The Lamborghini factory driver line-up is now complete for its maiden season in the top classes of the FIA WEC and IMSA with the SC63, following confirmation that Edoardo Mortara and Matteo Cairoli are joining the Sant’Agata Bolognese firm.
Both Mortara and Cairoli join the Italian brand following years of competing at a high level and have been preparing for their new roles with its LMDh prototype racing programme in the background.
The duo first sampled the SC63 at Jerez in September and recently completed a two-day test at CoTA this week following the car’s debut at the IMSA-organised Daytona homologation test at the beginning of the month. There, in its first IMSA appearance, the SC63 turned heads, topping the time sheets on Day 1.
Mortara will partner Bortolotti and Kvyat for the FIA WEC season, giving the SC63 its competitive debut in the season-opening Qatar 1812km on the weekend of March 1st to 2nd.
Caldarelli, Grosjean and Cairoli meanwhile, will tackle four of the five IMSA Endurance Cup races, starting with the 12 Hours of Sebring on March 13th to 17th.
Both crews will then line up together at the jewel-in-the-crown Le Mans 24 Hours, taking place on the weekend of June 15-16, subject to the team’s second car receiving an invitation to the race.
“We are thrilled to welcome Edoardo and Matteo into our Lamborghini Squadra Corse family,” said Lamborghini head of motorsport, Giorgio Sanna.
“Both drivers have a lot of experience and not only bring with them impressive speed and professionalism to the LMDh project in FIA WEC and IMSA, but also the opportunity to use them strategically in some of the biggest GT3 races and championships.”
Swiss driver Mortara brings over a decade of experience racing at the highest levels of single-seaters and GT racing to the LMDh project. Known as “Mr Macau”, the 36-year-old from Geneva is regarded as one of the world’s best street circuit drivers, having amassed a staggering 10 victories (seven overall and three qualification races) at the famous Guia Circuit during his career.
He was also crowned Formula 3 Euro Series champion in 2010, after finishing runner-up in 2008, beating current BMW LMDh driver Marco Wittmann and future F1 star Valtteri Bottas to the title, and has multiple DTM victories. In recent years Mortara has been a regular in the FIA Formula E World Championship.
“I am super happy to be joining Lamborghini Squadra Corse, which is allowing me this incredible opportunity to compete in the Le Mans 24 Hours and the World Endurance Championship, both of which I have wanted to take part in for a long time,” he said.
“It is a very proud moment for me, and I hope we can achieve some good results next season.”
For Cairoli, this move sees him depart Porsche after a decade of success in GT racing with the German brand. The 27-year-old Italian has a Carrera Cup Italia title and Nürburgring 24 Hours overall victory to his name from his time with Porsche, which also included seasons racing in the ELMS, FIA WEC and World Challenge Europe, he has scored rae wins in all those Championships.
“First of all, I am excited to be here in Austin for my second proper outing with the LMDh car, and I want to thank Lamborghini Squadra Corse, Giorgio, and the Iron Lynx family for this amazing opportunity and for believing in me,” Matteo Cairoli, Lamborghini Factory Driver, added.
“I am ready to give the best of myself next year; clearly, it’s a dream I have been chasing for a long time and to do it with an Italian brand as an Italian driver has given me even more motivation. The aim is to learn as much as possible about the car for next year, but I am already pumped for the start of the season.”
Images courtesy of Lamborghini/Jamey Price
