Bortolotti, Caldarelli join Lamborghini’s LMDh lineup

MANILA: Lamborghini Squadra Corse has revealed that factory drivers Andrea Caldarelli and Mirko Bortolotti, who are both currently competing for Lamborghini in the biggest GT competitions, are the first two drivers for the LMDh (Le Mans Daytona h) program, which will make its debut in the FIA World Endurance Championship (Hypercar class) and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (GTP class) in 2024. Caldarelli and Bortolotti will also serve as test drivers, assisting in the prototype's development.

In a statement, Lamborghini Motorsport Head Giorgio Sanna said, “We are especially proud to announce Mirko and Andrea as the first drivers for the LMDh program. Both have contributed substantially to achieving historic results for Lamborghini in GT racing and their addition to the LMDh project also rewards their continued commitment to the Squadra Corse family. I’m sure that their talent and experience will be an added asset to our competitiveness in the premier endurance class.”

Bortolotti was born in Trento, Italy on January 10, 1990. He began his race career in karting and made his formula racing debut at the age of 15. He raced for six seasons in various categories, winning the Italian Formula 3 Championship and the FIA Formula 2 championship. He achieved his first victories with a Lamborghini in Italian GT 2014. The following year, he achieved several podium finishes in the Blancpain GT Series as well as an ADAC GT Masters victory with the newly released Huracán GT3. He was recognized as an official driver at the end of the season, and in the years that followed, he triumphed in the Blancpain GT Series championship (2017), 24 Hours of Daytona (2018 and 2019), 12 Hours of Sebring  (2019) in the GTD class while driving Huracáns for GRT Grasser Racing Team. Bortolotti made his DTM debut with Grasser Racing Team, and at the halfway point of the 2022 season, he is now leading the standings.

“I’m delighted to continue my journey with Lamborghini and to start an exciting new chapter in LMDh. I’m grateful to Lamborghini Squadra Corse for all the efforts put in place to make it happen and for the unconditional trust they have put in me since 2014. It is a huge honor and responsibility to represent the brand at the highest stage of endurance racing and to compete for overall victories in the main endurance classics,” Bortolotti stated.

Caldarelli, on the other hand, was born in Pescara, Italy on February 14, 1990. After making his debut in karting and European formula racing, he moved to Japan to pursue a career in formula racing cars and Super GT. In 2017, Caldarelli was recruited by Lamborghini as an official driver, helping the Grasser Racing Team Huracán GT3 team win the Blancpain GT Series championship with teammates Bortolotti and Christian Engelhart. In 2019, Caldarelli, along with  Marco Mapelli, earned the GT World Challenge Europe “triple crown” as they drove the Huracán GT3 EVO for the Orange 1 FFF Racing team, where he served as team principal. In 2020, he won the GTD class at the 24 hours of Daytona with Paul Miller Racing. He also led a successful season in the Fanatec GT World Challenge America Powered by AWS the following year, claiming the drivers' title with the K-Pax team Lamborghini. With victories in every race of the current season for K-Pax Racing, Caldarelli has remained in the American championship in 2022 and is on track to win the championship for a second consecutive title.

“I’m really happy to be part of the program, which is truly fantastic, and in general about this new challenge from Lamborghini Squadra Corse,” Caldarelli said. “Back in 2017, when I started racing for Lamborghini, I had the goal of fulfilling my childhood dream: to race with my favorite brand of car in the most prestigious endurance races. I had the opportunity to race at the Circuit de la Sarthe in 2022, winning both heats of the Road to Le Mans with the Huracán GT3, and it was really special. I can’t wait to get back behind the wheel of an LMDh: I’m really excited about this new adventure, and I’ll do my best to bring all my experience to this project and to win new and prestigious trophies.”

Photos from Lamborghini

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