James Calado has extended his partnership with Ferrari with a new multi-year contract as a factory driver, as 2024 will signify 10 years since the British driver joined the Maranello marque.
The 34-year-old has competed with AF Corse Ferrari since the 2014 World Endurance Championship season in the 458 Italia GT2.
Calado has competed in every season since, having won three GTE Pro titles, two GTE Pro Le Mans 24 Hours wins plus his Centenary Le Mans win, all of which was accomplished with his current teammate Alessandro Pier Guidi since 2017.
He incorporated other Ferrari GT works commitments in the IMSA SportsCar Championship at the 24 Hours of Daytona and Petit Le Mans, with two GTLM class wins in the latter.
Alongside his #51 teammates Antonio Giovinazzi and Pier Guidi, the trio won Ferrari’s first Le Mans since returning to the top-level venture in 50 years.
“My goal for the future is to become Hypercar world champion.
“In ten years at Maranello, I have experienced some thrilling times. I’m thinking, for example, of 2014 when I signed the official driver’s contract.
“I was at dinner with my family and received the phone call I was waiting for: it was a special evening for me. Then, there was the first victory at the Nürburgring two years later.
“At that time, I felt a lot of pressure on my shoulders, and I was looking forward to proving my worth by achieving my first race win.
“Crossing the finish line first was like a liberation.
“Obviously, another tremendous lasting memory was this year’s victory at Le Mans, my first in the overall standings.
“The joy I felt mounting the podium with Ale [Pier Guidi] and [Antonio] Giovi was something I’ll never forget.
“Of course, I have special memories linked to the three LMGTE Pro class titles: unforgettable pages of 10 truly intense years.”
Calado has 68 WEC starts, 42 podiums and 13 victories to his name, and finished fourth in the 2023 drivers’ standings with his #51 Ferrari 499P LMH teammates.
Antonello Coletta, Global Head of Endurance and Corse Clienti, added: “We’re happy to be able to count on a quick and reliable driver like James, who has made a sporting name for himself within the Ferrari family.
“In the last ten seasons together, we have built a track record of victory in which the overall win at Le Mans, which Calado celebrated together with his teammates in the Ferrari 499P number 51, and the three LMGTE Pro titles won with Pier Guidi stand out.
“We’ll build on this foundation, looking to the future with great optimism.”
Calado is the second Ferrari driver along with Nicklas Nielsen to renew their long-term commitments with Ferrari.
The 2024 WEC season will expect the same two AF Corse Ferrari Hypercars and their lineups, in addition to a third privately-run Hypercar.
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