The Lamborghini Murcielago R-GT

In September 2003, Lamborghini unveiled the Murcielago R-GT. This was a completely new race car launched in response to increasing client demand for a competition version of Lamborghini’s acclaimed supercar, the Murcielago.

To ensure the project was a success, Lamborghini owners, Audi, employed both Audi Sport and Reiter Engineering to design and develop the R-GT. In the early 2000’s, Audi was a dominant force in endurance racing, winning the famed Le Mans 24-Hours thirteen times in fifteen years! Reiter Engineering was chosen by Lamborghini as the companies had previously worked together, entering a Diablo GT in the FIA GT Championship in 2000.

The Murcielago R-GT featured a naturally-aspirated, 5,998 cc, 60˚, 48-valve, V12 aluminium Lamborghini engine and six-speed sequential gearbox. The carbon fibre bodywork clothed a steel tubular chassis with double wishbone suspension at the front and rear.

This Lamborghini Murcielago R-GT

The R-GT offered here, serial number LB01-001 is one of only nine built by Reiter and Audi Sport for Lamborghini. This car was assigned to Reiter Engineering in mid-2003 for conversion to competition specification. This is also the car photographed for the FIA homologation papers, detailing the technical specification, a copy of this documentation is included within the car’s history file.

Early February 2004 saw LB01-001’s track debut at the Circuit de Valencia, near Valencia, Spain wit Peter Kox behind the wheel. At the 2003 Le Mans 24-Hours race, Peter Kox had claimed class victory in the dominant Ferrari 550 GTS, so had plenty of experience to offer Lamborghini and Reiter in developing this R-GT.

The second round of the 2004 FIA GT Championship was held at the Circuit de Valencia, totalling 112 laps over three hours. Thanks to continued development, the R-GT had lost 150 kg’s and gained extra horsepower. Audi continued providing assistance with the project and undertook aerodynamic testing in the wind tunnel, also redeveloping the suspension. These improvements were immediately apparent, and this Murcielago was among the front-runners from the very first practise session. In the second practise session which was wet, the R-GT set the fastest time!

For its first race, the R-GT was driven once again by Peter Kox, who was joined by another GT-specialist, Oliver Gavin, who would go on to win the GT class at the Le Mans 24-Hours five times! The pair qualified this R-GT an impressive fifth overall!

The race was held in dry conditions, with the Lamborghini quickly finding itself in the lead and Peter Kox clearly becoming more confident with the Italian bull, pulling out a lead of 25 seconds over the Ferrari 550 Maranello’s of BMS Scuderia Italia. Despite losing time at the pitstop, Oliver Gavin crossed the line third overall to take the Lamborghini R-GT’s first podium finish in its first race!

The podium finish marked the end of competition for chassis LB01-001, with Reiter proudly displaying the car at its headquarters in Germany for many years, before it returned to the Lamborghini Museum at Sant’Agata Bolognese, Italy. Prior to display in the Lamborghini museum, this R-GT was sent to Drive Test Motorsport for a check over and recommissioning in early 2019 by Automobili Lamborghini themselves. Drive Test Motorsport was chosen as it is owned and run by Lamborghini Squadra Corsa veteran, Luigi Moccia. The recommissioning works involved renewal of the engine oil and filter, engine coolant, gearbox oil, differential oil and brake fluid. The EFI Technology ECU was also inspected ensuring its full functionality. A copy of the invoices for these works is included in the history file.

The car is currently undergoing Certificazione di Autenticita’ Storica by Lamborghini Polo Storico itself. Today, this Lamborghini Murcielago R-GT is eligible for a variety of events, including the Masters Endurance Legends, and the Peter Auto-organised Endurance Racing Legends. In 2020, the Endurance Racing Legends series will include a race at the Le Mans Classic event in July. The R-GT is also eligible for events held at some of the world’s most significant race circuits, including Silverstone, Monza, Paul Ricard, Nurburgring and Spa-Francorchamps. Can you imagine returning this screaming V12 bull to one of these circuit, if so, this is your opportunity.

Price Upon Application