Ronnie Quintarelli

Ronnie Quintarelli
Name	Ronnie Quintarelli
Nationality	Italian
Born	31 March 1979
Birth place	Negrar, Veneto, Italy
Current series	Super GT
First year	2006
Titles	Super GT (2012, 2014, 2015, 2019)

Ronnie Quintarelli is an Italian professional racing driver known for his success in Japanese touring car competition, endurance racing, and international GT events. He has won multiple Super GT championships and competed in series across Europe, Japan, and Asia, building a reputation for consistency, racecraft, and technical feedback. Quintarelli's career spans karting, single-seaters, GT racing, and endurance events, involving collaborations with manufacturers, teams, and engineers from across motorsport.

Early life and karting

Born in Negrar, Veneto, Quintarelli began his motorsport journey in karting circuits in Italy and Europe, competing against contemporaries who progressed to series like Formula One and World Endurance Championship. He raced at major karting venues including Adria International Raceway and events that attracted drivers from European Kart Championship grids and CIK-FIA competitions. Early teammates and rivals included drivers who later appeared in GP2 Series, Formula 3, and Formula Renault categories, while teams and manufacturers such as Tony Kart, Birel, and Parolin supplied chassis and technical support. Quintarelli progressed through junior formula events that intersected with series like the Italian Formula Renault Championship and races held at Monza, Imola, and Vallelunga.

Professional racing career

Quintarelli transitioned to single-seaters with campaigns in Italian and European junior formula championships, competing on circuits used by Formula 3 European Championship and partnering with outfits linked to Prema Powerteam and engineering personnel with experience in Dallara chassis development. He later shifted focus to GT and touring car machinery, joining teams that raced in FIA GT Championship, International GT Open, and national GT series. Manufacturers and collaborators in this phase included Yokohama, ZENT, and Nissan, while racing at events promoted by organisations such as the Japan Automobile Federation and series promoters responsible for Super GT and Super Taikyu Series calendars. Quintarelli also took part in endurance test days at circuits like Suzuka Circuit, Fuji Speedway, and Spa-Francorchamps to refine setup and strategy alongside engineers from Nissan Motorsport and specialist tyre partners.

Super GT achievements

Quintarelli established himself prominently in the Super GT series, partnering with co-drivers and teams associated with MOLA, Kondo Racing, and factory-backed Nissan squad operations. He claimed multiple GT500-class championships in seasons that saw key rivals including drivers from TOM'S, Team LeMans, ARTA, WEider Modulo, and GOODSMILE RACING. His title-winning campaigns involved races at marquee events such as the Suzuka 1000km, rounds at Fuji Speedway, and street circuits promoted alongside D1 Grand Prix exhibitions. Teammates and rivals comprised drivers formerly associated with Super Formula, Formula Nippon, Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, and Blancpain GT Series, and his success drew recognition from Japanese motorsport media and manufacturers like Nissan Motor Co. and partners in GT500 development programs. Quintarelli's championship seasons required coordination with technical staff who had backgrounds in Aston Martin Racing, Audi Sport, and Toyota Gazoo Racing engineering cultures.

International and guest appearances

Outside Japan, Quintarelli competed in international endurance and GT events including entries in the 24 Hours of Spa, Bathurst 12 Hour, and rounds of the FIA GT Championship and International GT Open. He participated in invitational races and endurance challenges alongside drivers from DTM, IMSA, and World Touring Car Championship, collaborating with co-drivers who had experience in Le Mans Series and ELMS. Guest appearances included manufacturer-backed test drives and promotional events run by companies such as Nissan Motorsport, tyre suppliers like Bridgestone and Michelin, and series organisers for Asia GT and Super Taikyu. He has been part of joint technical programs that connected European teams such as RML Group and AF Corse with Japanese operations.

Driving style and technical approach

Quintarelli is noted for a precise, consistent driving style that suits multi-stint endurance formats and the high-downforce GT500 machinery used in Super GT. His technical feedback is valued by engineers experienced with aerodynamic packages from suppliers like Nissan Performance Center and suspension tuners known to work with Bilstein and KW Automotive components. Racecraft attributes include tyre conservation, qualifying execution on street and high-speed circuits such as Suzuka Circuit and Okayama International Circuit, and strategic pit coordination with crew chiefs whose backgrounds include 24 Hours of Le Mans campaigns. Collaboration with data engineers familiar with telemetry systems used by Motec and vehicle dynamics experts with links to Nismo has further enhanced his set-up development and in-race adjustments.

Personal life and off-track activities

Off-track, Quintarelli is involved in motorsport promotion, coaching junior drivers in programs connected to academies like Ferrari Driver Academy-style initiatives and mentoring in karting schools across Italy and Japan. He engages with fans via appearances at events such as race weekends promoted by GT Association and at manufacturer-hosted exhibitions with Nissan Global and partner sponsors. His media engagements have included interviews with outlets covering Autoblog, Autosport, and Japanese publications reporting on Super GT and endurance racing. Quintarelli has participated in charity and community events aligned with organisations like Doctors Without Borders-style fundraising races and local foundations in Verona and the Veneto region.

Category:Italian racing drivers Category:Super GT drivers