Video: Aventador SVJ does its best to take off at a runway

Drag racing lovers often point out that the Johnny Bohmer Proving Grounds in Florida, USA, is widely considered the single flattest, most even racing location in the world. Height variation throughout the entire length of the local runway (3 miles, or 4.8 km) reportedly doesn’t exceed 35 mm, or 1.4 inches. Some time ago, NASA used to launch its space shuttles there.

Today, however, another kind of rocket arrived at the start line: a Lamborghini Aventador SVJ, the Nübrurgring’s reigning champion. Powering the supercar is a V12 monster engine with 6.7 liters of displacement room and 770 hp (574 kW) at the crank. A seven-speed automatic transmission and AWD system enable it to accelerate to 350 km/h, or 217 mph – at least, this is what the manufacturer claims. This is also what the driver wanted to find out.

In the end, the Lambo fell short of its advertised nominal speed. In all likelihood, it simply lacked the space to evolve that kind of acceleration. It kept going for 3.7 kilometers (2.3 miles) and braked through the remainder of the runway. Nonetheless, the sight was still highly impressive, as was the roaring of the not-yet-electrified V12 monster.