Okay, three laps is too short. It's too little to really tell what the car is like, or to really get your bearings on the track for that matter. And, in a Lamborghini, you've just about got used to the kidney-crushing acceleration when it's time to pull into the pit-lane and let another lucky journalist have a go.
You don't need to be Einstein to know I'm at the Buddh International Circuit for a track day organised by Lamborghini. It's a three day event that lets existing and prospective customers come and have a go at a few really raging bulls.
The two we have today are the LP 550-2 and the LP 570-4 Edizione Tecnica. Both Gallardo's. The all-wheel drive latter and the rear-wheel drive former.
But, before we hit 8000rpm, you should know that Lamborghini also used this event to quietly (or should that be loudly?) launch the new Gallardo LP 560-4 and the Edizione Tecnica in India. Know that the changes to the LP 560-4 are mostly cosmetic with some equipment upgrades.
The 570-4 gets new equipment, a fixed high rear wing and carbon ceramic brakes and sticky Pirelli P Zero Corsas.
So, what can I say about what was a blur from the driver's seat. Well, the 5.2-litre V10 makes an incredible noise - I like it better than the Aventador's exhaust. There's lots of grip but I never once went close to the limit. You don't approach the limit in a Lamborghini unless you're used to it. And I'm not yet. The all-wheel drive Gallardo needs more effort to push through corners.
I like the rear-wheel drive one. Its steering is purer and it moves about a bit more gently, letting you know it doesn't have the traction and grip its all-wheel drive brother has.
What else? Buddh's 'designed-for-F1-cars' long straight is so broad that it diminishes the sense of speed. So, it's only by looking down at the speedo that I know I'm doing 250kph. And there's enough place to look down at the speedo at 250kph safely. And enough time to brake for the sharp right hander after doing that.
I have no idea how Lamborghini's test driver, Giorgio, is pretty much full-tilt ahead of me and has time to look in the rear-view mirror and tell me what I'm doing wrong. Or right.
I guess that's why he's a Lamborghini test driver in the first place.
Two more laps. In to the pits, swap cars, three more laps. And it's done. It's too short for my liking. So why am I grinning like an Idiot?
Ouseph Chacko
