini's newest supercar set three international speed records for series production cars.
Between 22.21 hours and 23.21 hours, a yellow Lamborghini Murciilago, 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, thus establishing the 1 hour international speed record for series production cars (Category B), four-stroke non-turbo reciprocating engine (Group II) for cars with a total engine displacement over 6,000 cc (Class 18).
The Lamborghini Murciilago, strictly a production standard vehicle, also established a further two international records: 100 km and 100 miles from a standing start were completed at an average speed of 320.023 km/h (198.853 mph) and 320.254 km/h (198.996 mph) respectively. The 100 km marker was passed in just 18:44.9 minutes, while it took only 30:09 minutes to cover 100 miles.
These three records - which are about to be homolagated 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 characteristics of the four-wheel drive Murciilago.
Due to the 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. And, as no modifications were permitted, neither to the standard fuel intake nor to the regular "service station" fuel pump, the relatively long fuel stop penalized the overall result. The quick refueling systems used by prototypes and special (racing) cars would have facilitated even more stunning figures.
The record-holding Murciilago is a standard production car with a powerful 6.2 Liter Lamborghini 12-cylinder engine, 580 hp, 6-speed gearbox, permanent four-wheel drive, with standard Pirelli P Zero Rosso tires of 245/35 ZR 18 at the front and 335/30 ZR 18 at the rear.
This record drive underscores the Murciilago's impressive overall reliability, even under extreme conditions, as well as its 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 Murciilago started in Europe at the end of last year and in USA 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 Japanwith 5% each.
