• Numbered “09/30” of the limited-edition Diablo GTR production run
• Equipped with a 6.0-litre 590 PS quad-cam V-12
• Campaigned in the 2000 and 2001 GTR Supertrophy seasons

Since Ferruccio Lamborghini entered the supercar arena in 1963, the marque has been renowned for the wildly outrageous nature of its cars, with their ferocious performance in equal measure. And few models embody such characteristics better than the brutal Diablo GTR.

Bankrolled by Chrysler, the Diablo was unveiled in 1990 as a replacement for the Countach. Initially equipped with a 492 PS 5.7-litre V-12, later iterations included the four-wheel-drive VT, the VT Roadster, and the 550 PS VT 6.0. In 1996, meanwhile, the SV-R became Lamborghini’s first full car intended for competitive motorsport—having dabbled just a few years earlier as an engine supplier for the Larrousse F1 team. Conceived for the Supertrophy race series, it was replaced after four years by the awe-inspiring GTR.

With its 590 PS 6.0-litre V-12 driving the rear wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox, the 338 km/h GTR was the most powerful Lamborghini to date. Its body was constructed almost entirely from carbon fibre and featured an integrated roll cage, as well as a stripped-out interior with a single seat and six-point harness. Gone were the air conditioning and stereo, their place taken by a fresh-air intake and fire extinguisher. A vast wing kept the car on terra firma at speed, while built-in jacks lifted it off the pitlane (the ride height precluded the use of traditional jacks). Lamborghini may have long resisted the temptation to go racing, but the GTR was worth the wait.

In all, only 30 of these ultimate-specification Diablos left Sant’Agata, this vehicle being numbered “09/30”. Displaying 6,968 kilometres at the time of cataloguing, it was supplied in France in December 1999, finished in Grigio Antares. This special competition Diablo was campaigned under the Mig Power banner in the 2000 and 2001 Lamborghini GTR Supertrophy, with owner Vincenzo Tirella and Vittorio Zoboli bringing the car home 2nd in the championship in its second season.

An extraordinary track-focussed machine with period race history, this Diablo is as thrilling as it is rare and would make a magnificent addition to a collection of serious Lamborghinis. To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/mu22.