Rinaldo Capello
 | This article needs to be updated. (June 2012) |
| Rinaldo Capello | |
|---|---|
| Best finish | 1st (2003, 2004, 2008) |
| Class wins | 3 (2003, 2004, 2008) |
Rinaldo "Dindo" Capello (born 17 June 1964) is an Italian professional racing driver. He is a three-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with Bentley in 2003 and Audi in 2004 and 2008. Capello is a two-time American Le Mans Series champion, a five-time 12 Hours of Sebring winner, and the record holder for most wins at Petit Le Mans, having won five times. Capello has also raced in the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, the FIA World Endurance Championship, DTM and the Italian GT Championship.
Career
Born in Asti, Capello started his racing career in 1976, driving go-karts, but did not move into single-seaters until 1983, starting in Formula Fiat Abarth. 1990 saw Capello's first major championship victory, winning the Italian Superturismo Championship in a Volkswagen Golf. He won the championship again in 1996, but in an Audi A4 this time.[1]
1997 saw Capello's first major endurance victory, at
Capello was one of
Due to a shift in focus for
With the end of the
Capello would not return to Le Mans until 2006, where he finished 3rd overall in the new R10 TDI. In 2007, the trio led the race for an extended period, but an issue with the left rear wheel in the 17th hour of the race saw Capello lose control on the run down to Indianapolis, and he hit the barriers, ending their race.
2008 saw Audi return to the French classic as underdogs, due to increased competition from natives Peugeot. Heading into the race, the fastest Audi in qualifying was over five seconds slower than the pole-setting Peugeot. The first half of the race was dominated by the Peugeot trio, with the 'Lion' consistently lapping over three seconds faster than the Audi's. However, a drastic change in weather conditions and the onset of rain in the second half of the race swung the momentum in favour of Audi, and a clever pit stop/tire strategy for Audi meant the no.2 R10 would go on to take a famous victory for the German manufacturer, and a third and final win for Capello. The 2008 race is documented in the film Truth in 24.
Capello also won the
Capello was vice-champion of the 2000 American Le Mans Series, winning 6 races. In both 2006 and 2007 Capello finished as champion alongside Britain's Allan McNish in the Audi Sport North America run R10.
Capello officially retired from prototype racing in 2012, while leading the
Racing record
Career summary
| Series/Event | Years | Races | Wins | Podiums | Best season result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open Wheel Racing | |||||
| Formula 3 Monaco Grand Prix | 1987-1988 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Italian Formula Three Championship | 1985-1990 | 49 | 1 | 5 | 4th place (1988) |
| Endurance Racing | |||||
| FIA World Endurance Championship | 2012 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 5th place (2012) |
| Intercontinental Le Mans Cup | 2011 | 4 | 0 | 1 | - |
| 24 Hours of Le Mans | 1998-2012 | 14 | 3 | 11 | 1st overall (2003, 2004, 2008) |
| 12 Hours of Sebring | 1999-2012 | 11 | 6 | 10 | 1st overall (2001, 2002, 2006, 2009, 2012) |
Le Mans Endurance Series
|
2004-2011 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 3rd place (2010) |
| American Le Mans Series | 1999-2011 | 66 | 36 | 55 | LMP1 Champion (2006, 2007) |
| GT | |||||
| Porsche Supercup | 1993-2003 | 2+ | 0 | 1 | - |
| GT World Challenge Asia | 2022 | N/A | N/A | N/A | - |
| Italian GT Championship | 2009-2015 | 84 | 6 | 28 | 3rd place (2010) |
| Porsche Carrera Cup Germany | 1992 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 12th (1992) |
| Touring Cars | |||||
| World Touring Car Championship | 1995 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 11th place (1995) |
| Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters | 2004-2005 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 20th place (2005) |
| Super Tourenwagen Cup | 1994-1995 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 7th place (1994) |
| Superstars Championship Italy | 2006-2007 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 11th place (2007) |
| Italian Superturismo Championship | 1991-1998 | 110 | 14 | 50 | 1st place (1996) |
Complete Italian Superturismo Championship results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | Car | Class | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | DC | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Bora Racing Team | Alfa Romeo 75 Turbo Evolution | S1 | MNZ
1 |
MNZ
2 |
MAG
1 |
MAG
2 |
MUG 1 Ret |
MUG 2 10 |
BIN 1 |
BIN 2 |
VAL
1 |
VAL
2 |
IMO
1 |
IMO
2 |
MIS
1 |
MIS
2 |
PER 1 |
PER 2 |
VAR 1 |
VAR 2 |
MNZ
1 |
MNZ
2 |
30th | 1 |
| 1993 | Audi Sport Europa
|
Volkswagen Vento | MNZ 1 Ret |
MNZ 2 Ret |
VAL 1 15 |
VAL 2 Ret |
MIS
1 |
MIS
2 |
MAG 1 14 |
MAG 2 Ret |
BIN 1 11 |
BIN 2 Ret |
IMO 1 17 |
IMO 2 Ret |
VAR 1 Ret |
VAR 2 14 |
MIS 1 14 |
MIS 2 13 |
PER 1 12 |
PER 2 Ret |
MUG 1 DNS |
MUG 2 DNS |
NC | 0 | |
| 1994 | Audi Sport Italia
|
Audi 80 Quattro | MNZ 1 3 |
MNZ 2 3 |
VAL 1 Ret |
VAL 2 2 |
MAG 1 2 |
MAG 2 DNS |
BIN 1 Ret |
BIN 2 Ret |
MIS 1 9 |
MIS 2 15 |
VAL 1 3 |
VAL 2 3 |
MUG 1 8 |
MUG 2 5 |
PER 1 7 |
PER 2 3 |
VAR 1 3 |
VAR 2 Ret |
MUG 1 3 |
MUG 2 1 |
5th | 141 | |
| 1995 | Audi Sport Italia
|
Audi A4 Quattro | MIS 1 3 |
MIS 2 2 |
BIN 1 2 |
BIN 2 2 |
MNZ 1 4 |
MNZ 2 3 |
IMO 1 2 |
IMO 2 2 |
MAG 1 2 |
MAG 2 1 |
MUG 1 Ret |
MUG 2 6 |
MIS 1 2 |
MIS 2 3 |
PER 1 3 |
PER 2 5 |
VAR 1 1 |
VAR 2 3 |
VAL 1 4 |
VAL 2 1 |
2nd | 253 | |
| 1996 | Audi Sport Italia
|
Audi A4 Quattro | MUG 1 5 |
MUG 2 4 |
MAG 1 1 |
MAG 2 1 |
MNZ 1 1 |
MNZ 2 1 |
BIN 1 1 |
BIN 2 1 |
MIS 1 3 |
MIS 2 4 |
IMO 1 1 |
IMO 2 2 |
PER 1 DSQ |
PER 2 3 |
PER 1 4 |
PER 2 4 |
VAR 1 3 |
VAR 2 3 |
VAL 1 2 |
VAL 2 3 |
1st | 250 | |
| 1997 | Audi Sport Italia
|
Audi A4 Quattro | MNZ 1 2 |
MNZ 2 12 |
MUG 1 Ret |
MUG 2 12 |
MAG 1 5 |
MAG 2 3 |
IMO 1 4 |
IMO 2 2 |
IMO 1 4 |
IMO 2 3 |
BIN 1 2 |
BIN 2 1 |
PER 1 5 |
PER 2 8 |
VAR 1 1 |
VAR 2 1 |
MIS 1 6 |
MIS 2 Ret |
VAL 1 6 |
VAL 2 4 |
3rd | 190 | |
| 1998 | Audi Sport Italia
|
Audi A4 | BIN 1 6 |
BIN 2 4 |
IMO 1 6 |
IMO 2 5 |
MNZ 1 2 |
MNZ 2 3 |
VAR 1 6 |
VAR 2 5 |
VAL 1 5 |
VAL 2 2 |
MAG 1 Ret |
MAG 2 4 |
PER 1 5 |
PER 2 4 |
MIS 1 7 |
MIS 2 Ret |
MNZ 1 6 |
MNZ 2 Ret |
VAL 1 4 |
VAL 2 Ret |
5th | 215 | |
Source:[3]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results
Complete 12 Hours of Sebring results
Complete Petit Le Mans results
| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Audi Sport North America |
 Michele Alboreto Allan McNish
|
Audi R8 | LMP | 394 | 1st | 1st |
| 2001 | Audi Sport North America |
 Tom Kristensen
|
Audi R8 | LMP | 26 | DNF | DNF |
| 2002 | Audi Sport North America |
Tom Kristensen |
Audi R8 | LMP | 394 | 1st | 1st |
| 2006 | Audi Sport North America |
Allan McNish
|
Audi R10 TDI | LMP1 | 394 | 1st | 1st |
| 2007 | Audi Sport North America |
Allan McNish
|
Audi R10 TDI | LMP1 | 394 | 1st | 1st |
| 2008 | Audi Sport North America |
Emanuele Pirro Allan McNish
|
Audi R10 TDI | LMP1 | 394 | 1st | 1st |
| 2009 | Team Joest |
Allan McNish
|
Audi R15 TDI | LMP1 | 184 | 3rd | 3rd |
| 2010 | Team Joest |
Tom Kristensen Allan McNish
|
Audi R15 TDI Plus | LMP1 | 392 | 3rd | 3rd |
| 2011 | Team Joest |
Tom Kristensen Allan McNish
|
Audi R18 TDI
|
LMP1 | 302 | DNF | DNF |
Source:[7]
| |||||||
Complete Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters results
(key)
| Year | Team | Car | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Pos | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Audi Sport Team Joest
|
Audi A4 DTM 2004 | HOC | EST
|
ADR | LAU
|
NOR | SHA 51 |
NÜR | OSC | ZAN
|
BRN
|
HOC | NC | 0 |
| 2005 | Audi Sport Team Joest
|
Audi A4 DTM 2004 | HOC Ret |
LAU 11 |
SPA 13 |
BRN 10 |
OSC 10 |
NOR Ret |
NÜR 19 |
ZAN Ret |
LAU 11 |
IST Ret |
HOC 16 |
20th | 0 |
1 - A non-championship one-off race was held in 2004 at the streets of Shanghai, China.
Complete Le Mans Series results
| Year | Entrant | Class | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Audi Sport Team Joest | LMP1 | Audi R10
|
Audi TDI 5.5 L Turbo V12 (Diesel) |
CAT 5 |
MON 6 |
SPA 4 |
NÜR 4 |
SIL 1 |
5th | 27 |
| 2010 | Audi Sport Team Joest | LMP1 | Audi R15 TDI plus
|
Audi TDI 5.5 L Turbo V10 (Diesel) |
CAS 1 |
SPA 3 |
ALG | HUN | SIL 3 |
3rd | 57 |
| 2011 | Audi Sport Team Joest | LMP1 | Audi R18 TDI
|
Audi TDI 3.7 L Turbo V6 (Diesel) |
CAS | SPA 3 |
IMO |
SIL |
EST | NC | 0 |
Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results
| Year | Entrant | Class | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Audi Sport Team Joest | LMP1 | Audi R18 e-tron quattro | Audi TDI 3.7L Turbo V6 (Hybrid Diesel) |
SEB 1 |
SPA 3 |
LMS 2 |
SIL | SÃO | BHR | FUJ | SHA | 5th | 77 |
References
- ^ Capello's official website
- ^ "Dindo Hangs Up Helmet">"Dindo Hangs Up Helmet". Racing-Report.com. 2012. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
- ^ a b c "Rinaldo Capello race results". TouringCars.net. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
- ^ a b c d e "Rinaldo Capello Results". Motorsport Stats. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
- ^ "Rinaldo Capello: Racedriver biography – career and success". Speedsport Magazine. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
- ^ "Dindo Capello". Automobile Club de l'Ouest. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Complete Archive of Rinaldo Capello". Racing Sports Cars. pp. 2, 3, 4, 5. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
External links
- Dindo's official website
- Interview with Dindo Capello
- Interview: Dindo Capello Archived 3 December 2009 at the Wayback Machine