Francesco Castellacci de Villanova[1] (born 4 April 1987 in Rome) is a professional racing driver from Italy. Francesco studied at Marymount International School, Rome and Universita' Bocconi before starting his career as a racing driver.

Francesco Castellacci
Castellacci in 2019
Nationality Italian
Born (1987-04-04) 4 April 1987 (age 37)
Rome, Italy
FIA GT1 World Championship career
Debut season2012
Current teamAF Corse
Racing licence FIA Silver
Starts18
Wins0
Poles0
Fastest laps0
Best finish14th in 2012
Previous series
2011
20080910
2007
2005–06
FIA GT3 European Championship
Italian Formula Three
British Formula 3
Formula Azzurra
Championship titles
2011FIA GT3 European Championship

Together with Federico Leo, he won the drivers title of the 2011 FIA GT3 European Championship, driving a Ferrari 458 Italia GT3.

Career

edit

Formula Azzurra

edit

Castellacci began his single-seater career in late 2005, racing in the Formula Azzurra Winter Trophy. In the series' four races, all held at Adria International Raceway, he achieved two podium places to be classified in third place. In 2006, he entered the full Formula Azzurra championship, scoring 24 points to finish eighth in the final standings.[2]

Formula Three

edit

In late 2006, Castellacci tested a Formula Three car for the first time, driving for the British team Hitech Racing at Rockingham Motor Speedway. In 2007, he took part in the full British Formula 3 Championship season, racing alongside Australian driver John Martin at Alan Docking Racing.[3] Castellacci failed to score a point in the 22 races he competed in, with his best result coming in the first race at Donington Park, where he finished in fifteenth position. He also took part in the Masters of Formula 3 race held at Zolder, finishing in 26th place.

The following year, Castellacci returned to his native Italy to compete in the Italian Formula Three Championship for Lucidi Motors.[4] He finished the season fourth overall, taking six podium places along with a double pole position at the Monza round. The title was won by his team-mate Mirko Bortolotti.[5]

Castellacci continued in the series for 2009, switching teams to join Prema Powerteam.[6] He finished in the points on eleven occasions and took a single podium position at Misano to be classified in eighth place overall. During the year, he once again took part in the Masters of Formula Three event, this time racing for Manor Motorsport. He finished the race in 30th place.[7]

Porsche Supercup

edit

In June 2010, Castellacci made his debut in the Porsche Supercup round at the Valencia Street Circuit, finishing in 17th position. He is also due to contest the rounds at Silverstone, Hungaroring and Monza later in the season.[8]

A month earlier, he also made his debut in the Porsche Carrera Cup Germany at Valencia's Circuit Ricardo Tormo, finishing in 14th place.[8]

Other Series

edit

In October 2009, Castellacci sampled a GP2 car for the first time during the first post-season test at Jerez. Driving for the Italian Durango team, he completed 107 laps during the course of the three-day test, recording a best time of 1:27.615 on the final day of running.[9]

Castellacci also took part in Formula Renault 3.5 Series testing during October and November 2009, driving cars for Draco Racing, Interwetten.com Racing and Prema Powerteam.[10]

For 2011, Castellacci raced in the FIA GT3 European Championship with AF Corse, sharing a Ferrari 458 with fellow Italian driver Federico Leo. The duo won the drivers' title at the final round of the season in Zandvoort.

The following year, a switch to the FIA GT1 World Championship was in order for the Italian, who partnered Enzo Ide at AF Corse.[11] With a best result of fifth, the duo finished 14th in the standings.

Racing record

edit

Career summary

edit
Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
2005 Formula Azzurra – Winter Trophy Team Europa Corse 4 0 1 0 2 ? 3rd
2006 Formula Azzurra Team Federkarting 14 0 0 0 0 24 8th
2007 British Formula 3 Championship Alan Docking Racing 22 0 0 0 0 0 22nd
Masters of Formula 3 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 26th
2008 Italian Formula Three Championship Lucidi Motors 16 0 2 0 6 57 4th
2009 Italian Formula Three Championship Prema Powerteam 16 0 0 0 1 64 8th
Masters of Formula 3 Manor Motorsport 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 30th
2010 Italian Formula Three Championship RC Motorsport 12 0 0 0 0 6 18th
Italian GT Championship - GT Cup Petri Corse Motorsport 1 0 0 0 0 1 60th
Porsche Carrera Cup Germany MRS Team 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup Schnabl Engineering Parker Racing 1 0 0 0 0 N/A† NC†
Sanitec Giltrap Racing 2 0 0 0 0
2011 FIA GT3 European Championship AF Corse 12 1 3 0 4 111 1st
24H Dubai - A6 MRS Team PZ Aschaffenburg 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 10th
2012 FIA GT1 World Championship AF Corse 18 0 0 0 0 42 14th
2013 Blancpain Endurance Series - Pro Vita4One Team Italy 2 0 0 0 0 0 NC
Kessel Racing 1 0 0 0 0
Belgian Audi Club WRT 1 0 0 0 0
Blancpain Endurance Series - Pro-Am Black Falcon 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
Winter Series by GT Sport - GTS Kessel Racing 4 0 0 1 1 ? ?
Spanish GT Championship - GTS 3 0 0 0 0 0 NC
International GT Open - GTS 4 0 0 0 0 0 NC
Gulf 12 Hours - GT3 Pro-Am 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 12th
2014 Blancpain Endurance Series - Pro-Am Cup Scuderia Villorba Corse 4 0 0 0 2 81 2nd
AF Corse 1 0 0 0 0
European Le Mans Series - GTC 2 0 0 1 0 14 16th
International GT Open - GTS 5 0 0 0 0 3 31st
Gulf 12 Hours - GT3 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 7th
Challenge Endurance GT/Tourisme V de V Raceworks Motorsport 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
2015 FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGTE Am Aston Martin Racing 8 0 0 0 0 54 9th
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGTE Am 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
European Le Mans Series - GTC AF Corse 5 2 1 1 3 81 2nd
2016 Michelin GT3 Le Mans Cup AF Corse 6 0 0 1 0 34 7th
International GT Open - Pro-Am 2 0 0 1 0 6 23rd
Gulf 12 Hours - Pro-Am 1 1 1 0 1 N/A 1st
24H Series - SP3 JR Motorsport 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC†
Touring Car Endurance Series - SP3
2017 FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGTE Am Spirit of Race 9 1 0 1 4 109 4th
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGTE Am 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 12th
Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup - Pro-Am AF Corse 1 0 0 0 0 16 25th
Intercontinental GT Challenge 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
2018 European Le Mans Series - GTE Spirit of Race 1 0 0 0 0 8 14th
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGTE Am 1 0 0 0 1 N/A 2nd
2018–19 FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGTE Am Spirit of Race 8 0 0 0 2 99 4th
2019 24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGTE Am Spirit of Race 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 12th
2019–20 FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGTE Am AF Corse 7 0 0 0 0 71 12th
2020 European Le Mans Series - GTE AF Corse 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGTE Am 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 13th
2021 Asian Le Mans Series - GT AF Corse 4 0 0 0 0 1.5 16th
FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGTE Am 6 0 0 0 1 71 6th
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGTE Am 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 11th
2022 FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGTE Am AF Corse 6 0 0 0 0 58 8th
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGTE Am 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 6th
2023 FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGTE Am AF Corse 7 1 0 0 1 91 3rd
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGTE Am 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 5th
IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD 2 0 0 0 0 337 47th
2024 FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGT3 Vista AF Corse 1 0 0 0 0 15* 5th*

† - As Castellacci is a guest driver, he is ineligible to score points.

Complete GT1 World Championship results

edit
Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Pos Pts
2012 AF Corse Ferrari NOG
QR

10
NOG
CR

5
ZOL
QR

7
ZOL
CR

11
NAV
QR

13
NAV
QR

11
SVK
QR

12
SVK
CR

9
ALG
QR

11
ALG
CR

7
SVK
QR

10
SVK
CR

Ret
MOS
QR

8
MOS
CR

6
NÜR
QR

10
NÜR
CR

7
DON
QR

7
DON
CR

5
14th 42

Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results

edit
Year Entrant Class Car Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Rank Points
2015 Aston Martin Racing LMGTE Am Aston Martin Vantage GTE Aston Martin 4.5 L V8 SIL
4
SPA
6
LMS
Ret
NÜR
7
COA
6
FUJ
7
SHA
6
BHR
7
9th 54
2017 Spirit of Race LMGTE Am Ferrari 488 GTE Ferrari F154CB 3.9 L Turbo V8 SIL
Ret
SPA
4
LMS
7
NÜR
2
MEX
4
COA
3
FUJ
1
SHA
Ret
BHR
3
4th 109
2018–19 Spirit of Race LMGTE Am Ferrari 488 GTE Ferrari F154CB 3.9 L Turbo V8 SPA
8
LMS
2
SIL
9
FUJ
6
SHA
4
SEB
2
SPA
4
LMS
7
4th 99
2019–20 AF Corse LMGTE Am Ferrari 488 GTE Evo Ferrari F154CB 3.9 L Turbo V8 SIL
9
FUJ
6
SHA
8
BHR
5
COA
7
SPA
7
LMS
4
12th 71
2021 AF Corse LMGTE Am Ferrari 488 GTE Evo Ferrari F154CB 3.9 L Turbo V8 SPA
4
ALG
3
MNZ
7
LMS
7
BHR
7
BHR
6
6th 71
2022 AF Corse LMGTE Am Ferrari 488 GTE Evo Ferrari F154CB 3.9 L Turbo V8 SEB
9
SPA
4
LMS
5
MNZ
9
FUJ
4
BHR
7
8th 58
2023 AF Corse LMGTE Am Ferrari 488 GTE Evo Ferrari F154CB 3.9 L Turbo V8 SEB
5
PRT
4
SPA
NC
LMS
5
MNZ
10
FUJ
1
BHR
4
3rd 91
2024 Vista AF Corse LMGT3 Ferrari 296 GT3 Ferrari F163 3.0 L Turbo V6 QAT
5
IMO SPA LMS SÃO COA FUJ BHR 5th* 15*

* Season still in progress.

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

edit
Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
2015   Aston Martin Racing   Roald Goethe
  Stuart Hall
Aston Martin Vantage GTE GTE
Am
187 DNF DNF
2017   Spirit of Race   Thomas Flohr
  Olivier Beretta
Ferrari 488 GTE GTE
Am
326 41st 12th
2018   Spirit of Race   Thomas Flohr
  Giancarlo Fisichella
Ferrari 488 GTE GTE
Am
335 26th 2nd
2019   Spirit of Race   Thomas Flohr
  Giancarlo Fisichella
Ferrari 488 GTE GTE
Am
327 43rd 12th
2020   AF Corse   Thomas Flohr
  Giancarlo Fisichella
Ferrari 488 GTE Evo GTE
Am
330 39th 13th
2021   AF Corse   Thomas Flohr
  Giancarlo Fisichella
Ferrari 488 GTE Evo GTE
Am
329 39th 11th
2022   AF Corse   Nick Cassidy
  Thomas Flohr
Ferrari 488 GTE Evo GTE
Am
340 39th 6th
2023   AF Corse   Thomas Flohr
  Davide Rigon
Ferrari 488 GTE Evo GTE
Am
312 31st 5th
2024   Vista AF Corse   Thomas Flohr
  Davide Rigon
Ferrari 296 GT3 LMGT3 30 DNF DNF

References

edit
  1. ^ "Pilote des 24 heures du Mans : Francesco Castellacci de Villanova". www.24h-en-piste.com (in French). Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  2. ^ "Formula Azzurra 2006". driverdb.com. Driver Database. Retrieved 2009-10-23.
  3. ^ "Italian joins ADR line-up". crash.net. Crash Media Group. 2007-02-12. Retrieved 2009-10-23.
  4. ^ "Lucidi Motors ready for the new season". f3italia.it. 2008-05-06. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2009-10-23.
  5. ^ "Formula 3 Italia 2008". driverdb.com. Driver Database. Retrieved 2009-10-23.
  6. ^ "Prema signs Francesco Castellacci for the Formula 3 Italia". f3italia.it. 2009-02-23. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2009-10-23.
  7. ^ "Zandvoort Masters: Valtteri Bottas takes win". ItaliaRacing.net. Inpagina. 2009-06-14. Archived from the original on 2010-06-15. Retrieved 2009-10-23.
  8. ^ a b Wilkinson, Andy (2010-06-17). "Castellacci to make Supercup debut". motorstv.com. Motors TV. Archived from the original on 2010-07-19. Retrieved 2010-07-06.
  9. ^ English, Steven (2009-10-08). "Ericsson fastest, Loeb slowest at Jerez". autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 2009-10-23.
  10. ^ "Draco Team in Barcelona with Castellacci, Garcia and Berthon the 3–4 November". dracoracing.com. International DracoRacing. 2009-11-01. Retrieved 2010-07-06.
  11. ^ "Castellacci-Ide per AF Corse" [Castellacci-Ide for AF Corse]. Italiaracing.net (in Italian). Inpagina. 22 February 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-10-17. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
edit
Sporting positions
Preceded by FIA GT3 European Champion
2011
with: Federico Leo
Succeeded by
Dominik Baumann
Maximilian Bühk