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Lamborghini Signs Spinelli to Factory Driver Contract

Italian driver joins Lamborghini Squadra Corse factory ranks starting in 2024…

Photo: Lamborghini Squadra Corse

Lamborghini has signed Motul Petit Le Mans class winner Loris Spinelli to a factory contract ahead of the 2024 season.

The 27-year-old Italian has become a specialist in Lamborghini machinery since moving from single-seaters to sports cars in 2015, winning several titles in the manufacturer’s one-make Super Trofeo series including last year’s European crown.

Spinelli was part of the Forte Racing by US RaceTronics crew that won the GTD class at last month’s ten-hour IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season finale.

The Florida-based driver will return to Forte for a program in the team’s Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 next year.

Spinelli, who has also piloted Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evos in the U.S., described his new factory driver status with Lamborghini as a “dream come true.”

“It’s been a big goal for me since 2015 to achieve this result; I am really proud to be part of Lamborghini Squadra Corse,” he said.

“I have always had a really good feeling with the car, the personnel involved in this programme, and I cannot wait to get started in 2024. The first time I drove the Super Trofeo car, I had such an amazing feeling, and it has given me a lot in the past.

“Then this year, we won the Petit Le Mans which was the most important result in my career. I have had the opportunity to work with Marco Mapelli in Daytona earlier this year and I have learned a lot from him, as I have done with the other factory drivers, but especially Marco.

“We have had a good relationship since I started in Super Trofeo, so this is a huge opportunity for me to learn even more going forward.”

Spinelli joins Sandy Mitchell, Marco Mapelli, Franck Perera, Leonardo Pulcini and Jordan Pepper in the list of Lamborghini factory drivers who are focused on GT racing.

The manufacturer is also making its prototype debut this year with the Lamborghini SC63, which will be driven by Mirko Bortolotti, Andrea Caldarelli, Daniil Kvyat, Romain Grosjean and two others who are yet to be announced.

Spinelli recently won Lamborghini’s end-of-season GT3 Junior driver shootout that took place at Vallelunga after the Super Trofeo World Finals event.

“We are thrilled to promote Loris to factory driver status for next season,” said head of Lamborghini Squadra Corse Giorgio Sanna.

“His speed demonstrated in both the European and North American Super Trofeo seasons over the past few years, combined with the experience gained with the Huracan GT3 last season, have demonstrated the validity of our young drivers’ program within Lamborghini Squadra Corse.”

Daniel Lloyd is a UK-based reporter for Sportscar365, covering the FIA World Endurance Championship, Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, among other series.

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