Khaled Mazeedi’s Lamborghini World Club is set to host both American business magnates and Arabian princes in the forthcoming Lamborghini “Encierro” Rally
A group of the world’s most exotic hypercars driven by Middle Eastern sheiks, American business magnates, European oligarchs and Asian industrialists will push pedal to the metal along breath-taking European roads, in an event dubbed the “Encierro Rally” hosted by the Lamborghini World Club and partnered by Automobili Lamborghini.
The Lamborghini World Club is the largest Lamborghini club worldwide and was founded in 2015 by Khaled Mazeedi, an entrepreneur based in Dubai, to bring together a special community of Lamborghini enthusiasts.
“I’ve always had a passion for Lamborghini as a child and it was a dream of mine to one day become an owner,” Mazeedi remarked. “Yet when I bought my first Lamborghini in 2015, I wasn’t completely satisfied, and I thought to myself, wouldn’t it be great to share this passion with other like-minded owners?”
Mazeedi quickly discovered that there were no structured organizations for owners to collaborate or connect with each other, so he immediately set out to create one. Determined, he reached out in any way possible, from meeting owners on the road to sending messages on social media and began forming the club.
In April of 2018, Automobili Lamborghini invited Mazeedi and other club presidents from around the world to an official inauguration at the factory in Italy.
“It’s great to be officially recognized and have the support from the factory. Lamborghini is growing as a company and they see us as a very important tool in their overall vision. We have a lot of insight and value to offer and it’s a wonderful project,” Mazeedi said of that experience.
The combination of Mazeedi’s efforts and Lamborghini’s official recognition ensured that the club would expand. From a mere four members, including Mazeedi, who would all go for joy rides through the city of Dubai, the Lamborghini World Club transformed within just a year into a fully-fledged operation composed of 1,500 members worldwide.
“Once we had around 100 members from around the world, other owners started to invite people they knew and it was history from there,” Mazeedi added.
Part of his success is the fact that the young entrepreneur manages the club with the numerous owners, all from different backgrounds, through a progressive system which according to him, is based on the simple principles that “everyone respects each other” and the club is “a space for everyone to have a little fun away from their stressful regular lives.”
The club cultivated such a well-regarded reputation successfully that it can now source heavy-weight sponsors like Pirelli Tires and luxury watchmaker, Roger Dubious.
As part of Mazeedi and Lamborghini World Club’s growth, exclusive supercar events and rallies were set up and managed, one of which is notably the “Encierro Rally” which selects exquisite roads in the European continent every year since 2018.
“Encierro”, which means “the running of the bulls”, consists of a 14-day rally that starts in London, heads south to Paris, then through Geneva, Bern, Zurich, Lugano, Milan, and finally finishing off at Monaco. Out of Lamborghini World Club’s 1,500 members, 30 drivers and co-pilots attended the rally last year, and considered it a stunning success due to the thrilling and scenic drives.
Along the journey, the convoy of exotic cars – including the Lamborghini Aventador SV, Countach, Diablo, Gallardo SL, and the Murcielago Versace edition – blasted through the no-speed limit zones of German’s Autobahn at speeds of above 300km/h, entered the famous Arc de Triomphe in the Parisian city centre piloting with thousands of tourists stopping what they were doing to stare at their flashy cars, and a tour of watch manufacturers Patek Philippe and Roger Dubuis in Geneva, Switzerland. After driving 4,000 km, across seven countries in 14 days, the supercar convoy finally arrived in Monaco for some well-earned rest.
“The combination of great cars, weather, people, and breath-taking sights made the experience one to always remember. Paris was of course a sentimental favourite with so many great photo opportunities near the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and Seine River,” Mazeedi reminisced about the journey.
Despite the mix of background, the conversation was always very cordial.
“Speaking about politics or business is not common,” Mazeedi explained. “After all, we have gentlemen drivers and royalty from as far afield as Australia, the Middle East, America, Russia, South Africa and Singapore. It is a rare gathering of the finest gentlemen. We have come to enjoy our cars and drive them, so all such taboo talk are left behind, and we stick to discussing favourite cars and roads, food, travel and wristwatches.”
Next year’s planned rally – “Bulls are Forever”- is set to take place from June 14 to June 20 and will pass through London, Paris, Geneva, Lisbon, followed by a drive along the Mediterranean coast, including stops at Marbella and St. Tropez, before ending at Monaco in the sunny French Riviera. As before, participants will ship their cars from all around the world to join and drive their passion into the asphalt.
For his part, Mazeedi is extremely excited about the up-coming rally.
“I can see it now – supercars drifting at 150km/h through the snowy Swiss Alps and then ending the journey with an ocean view overlooking the bright, warm Mediterranean Sea,” concluded Mazeedi. “It’s just like a scene out of a James Bond movie.”
