Since 2014, the Young Driver Program and GT3 Junior Program have been a key element in the strategy of the motorsport department of the Sant’Agata Bolognese company and offer young talents a career opportunity as instructors and test drivers.
The goal is to become a Factory Driver, following in the footsteps of Giacomo Altoè and Sandy Mitchell, both of whom grew up in the Lamborghini nursery before being admitted to the list of official drivers.
In 2021 the program coordinator, Raffaele Giammaria, selected 13 drivers for the Young Driver Program and 10 for the GT3 Junior Program, following the drivers during the Super Trofeo race weekends and in the GT championships.
In the middle of the season they were summoned to the Lamborghini Drivers Lab in Sant’Agata Bolognese for an intense physical training, including sessions with Tecnobody professional equipment and the O2H cryochamber, and a psycho-aptitude exam.
At the end of the season, the most deserving ones were admitted to the shootout on the Vallelunga circuit (Rome), where not only the performance at the wheel of the Huracán Super Trofeo EVO2 and GT3 EVO were evaluated, but also the ability to work in a team and to interact with technicians and engineers.
Leonardo Pulcini and Arthur Rougier were rated the best of their respective programs. Pulcini, born in Rome in 1998, also won the Super Trofeo Europe title paired with Kevin Gilardoni on the Oregon Team’s Huracán.
Rougier, French born in 2000, took part in the GT World Challenge Europe with the crew of the Huracán GT3 Evo n. 114, closing the championship in sixth place in the overall standings.
Both drivers will race the 2022 season with the support of Lamborghini Squadra Corse. Pulcini will make his debut in the International GT Open at the wheel of the Oregon Team’s # 63 Huracán GT3 Evo; Rougier will be engaged with the Emil Frey Racing team in the ADAC GT Masters.
A special recognition goes to Mattia Michelotto, winner of the Misano Adriatico World Final, who will compete in the Italian GT Endurance Championship in car no. 63 by Vincenzo Sospiri Racing.
“Also this year the level of participants in our programs reserved for young people was very high – commented Giorgio Sanna, Lamborghini Head of Motorsport – and it was not easy for Raffaele to choose the best drivers”.
“Leo and Arthur have shown that they not only have driving talent but also the right mentality and determination to pursue a professional career.”
“Our goal is to provide them with the tools to be competitive and help them as much as possible in completing their growth process both on and off the track”.
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