Lamborghini Squadra Corse has announced that Maximilian Paul and Mattia Michelotto have been promoted to its factory roster ahead of the 2026 season.
Both Paul and Michelotto were part of the Lamborghini Young Driver Programme last year, and are set to pilot the new Temerario GT3 this season, although their exact race programmes are yet to be confirmed.
Paul has raced GT3-spec Lamborghinis for the past five years, and competed in the DTM and GT World Challenge Europe with his family-run Paul Motorsport outfit last season. The German also made his second start at the 24H Nürburgring, finishing on the SP 9 Pro-Am podium with Konrad Motorsport.
“I’m incredibly thankful to join the Lamborghini factory driver roster after so many years of hard work, races, and shared success,” the 25-year-old said.
“Coming through the junior and young professional programmes has been a special journey, and it makes this moment even more meaningful. It’s a true honour to begin this new chapter as a factory driver and to start the upcoming season with the new Temerario GT3. I’m proud and excited to represent one of my favourite car manufacturers and such an iconic brand.”
23-year-old Michelotto, meanwhile, is also entering his sixth consecutive season racing the Sant’Agata Bolognese-based brand’s GT machinery. The Italian first found success with Lamborghini by winning the 2021 Super Trofeo World Final, and has since gone on to become a regular competitor in the Italian GT Championship, where he won last year’s Pro-Am Sprint title with Vincent Sospiri Racing.
“It has been a gradual journey of constant growth, made possible thanks to the support of extraordinary people who have always believed in me and my potential. Throughout this journey, amidst successes and challenges, I have always given my all, with the same determination I will bring to this new professional chapter at Lamborghini,” Michelotto commented.
“I have always worked with clear goals, built step by step, and I am certain that this represents a new beginning, marked by new challenges and renewed determination. I am proud to officially become part of this great family and I wish to sincerely thank everyone who has supported and assisted me on this professional and personal journey.”
Lamborghini has also announced the winners of its end-of-year Junior shootout, which was held at the Misano World Circuit, Italy last November.
British GT race winner Hugo Cook was named the GT3 Junior winner, whilst the Super Trofeo Junior victor was Colin Queen, who headed to the shootout off the back of his rookie Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America campaign.
Rouven Mohr, interim head of motorsport, Automobili Lamborghini, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Maxi and Mattia to our Factory Driver roster for the 2026 season and beyond.
“Both drivers have demonstrated their talents behind the wheel of a Lamborghini in recent years and fully deserve their opportunity to represent Lamborghini Squadra Corse at the highest level of GT competition. We are excited to see what they can achieve throughout the year.
“Their promotion is also testament to the focus Lamborghini Squadra Corse continues to place on the next generation of young professional drivers, with both Maxi (GT3 Junior) and Mattia (Super Trofeo Junior), products of the hugely successful Young Driver Programmes.
“The YDP has provided many drivers the platform on which to build their professional careers, whether with Lamborghini or elsewhere, and we are proud to continue developing drivers of the future through our assessments and shootouts. Looking at the 2025 winners, I want to extend my congratulations to Colin Queen and Hugo Cook, both of whom excelled in their assessment and in the end-of-year shootout, against strong competition.”
Images courtesy of Lamborghini
