Valentino Balboni

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Valentino Balboni
Valentino Balboni, Mike Gulett and a silver Bizzarrini GT 5300 Strada in Monterey.jpg
Valentino Balboni (middle), Mike Gulett and his silver Bizzarrini GT 5300 Strada in Monterey at Concorso Italiano in 2011.
Born
Valentino Balboni

(1949-05-13) 13 May 1949 (age 75)
Casumaro, Italy
NationalityItalian
OccupationChief test driver of Lamborghini
Years active1968–2008
The Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni - Flickr - The Car Spy (4).jpg
The Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni

Valentino Balboni (born 13 May 1949) is the former chief test driver of Lamborghini, a manufacturer of sports cars in Italy. He retired in October 2008 due to Italian government work regulations, after having served the company for 40 years. [1] To pay tribute to him in occasion of his retirement, Lamborghini had labeled a 2009 edition to the Gallardo line-up, the LP550-2 Valentino Balboni. [2] [3]

Contents

Biography

Balboni started working for Lamborghini on 21 April 1968, as a mechanic apprentice in the company. [1] [4] Eventually, he was personally asked by the company's founder, Ferruccio Lamborghini, to test-drive the newly built cars alongside Bob Wallace. Valentino Balboni has reportedly driven about 80% of all Lamborghinis ever built. Among the marque aficionados, Balboni has risen to cult status. In 2008, Balboni was still active for the company as the chief test-driver and ambassador. Fluent in English and German, he often appeared at different Lamborghini-related events, such as new models' unveiling.

In July 2009, Lamborghini announced a special edition run of 250 Gallardo LP550-2 "Valentino Balboni edition" supercars; the company stated that the new car was rear-wheel driven in accordance with Balboni's preference for the thrill of cornering a rear-wheel driven vehicle. These vehicles were also made special with a white and gold stripe that runs the center of the car, inspired by sports cars of the 1970s.

Balboni, even though officially retired as chief test driver, has signed a two-year contract with Lamborghini as a consultant through 2010 that can be renewed multiple times. [1]

Valentino Balboni said that the first car that got him excited about cars was a silver Bizzarrini GT 5300 that he saw at the Turin car show in 1966. [5]

Media

Valentino Balboni has made several appearances on television in different documentaries related to Lamborghini such as Top Gear , Jeremy Clarkson's Motorworld , Rides , as well as an episode of 60 Minutes from 1987. [6] In the 2012 film Zero Dark Thirty , one of the characters asks a salesman at a Lamborghini dealer "...is that a Balboni?", referring to the special edition vehicle.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Matt Davis (3 August 2009). "2010 Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni First Drive". InsideLine.com. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
  2. Luke Madden (1 July 2009). "Lamborghini LP550-2 'Valentino Balboni'". evo.co.uk. Archived from the original on 15 April 2012. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
  3. "Balboni honored with two-wheel drive Gallardo and Aston city-car ..." ultimatecarpage.com. 30 June 2009. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
  4. "Legendary Lamborghini Test Driver Valentino Balboni Celebrates 40 Years with the Bull". italiaspeed.com. 23 July 2007. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
  5. "Valentino Balboni And The Silver Bizzarrini GT 5300 - MyCarQuest.com".
  6. "1987: Lamborghini on 60 Minutes". YouTube . 25 February 2011. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2013.