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| Mirko Bortolotti | |
|---|---|
| Name | Mirko Bortolotti |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Born | 25 April 1990 |
| Birth place | Pieve di Cento, Italy |
| Current series | GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup |
| Teams | Lamborghini Squadra Corse |
Mirko Bortolotti is an Italian professional racing driver known for success in GT and endurance racing. He has competed for factory teams and has won major events including endurance classics and series championships. His career spans junior single-seaters, touring car categories, and top-tier GT programs with extensive involvement in manufacturer development.
Born in Pieve di Cento, Italy, he grew up in the Emilia-Romagna region near Bologna, Modena, and Ferrari headquarters, an area associated with Automobili Lamborghini, Maserati, and Ducati. He began karting in local circuits influenced by nearby tracks such as Imola Circuit and Varano de' Melegari, competing against peers who progressed to Formula One feeder series like GP2 Series and Formula Renault 3.5 Series. His formative years included participation in national championships connected to institutions like the ACI CSAI and academies similar to those run by Renault Sport and Ferrari Driver Academy.
He progressed from karting into single-seaters and touring categories, racing in series that often feed into Formula One and international GT platforms such as Formula 3 Euro Series, FIA Formula 3 European Championship, and GP2 Asia Series. He has driven for teams with links to manufacturers and privateer operations like Coloni Motorsport, Prema Powerteam, and Trident Racing. His career features entries in endurance races including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, 24 Hours of Spa, and IMSA SportsCar Championship events, collaborating with co-drivers who have driven for Aston Martin Racing, Porsche AG, and Mercedes-AMG. He has also appeared in one-make and national series that parallel programs like Porsche Supercup and Blancpain GT Series.
Transitioning to GT machinery, he joined programs akin to factory efforts by Audi Sport, BMW Motorsport, and Lamborghini Squadra Corse, contesting championships such as the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters and GT World Challenge Europe. He has driven GT3-spec cars in events organized by promoters like SRO Motorsports Group and series overseen by Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. His GT commitments involved endurance rounds like the Bathurst 12 Hour, Nürburgring 24 Hours, and sprint events at circuits including Silverstone, Monza, and Paul Ricard, sharing cars with drivers affiliated to Risi Competizione, AF Corse, and WRT. He performed development and testing work on aero and balance-of-performance setups similar to practices used by Michelin, Pirelli, and Hankook.
In single-seaters he contested championships comparable to Italian Formula Three Championship, Euroseries 3000, and Formula Renault pathways, facing rivals destined for IndyCar Series, Formula E, and Super Formula. He sampled machinery with engines and chassis from manufacturers like Dallara, Tatuus, and Zytek, and raced on circuits shared by series such as GP3 Series and World Series by Renault. Early career milestones included podiums and pole positions at venues linked to the FIA European Championship ladder and participation in test programs alongside drivers contracted to entities like Red Bull Junior Team and McLaren Young Driver Programme.
He secured major victories and titles in GT and endurance categories, including overall wins at endurance classics and championships akin to the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup and national GT championships. His record features class wins and podiums at events comparable to the 24 Hours of Daytona and Bathurst 12 Hour, and he has earned pole positions and fastest laps at circuits connected to Formula One calendars such as Spa-Francorchamps and Monza. He has contributed to manufacturer championships and customer racing programs similar to those run by Lamborghini, influencing outcomes in series operated by SRO Motorsports Group and recognized in motorsport awards presented by organizations like the Motorsport Hall of Fame and national federations including Automobile Club d'Italia.
Known for a precise and aggressive driving approach, he combines racecraft seen in drivers from DTM and Le Mans Prototype backgrounds, delivering lap time consistency and qualifying performance at circuits like Circuit de la Sarthe and Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. His technical feedback during testing contributes to development of suspension, traction control, and aero balance similar to collaboration between factory drivers and engineers from Sabelt, Magneti Marelli, and Brembo. He is valued for stint management in multi-class endurance racing and for tyre conservation strategies employed with suppliers such as Pirelli and Michelin.
Off-track he maintains connections within the motorsport community across regions including Italy, United Kingdom, and United States, interacting with teams, sponsors, and driver academies like Ferrari Driver Academy, Red Bull Junior Team, and manufacturer programs at Lamborghini. His legacy includes mentorship roles and participation in development test drives that support customer racing infrastructures in series organized by SRO Motorsports Group and promoters like FIA affiliates. He continues to influence GT racing through results, technical input, and representation of factory and customer teams in international endurance and sprint competitions.
Category:Italian racing drivers Category:1990 births Category:Living people