Francesco Castellacci de Villanova (born 4 April 1987 in Rome) is an Italian and Monégasque professional racing driver competing in the FIA World Endurance Championship for Vista AF Corse.
Francesco studied at Marymount International School and Università Bocconi before starting his career as a racing driver. Together with Federico Leo, he won the drivers' title of the 2011 FIA GT3 European Championship, driving a Ferrari 458 Italia GT3.
Career
Formula Azzurra 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.
Formula Three 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. 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. 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.
Castellacci continued in the series for 2009, switching teams to join Prema Powerteam. 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.
Porsche Supercup 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.
A month earlier, Castellacci also made his debut in the Porsche Carrera Cup Germany at Valencia's Circuit Ricardo Tormo, finishing in 14th place.
Other Series 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.
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.
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 Castellacci, who partnered Enzo Ide at AF Corse. With a best result of fifth, the duo finished 14th in the standings.
In later years, Castellacci focused on endurance racing, competing in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) in the LMGTE Am class, where he finished third in the standings in 2023. Castellacci competed in 2024 at the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) with Vista AF Corse, driving a Ferrari 296 GT3.
Racing record
Career summary 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 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 1111st 24H Dubai - A6 MRS Team PZ Aschaffenburg 1 0 0 0 0 N/A10th 2012 FIA GT1 World Championship AF Corse 18 0 0 0 0 4214th 2013 Blancpain Endurance Series - Pro Vita4One Team Italy 2 0 0 0 0 0NC 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 0NC Winter Series by GT Sport - GTSKessel Racing 4 0 0 1 1 ?? Spanish GT Championship - GTS 3 0 0 0 0 0NC International GT Open - GTS 4 0 0 0 0 0NC Gulf 12 Hours - GT3 Pro-Am 1 0 0 0 0 N/A12th 2014 Blancpain Endurance Series - Pro-Am Cup Scuderia Villorba Corse 4 0 0 0 2 812nd AF Corse 1 0 0 0 0 European Le Mans Series - GTC 2 0 0 1 0 1416th International GT Open - GTS50000331st Gulf 12 Hours - GT310000N/A7th Challenge Endurance GT/Tourisme V de V Raceworks Motorsport100000NC2015 FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGTE AmAston Martin Racing80000549th 24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGTE Am10000N/ADNF European Le Mans Series - GTC AF Corse52113812nd 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 47th2024 FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGT3 Vista AF Corse81001577th24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGT310000N/ADNF2025 FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGT3 Vista AF Corse4000131*8th*24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGT310000N/ADNF British GT Championship - GT3 Spirit of Race100000NC† Italian GT Championship Endurance Cup - GT3 AF Corse300001413th2025–26Asian Le Mans Series - GTVista AF Corse600002414th2026European Le Mans Series - LMGT3Richard Mille AF CorseFIA World Endurance Championship - LMGT3Vista AF Corse † - As Castellacci is a guest driver, he is ineligible to score points.
Complete British Formula Three Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 DC Points 2007 Alan Docking Racing Dallara F307 Mugen-Honda OUL1 OUL2 DON1 DON2 BUC1 BUC2 SNE1 SNE2 MNZ1 MNZ2 BRH1 BRH2 SPA1 SPA2 SIL1 SIL2 THR1 THR2 CRO1 CRO2 ROC1 ROC2 22nd 0
Complete Italian Formula Three Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Pos Points 2008 Lucidi Motors MUG11 MUG12 MAG1 MAG2 MNZ1 MNZ2 MUG21 MUG22 VAR1 VAR2 MIS1 MIS2 ADR1 ADR2 VAL1 VAL2 4th 57 2009 Prema Powerteam ADR1 ADR2 MAG1 MAG2 MUG1 MUG2 MIS1 MIS2 VAR1 VAR2 IMO1 IMO2 VAL1 VAL2 MNZ1 MNZ2 8th 640 2010 RC Motorsport MIS1 MIS2 HOC1 HOC2 IMO1 IMO2 MUG11 MUG12 VAR1 VAR2 VAL1 VAL2 MUG21 MUG22 MNZ1 MNZ2 18th 6
Complete GT1 World Championship results Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Pos Pts Ref 2012 AF Corse Ferrari NOGQR10 NOGCR5 ZOLQR7 ZOLCR11 NAVQR13 NAVQR11 SVKQR12 SVKCR9 ALGQR11 ALGCR7 SVKQR10 SVKCRRet MOSQR8 MOSCR6 NÜRQR10 NÜRCR7 DONQR7 DONCR5 14th 42
Complete European Le Mans Series results Year Entrant Class Car Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 Pos Points 2014 AF Corse GTC Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 Ferrari F136 4.5 L V8 SIL IMO RBR LEC EST 16th 14 2015 AF Corse GTC Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 Ferrari F136 4.5 L V8 SIL IMO RBR LEC EST2nd81 2018 Spirit of Race LMGTE Ferrari 488 GTE Ferrari F154CB 3.9 L Turbo V8 LEC MNZ RBR SIL SPA ALG 14th 8 2020 AF Corse LMGTE Ferrari 488 GTE Evo Ferrari F154CB 3.9 L Turbo V8 LEC SPA LEC MNZ ALG NC 0 2026 Richard Mille AF Corse LMGT3 Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo Ferrari F163CE 3.0 L Turbo V6 CAT LEC IMO SPA SIL ALG 12th* 10*
Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results 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 SPA LMS NÜR COA FUJ SHA BHR 9th 54 2017 Spirit of Race LMGTE Am Ferrari 488 GTE Ferrari F154CB 3.9 L Turbo V8 SIL SPA LMS NÜR MEX COA FUJ SHA BHR 4th 109 2018–19 Spirit of Race LMGTE Am Ferrari 488 GTE Ferrari F154CB 3.9 L Turbo V8 SPA LMS SIL FUJ SHA SEB SPA LMS 4th 99 2019–20 AF Corse LMGTE Am Ferrari 488 GTE Evo Ferrari F154CB 3.9 L Turbo V8 SIL FUJ SHA BHR COA SPA LMS 12th 71 2021 AF Corse LMGTE Am Ferrari 488 GTE Evo Ferrari F154CB 3.9 L Turbo V8 SPA ALG MNZ LMS BHR BHR 6th 71 2022 AF Corse LMGTE Am Ferrari 488 GTE Evo Ferrari F154CB 3.9 L Turbo V8 SEB SPA LMS MNZ FUJ BHR 8th 58 2023 AF Corse LMGTE Am Ferrari 488 GTE Evo Ferrari F154CB 3.9 L Turbo V8 SEB PRT SPA LMS MNZ FUJ BHR 3rd 91 2024 Vista AF Corse LMGT3 Ferrari 296 GT3 Ferrari F163 3.0 L Turbo V6 QAT IMO SPA LMS SÃO COA FUJ BHR 7th 572025Vista AF CorseLMGT3Ferrari 296 GT3Ferrari F163 3.0 L Turbo V6 QAT IMO SPA LMS SÃO COA FUJ BHR 7th 542026Vista AF CorseLMGT3Ferrari 296 GT3Ferrari F163 3.0 L Turbo V6 IMO SPA LMS SÃO COA FUJ CAT MNZ 25th* 0* * Season still in progress.
Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Aston Martin Racing Roald Goethe Stuart Hall Aston Martin Vantage GTE GTEAm 187 DNF DNF Spirit of Race Thomas Flohr Olivier Beretta Ferrari 488 GTE GTEAm 326 41st 12th Spirit of Race Thomas Flohr Giancarlo Fisichella Ferrari 488 GTE GTEAm 335 26th 2nd Spirit of Race Thomas Flohr Giancarlo Fisichella Ferrari 488 GTE GTEAm 327 43rd 12th AF Corse Thomas Flohr Giancarlo Fisichella Ferrari 488 GTE Evo GTEAm 330 39th 13th AF Corse Thomas Flohr Giancarlo Fisichella Ferrari 488 GTE Evo GTEAm 329 39th 11th AF Corse Nick Cassidy Thomas Flohr Ferrari 488 GTE Evo GTEAm 340 39th 6th AF Corse Thomas Flohr Davide Rigon Ferrari 488 GTE Evo GTEAm 312 31st 5th Vista AF Corse Thomas Flohr Davide Rigon Ferrari 296 GT3 LMGT3 30 DNF DNF Vista AF Corse Thomas Flohr Davide Rigon Ferrari 296 GT3 LMGT3 192 DNF DNF Vista AF Corse Thomas Flohr Davide Rigon Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo LMGT3 110 DNF DNF
Complete Asian Le Mans Series results + Year Team Class Car Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 Pos. Points 2021 AF Corse GT Ferrari 488 GT3 Ferrari F154CB 3.9 L Turbo V8 DUB1 DUB2 ABU1 ABU2 16th 1.5 2025–26 Vista AF Corse GT Ferrari 296 GT3 Ferrari F163CE 3.0 L Turbo V6 SEP1 SEP2 DUB1 DUB2 ABU1 ABU214th24
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