Lamborghini announces first two drivers for LMDh program

This morning Lamborghini Squadra Corse announced the first two drivers in the line up for their LMDh program which will debut in 2024 in both the FIA World Endurance Championship (Hypercar class) and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (GTP class).

For this endeavor, they have selected drivers Mirko Bortolotti and Andrea Caldarelli. Both drivers, who are currently involved in important GT competitions with Lamborghini, have not only been confirmed as drivers, but as test drivers, contributing to the development of the prototype.

Giorgio Sanna, Lamborghini’s Head of Motorsport, had this to say about the driver selection, “We are especially proud to announce Mirko and Andrea as 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, born January 10, 1990 in Trento, began his career in karting and made his debut in formula racing cars at age 15. He raced for six seasons in different series, winning the Italian Formula 3 Championship and FIA Formula 2 title. His first wins with Lamborghini came in Italian GT in 2014, with a number of podium finishes coming the year after in the Blancpain GT Series. A win at the ADAC GT Masters with the newly launched Huracan GT3 followed that. After that season wrapped Bortolotti was confirmed as an official driver and in the following years has found success winning the Blancpain GT Series championship in 2017, the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2018 and 2019, and the 12 Hours of Sebring in 2019 in the GTD class behind the wheel of the GRT Grasser Racing Team Huracan cars. He has since made his debut in the DTM championship with Grasser Racing team and at the halfway stage of the 2022 season, leads the standings.

Bortolotti had this to say about his participation in the LMDh program, “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.”

Caldarelli, born February 14, 1990 in Pescara, made his debut in karting and European formula racing. He then moved to Japan to pursue what became a brilliant career in formula racing cars and Super GT. In 2017 he was recruited by Lamborghini as an official driver, contributing to winning the Blancpain GT Series title with teammates Bortolotti and Christian Engelhart in the Grasser Raving Team Huracan GT3. 2019 saw him winning the GT World Challenge Europe “triple crown” behind the wheel of the Huracan GT3 EVO for the Orange 1 FFF Racing team, where he is the team principal, while teamed with driver Marco Mapelli. In 2020 he won the 24 Hours of Daytona with Paul Miller Racing in GTD. 2021 was a tremendous year for Caldarelli in Fanatec GT World Challenge America Powered by AWS as he won the drivers title with the K-Pax team Lamborghini. 2022 has brought him continued success. He has stayed in the American championship and is on course for another title, having won every race of the season so far for K-Pax Racing.

Caldarelli had this to say about joining the LMDh program, “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. 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 Huracan 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.”