Up front, a driveroriented cockpit is rendered in what the company describes as an aeronautic theme. Starting as a mechanics apprentice in the late 1960s, balboni rose to become the companys chief test driver for. Ferrari test drive lamborghini test drive italian factory. But it didnt end there, as a grinning strycek explains. Watch lamborghini test driver valentino balboni take the urus off. Basem wasef everything is wrapped in protective tissue and plastic before the test drive.
Ten years ago the automotive technology trade school jason attended had just started a relationship with bmw. The 67yearold who started as a lamborghini mechanic, then spent the next 40 years as the exotic car companys chief test driver, just kicked off a brand new project. Watch lamborghini test driver valentino balboni take the. Lamborghini drivers license revoked after speeding for. Lamborghini does not supply a maximum cargo volume number with the rear seats folded down. Lamborghinis longtime chief test driver, valentino balboni, tells how he landed a dream job wheeling supercars.
To join, youll need a sports physical from a doctor. Salary estimates are based on 2,002 salaries submitted anonymously to glassdoor by test driver employees. To pay tribute to him in occasion of his retirement, lamborghini had labeled a 2009 edition to the gallardo lineup, the lp5502 valentino balboni. Balboni describes casumaro as being only a 20minute drive from. Imagine for a moment, if you will, that your job meant getting paid to testdrive some of the worlds latest and greatest automobiles from ferraris to porsches, and from bmws to mercedes. Be a race car driver and give yourself some adrenaline and funny laps. A detail noted by journalists was the manner in which a countach was reversed. This means taking the car onto a private course and giving it a workout. Valentino balboni born may 1949 is the former chief test driver of lamborghini, a manufacturer of sports cars in italy. A lamborghini test driver takes jeremy clarkson for a mad ride on the diablo. Lamborghini test driver valentino balboni on the worlds greatest. Valentino balboni, lamborghinis former test driver, says that when paolo stanzani, managing director and father of the miura, and bob wallace, test driver, were invited to bertones studio to see the 1.
Filter by location to see test driver salaries in your area. The test driving in those jobs is merely a side perk, its not the primary role of the position. Every lamborghini is subjected to a road test at the hands of a professional driver. I stole 10 minutes of the master test drivers time for a quick chat. Lamborghini s longtime chief test driver, valentino balboni, tells how he landed a dream job wheeling supercars.
As a lamborghini enthusiast, the idea of being an ownerdriver. John mccormick is a columnist for autos consumer and can be reached at. We clamored into an aventador sv being shown on the concorso lawn to hide. Lamborghinis test driver would often demonstrate the countachs abilities to journalists. He worked for automobili lamborghini, and for over four decades spent most of his time behind the steering wheel. We are particularly proud of being an integral part of a wellrounded and complete company which designs, develops, produces and markets its. The first lamborghini test driver was actually a new zealander. The closest the company came to building a true race car under lamborghini s supervision were a few highly modified prototypes, including those built by factory test driver bob wallace, such as the miura svbased jota and the jarama sbased bob wallace special. While documenting the heady years he spent working at lamborghini, this book talks about his colleagues, the disasters and the. In the 1980s, balboni was the only test driver who was simultaneously employed in prototype development, production and customer service at lamborghini. Mar 28, 2019 join a local chapter of the sports car club of america scca. Of course, testing requires a lot more than playing with the volume on the stereo, seeing how fast the car can go on the highway, and making sure the sunroof works on a sunny day. Watch lamborghini test driver valentino balboni take the urus. Up front, a driver oriented cockpit is rendered in what the company describes as an aeronautic theme.
Many customers wanted to talk to the test driver, because, the test driver was god or savior or whatever. Balboni, even though officially retired as chief test driver, has signed a twoyear contract with lamborghini as a consultant through 2010 that can be renewed. The lamborghini miura celebrates 50 years of supercar. Jan 15, 2020 he worked as an instructor for the porsche driving experience and from there was plucked from the ranks in 2012 to become an official porsche test driver. A lamborghini trainer copilot will assist you, teach you, and allow you to fully experience all the horsepower that this lamborghini gallardo has to offer. He worked as an instructor for the porsche driving experience and from there was plucked from the ranks in 2012 to become an official porsche test driver. To pay tribute to him in occasion of his retirement, lamborghini had labeled a 2009 edition to the. The man who developed lamborghinis supercars for 40 years talks about the past and future of highperformance cars. Although a college degree is not required to become a test car driver, you should have a strong grasp of the english language and have aboveaverage mathematical and. Our test drive on track provide a small welcome brunch, a short. He retired in october 2008 due to italian government work regulations, after having served the company for 40 years. Get a valid drivers license and at least a high school diploma.
The closest the company came to building a true race car under lamborghinis supervision were a few highly modified prototypes, including those built by factory test driver bob wallace, such as the miura svbased jota and the jarama sbased bob wallace special. Sep 19, 2017 finally, the company needed to train two young test drivers since lamborghini was increasing the production. Valentino balboni was never just another testdriver. Valentino balboni was never just another test driver. I guess youre thinking about hooning around in expensive, fast, cars. So lamborghini would send a test driver instead of a mechanic.
The company suffered a major setback in 1972 when a massive tractor order from a south american nation was canceled. A free inside look at automobili lamborghini salary trends based on 8 salaries wages for 8 jobs at automobili lamborghini. Aug 30, 2016 the 67yearold who started as a lamborghini mechanic, then spent the next 40 years as the exotic car companys chief test driver, just kicked off a brand new project. Some of them actually use them as daily commuters as part of real world testing. Become a true driver of the lamborghini racing team and guide a supercar on some of the most famous circuits in the world. Then becoming a test driver or a motoring journalist are your best options.
Apply to truck driver, test engineer, operator and more. Take and pass a drivers education program and become knowledgeable about car safety and the rules of the road. May 18, 2015 valentino balboni was never just another test driver. Lamborghini although it cant be proven, theres a reasonable chance the guy was just trying to get out of a speeding ticket by making up a coronavirus test excuse.
Requirements were attitude, passion, in addition to mechanical knowledge. Lamborghini driver caught speeding to get coronavirus test. We are particularly proud of being an integral part of a wellrounded and complete company which designs, develops, produces and markets its own vehicles. Wait, i can actually become a lamborghini racing driver. Raceready, lambo huracan super trofeo is up for sale, and its glorious. What does it take to become a lamborghini racing driver. As a lamborghini enthusiast, the idea of being an owner driver. Our lamborghini huracan test drive is the perfect opportunity to experience one of the topperforming lamborghinis.
The lamborghini driver then reportedly traveled directly to the hospital to enter mandatory selfisolation, which the guardian reports to be a period of 14 days. Starting as a mechanics apprentice in the late 1960s, balboni rose to become the companys chief test driver for decades, wringing out every. Famous lamborghini test driver bob wallace passed away. Flixxy editors search the internet daily, to find the very best videos for you. Finally, the company needed to train two young test drivers since lamborghini was increasing the production. Lamborghini s test driver would often demonstrate the countachs abilities to journalists. Thats often the first step to being qualified as a race car driver, amateur or professional, as you get your licensing through the chapter. How to become a race car driver with pictures wikihow. Lamborghini test driver valentino balboni on the worlds greatest job. John mccormick is a columnist for autos consumer and can be. Being a test driver for lamborghini or any other car company, isnt what you seem to be imagining.
What were the requirements to become a test driver. Incidents of reckless driving such as this have become increasingly common with road traffic at. Salaries posted anonymously by automobili lamborghini employees. If you have the sufficient funds and talent, you yes you can purchase this readytogo lamborghini super trofeo racer.
From over 300,000 videos uploaded to youtube daily, flixxy editors select only 1. The reality is it might spend 8 hours on an oval driving at 30mph. Just as much work as play, being a car test driver demands an intimate knowledge of. May 25, 2017 you just need a drivers license and be over age 25, which, happily for lamborghini, rules out the likes of ferris bueller. I started in 1985 at lamborghini, so 32 years ago, and i became a test driver in 1993. Hard work, determination, and a bit of good timing is the answer. Car throttle how balboni became lamborghini test driver. Mar 08, 2017 being a test driver for lamborghini or any other car company, isnt what you seem to be imagining. Lamborghini test driver valentino balboni remembers how he got the. Wanting to impress, the school sent bmw their top talent, including jason. Car test driver salary and career advice chegg careermatch. What does it take to become a car test driver at lamborghini. Just as young dallara, stanzani, and bob wallace a test driver and development engineer for lamborghini were perfecting the miura sv to become a. May 25, 2017 wait, i can actually become a lamborghini racing driver.
Lamborghini test driver valentino balboni on the worlds. The editorswriters are given the vehicles for both short and long test drives. The second test driver of lamborghini was valentino balboni shown in the middle, btw thats a silver bizzarrini gt 5300 strada. As a lamborghini enthusiast, the idea of being an ownerdriver of a lamborghini huracan lp6202 super trofeo race car was the dream. If that sounds like a bit much just to become a test driver youre right. Join a local chapter of the sports car club of america scca. Jan 28, 2019 valentino balboni is one of the most significant figures in lamborghini s history. Valentino balboni is one of the most significant figures in lamborghinis history. Incidents of reckless driving such as this have become increasingly common with road traffic at its. Why the miura is the greatest lamborghini ever made. He became the face of the brand and an ambassador for lamborghini. Companies such as bmw, porsche and ferrari need people to test out their cars before going to market. That means, as a car test driver, you have achieved every little kids fantasy.
Despite ferruccio lamborghini s reluctance to become involved with racing, wallace believed lamborghini production models had great competition potential and built these modified versions on his own initiative as both proof of concept exercises and test mules. Famous lamborghini test driver bob wallace passed away the. Fiedler was then certified as a bona fide nordschleife industry day test driver. Making it to that higher end means youll be able to afford a luxury car of your own. You just need a drivers license and be over age 25, which, happily for lamborghini, rules out the likes of ferris bueller.
The experience is made even more sensational and interactive by the option of driving with virtual realit y support that will make the perception of the elements, space and depth even more realistic. Feb, 2009 if you want to test drive for very elite companies, ie. Oct 18, 2018 lamborghini s longtime chief test driver, valentino balboni, tells how he landed a dream job wheeling supercars. My sisters friend was a test driver for koenigseg, or however the company spells its ridiculous name, and she was a dartmouth grad in mechanical engineering, and had previously raced. The first and most wellknown of these specials was the miura p400 jota. The incredible story of valentino balboni classic driver. If you want to test drive for very elite companies, ie. We are united by a strong sense of belonging which comes from a passion for our brand and our exclusive products. Lamborghini set out to build his own supercar, and thanks to the 1961 ferrari palace revolt, designers giotto bizzarrini, gian paolo dallara, and franco scaglione joined the effort. Say hello to the raceready, lambo huracan super trofeo.
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