FFF Commits to Endurance Cup Season; Bortolotti Joins

FFF Racing Team has announced that it will continue for a third season in the Pro ranks of Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup in 2021.

The 2019 GTWC Europe overall teams’ champion will run a single Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo for Andrea Caldarelli, Marco Mapelli and former Audi driver Mirko Bortolotti.

FFF has already declared plans to contest the Nürburgring 24, NLS and Intercontinental GT Challenge powered by Pirelli involving the same trio of Lamborghini factory drivers.

The Chines-flagged, Italy-based team’s GTWC Europe program will continue to run under the Orange 1 FFF Racing Team banner as it did in the last two years.

“I am delighted to contest again a prestigious series such as the GT World Challenge Europe,” said team owner Fu Songyang.

“Racing in some of the most iconic and fascinating tracks such as Monza, Spa and the Nürburgring gives us great pride and I am confident it will also give us great satisfaction.

“We strongly believe in the high potential of our car, we have one of the best driver line-ups of the entire field, and we can rely on the valuable partnerships with Orange 1 and Lamborghini Squadra Corse.

“We definitely trust to be among the front-runners that will fight for the title.”

Former GTWC Asia champion FFF captured the 2019 Endurance Cup title on its first attempt at the series with Mapelli, Dennis Lind and team principal Caldarelli driving.

The trio sought to defend their crown last season but finished ninth in the overall standings. Their campaign included a front-running performance at the Total 24 Hours of Spa which ended when Lind crashed out at Eau Rouge with seven and a half hours to go.

The lineup’s consolation was a podium result at the Paul Ricard 1000km finale.

Lamborghini returnee Bortolotti, who won last year’s 3 Hours of Imola season-opener for Audi Sport Team WRT, joins the FFF lineup for its third spell in Endurance Cup, effectively in place of Lind who is no longer contracted as a factory driver. 

The team’s 2021 Endurance Cup program will include the 24 Hours of Spa, where Caldarelli, Mapelli and Bortolotti will also be scoring points towards the IGTC. 

“Following the terrific results and European ‘Triple Crown’ in 2019, Squadra Corse confirms its support to Orange 1 FFF Racing Team, and is ready to fight in the Endurance Cup with a talented Lamborghini Factory Driver full lineup,” said Lamborghini’s head of motorsport Giorgio Sanna.

“GT World Challenge Europe is one of the most competitive and prestigious championships worldwide and I’m sure that Orange1 FFF Racing will continue to shine for our brand.”