Valentino Balboni

High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Valentino Balboni is the former chief test driver of Lamborghini, a manufacturer of sports cars in Italy. He retired in 2009 due to Italian government work regulations, after having served the company for 40 years. To pay tribute to him in occasion of his retirement, Lamborghini has labeled the latest addition to the Gallardo line-up, the LP550-2 Valentino Balboni.Balboni started working for Lamborghini on April 21, 1968 as a mechanic apprentice in the company. Eventually he was personally asked by the founder of the company, Ferruccio Lamborghini, to test-drive the newly built cars. Together withBob Wallace, they became the test-driving team of Lamborghini. 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: he often appeared at different Lamborghini-related events, like the unveiling of new models.