We have a lot to thank the track day's rise to prominence for: hilarious YouTube videos, for one, along with fascinating build threads and, most importantly, some great days out. There's one other thing, too: the increasing prominence of circuit aligned sports cars.
The nutters who went to the Nurburgring before it was famous just had Porsches or M3s, it seems. But think where we've come since the GT3's arrival in 1999. Cars like the Aston Martin GT8 and GT12, the Ferrari Scuderias and Speciales, the Maserati MC Stradale and so on have all sung from a similar hymn sheet. They've each taken good (sometimes great) sports car foundations, then tinkered and tweaked to suit track work better - and created some truly memorable driver's cars in the process.
The Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera is another great example of the breed. While nowadays Sant'Agata has quite the reputation for track cars thanks to the Performante and SVJ's lap records, it was largely uncharted territory for the brand at the SL's launch in 2007. There had been lighter Diablo's and one or two dalliances with motorsport, but nothing like the kind of effort we see nowadays, with the GT3 competitor and Porsche-baiting lap times.
The Superleggera can be seen as something of a catalyst, then, for moving Lamborghini from making dramatic, intimidating supercars into the purveyor of genuine greats. The first car isn't easy to track down, however, this black car is said to be just one of 12 right-hand drive examples. Still looks great, doesn't it? £100k could be spent much less wisely, that's for sure...
The original was received well enough that, come Gallardo facelift time, the Superleggera was updated as well - which is what you see here. Now with 570hp, the SL ditched 80kg from the standard car's kerbweight, meaning a power-to-weight ratio that bettered the Ferrari 458. It kept the single-clutch automated gearbox, which will likely date it a decade down the line, though the experience remained fairly exceptional: "Fast, loud, analogue and very rewarding" read one verdict, another praising "an uncanny alacrity and nimbleness."
The problem - if this can ever be described as such a thing - is that some believed the Superleggera wasn't sufficiently enhanced from the standard LP560-4 to warrant the price premium. The more positive take on that perspective is that the Lamborghini is a more accommodating kind of road racer, i.e. a little less demanding.
Its (relative) softness, in terms of both drive and reputation, also means the Superleggera is a more affordable way into the circuit-slaying supercar club. This 2011 car has covered 16,000 miles since 2011, though oddly with five owners, and is for sale at Lamborghini Pangbourne for £120k. A comparable 911 GT3 RS will cost an additional £30,000; a 430 Scuderia, with similar mileage and also using the automated manual tech, is £185k. Heck, even an SLS with 25,000 miles will cost you more.
The value-option Lamborghini, then? That would be a stretch, given this remains a mortgage deposit amount of money, and the price premium to the standard car has lasted the duration, too. If it wasn't £25k better in 2011, is a Superleggera £25k better in 2020? We'll leave that for you to ponder, but don't sit on it too long - track days are recommencing very soon!
SPECIFICATION | LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO LP570-4 SUPERLEGGERA
Engine: 5,204cc, V10
Transmission: 6-speed automated manual, four-wheel drive
Power (hp): 570@8,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 398@6,500rpm
MPG: 20.9
CO2: 319g/km
First registered: 2011
Recorded mileage: 16,000
Price new: £174,840
Yours for: £119,950
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