Valentino Catalano
{{Short description|German racing driver (born 2005)}}
{{use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox racing driver|name=Valentino Catalano
|image=
|caption=
|nationality={{flagicon|DEU}} German
|birth_date={{Birth date and age|2005|11|02|df=y}}
|birth_place=Westheim, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
|retired=
|related to=
|racing licence=12px FIA Silver
| current series = Prototype Cup Germany
| first year = 2023
| current team = Gebhardt Motorsport
| car number = 70
| former teams = DKR Engineering
| starts = 24
| wins = 4
| poles = 6
| fastest laps = 0
| best finish = 1st
| year = 2024
|prev series=Prototype Cup Germany
Le Mans Cup
ADAC Formula 4
French F4 Championship
|prev series years=2023
2022
2021
2020 (rookie)
|awards=
|award years=
|codriver=Robin Rogalski, Markus Pommer}}
Valentino Catalano (born 2 November 2005) is a German racing driver who currently competes in the Prototype Cup Germany with Gebhardt Motorsport.
Early career
=Karting=
Catalano started karting at the Motorclub Haßloch at the age of 5.{{Cite web |title=Valentino Catalano vom Jugendkart über Kartrennen mit 14 Jahren zur Formel 4 |url=http://www.mc-hassloch.de/news/12-03-2021-v-catalano/ |access-date=2023-11-10 |website=Motorclub Haßloch |language=de-DE}} In 2018 he won the X30 Junior category of the ADAC Kart Cup with RMW Motorsport after finishing fourth in the ADAC Kart Bundesendlauf.{{Cite web |title=Koblenzer RMW-Motorsport-Team tanzte sehr erfolgreich auf vier Hochzeiten gleichzeitig « kartpress.de – Official Website |url=https://www.kartpress.de/2018/08/28/koblenzer-rmw-motorsport-team-tanzte-sehr-erfolgreich-auf-vier-hochzeiten-gleichzeitig/ |access-date=2023-11-10}}{{Cite web |title=ADAC Kart Bundesendlauf zeigt packenden Kartsport – Kart-Magazin.de – More Than Speed |url=https://www.kart-magazin.de/adac/adac-regionalserien/adac-kart-bundesendlauf/adac-kart-bundesendlauf-zeigt-packenden-kartsport/ |access-date=2023-11-10 |language=de-DE}}
= Formula 4 =
In 2019 Catalano begin testing in a privately owned Tatuus F4-T014. In 2020 he began competing in single-seaters, driving in the French F4 Championship.{{Cite web |title=F4 Academy: Nogaro opens the festivities with a quality grid |url=https://ffsaacademy.org/2020/08/17/f4-academy-nogaro-opens-the-festivities-with-a-quality-grid/?lang=en |access-date=2023-01-22 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Wood |first=Ida |date=2020-07-24 |title=Daniel Ligier, Loris Cabirou and Valentino Catalano join French F4 |url=https://formulascout.com/daniel-ligier-loris-cabirou-and-valentino-catalano-join-french-f4/65047 |access-date=2023-07-26 |website=Formula Scout |language=en-US}} Having been part of the junior class given his age, the German would dominate, taking wins in every race for the juniors' standings, whilst finishing on the overall podium four times.{{Cite web |title=Valentino Catalano vom Jugendkart über Kartrennen mit 14 Jahren zur Formel 4 |url=http://www.mc-hassloch.de/news/12-03-2021-v-catalano/ |access-date=2023-07-26 |website=Motorclub Haßloch |language=de-DE}} With him finishing inside the top ten throughout each event, Catalano ended up fifth in the FFSA Academy classification.
For the 2021 season, a move to BWR Motorsports would be in order for the German, who would be driving in the ADAC Formula 4 Championship.{{Cite web |last=Allen |first=Peter |date=5 March 2021 |title=French F4 junior champion Catalano makes ADAC switch with BWR |url=https://formulascout.com/french-f4-junior-champion-catalano-makes-adac-switch-with-bwr/75945 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305092610/https://formulascout.com/french-f4-junior-champion-catalano-makes-adac-switch-with-bwr/75945 |archive-date=2021-03-05 |website=Formula Scout}}{{Cite web |title=BWR, cooperating with Nico Rosberg, lines up with Valentino Catalano and Taylor Barnard |url=https://www.kartxpress.com/ReadMore/bwr-cooperating-with-nico-rosberg-lines-up-with-valentino-catalano-and-taylor-barnard |access-date=2023-11-10 |website=KartXpress |language=en-US}} However, Catalano ended up splitting up from the team after merely two rounds, in which he had scored a best finish of fifth.{{Cite web |last=Wood |first=Ida |date=2021-09-17 |title=Dunne fastest on F4 return in ADAC practice, Catalano drops out |url=https://formulascout.com/dunne-fastest-on-f4-return-in-adac-practice-catalano-drops-out/83859 |access-date=2023-07-26 |website=Formula Scout |language=en-US}}
Sportscar career
= 2022: LMP3 debut =
Catalano made his sportscar debut in 2022, driving in the LMP3 category of the European Le Mans Series.{{Cite web |last=Lloyd |first=Daniel |date=14 February 2022 |title=ELMS Reveals 42-Car Full Season Entry List |url=https://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/elms-reveals-42-car-full-season-entry-list/ |access-date=14 February 2022 |website=sportscar365.com |publisher=John Dagys Media}}{{Cite web |title=2022 ELMS LMP3 News: Eurointernational, United, RLR & Inter Europol {{!}} dailysportscar.com |url=https://www.dailysportscar.com/2022/02/15/2022-elms-lmp3-news-eurointernational-united-rlr-inter-europol.html |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=www.dailysportscar.com}} Teaming up with Horst Felbermayr Jr. and Austin McCusker at RLR MSport, the German experienced a testing campaign, as three retirements meant that he would finish 15th in the drivers' standings.
= 2023: First win =
At the start of 2023, Catalano paired up with Tom van Rompuy at DKR Engineering for a campaign in the Asian Le Mans Series.{{cite web |last=Goodwin |first=Graham |date=7 February 2023 |title=Asian Le Mans Series Confirm Full Entry With Most Drivers Named |url=https://www.dailysportscar.com/2023/02/07/asian-le-mans-series-confirm-full-entry-with-most-driver-named.html |access-date=7 February 2023 |publisher=Dailysportscar}} The second race in Dubai saw an impressive performance from the pairing, with an aggressive fuel strategy paying off to give Catalano his maiden victory in car racing.{{Cite web |last=Dagys |first=John |title=Inter Europol Wins Sunday Dubai Race After Siegel's Late Pass – Sportscar365 |url=https://sportscar365.com/lemans/asian-lms/inter-europol-wins-sunday-dubai-race-after-siegels-late-race-pass/ |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=sportscar365.com |date=12 February 2023 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Superb Siegel Caps Off Inter Europol's 'Spin & Win' In Dubai {{!}} dailysportscar.com |url=https://www.dailysportscar.com/2023/02/12/superb-siegel-caps-off-inter-europols-spin-and-win-in-dubai.html |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=www.dailysportscar.com}}{{Cite web |date=2023-03-02 |title=Motorsport - Autorennen: Valentino Catalano ist der jüngste Sieger bei der Asian Le Mans-Series 2023 |url=https://www.wochenblatt-reporter.de/landau/c-sport/valentino-catalano-ist-der-juengste-sieger-bei-der-asian-le-mans-series-2023_a447983 |access-date=2023-07-26 |website=Wochenblatt Reporter |language=de}}{{Cite web |title=Valentino Catalano bei der Asian Le Mans Series 2023 erfolgreich |url=http://www.mc-hassloch.de/news/22-04-2023-v-catalano/ |access-date=2023-11-10 |website=Motorclub Haßloch |language=de-DE}} He then went on to compete in the 2023 Prototype Cup Germany with the same team and Robin Rogalski as his teammate.{{Cite web |title=Fünffacher LMP3-Champion bereichert Prototype Cup Germany {{!}} Prototype Cup Germany |url=https://adac-motorsport.de/prototype-cup-germany/news/2023/fuenffacher-lmp3-champion-bereichert-prototype-cup-germany/ |access-date=2023-07-26 |website=adac-motorsport.de |language=de}} He took his maiden victory in the series Motorsport Arena Oschersleben and finished the season fourth in the standings.{{Cite web |title=Valentino Catalano: "Beide Titel sind das Ziel" {{!}} Prototype Cup Germany |url=https://www.adac-motorsport.de/prototype-cup-germany/news/2023/valentino-catalano-beide-titel-sind-das-ziel/ |access-date=2023-11-10 |website=www.adac-motorsport.de |language=de}}{{Cite web |date=2023-05-28 |title=Prototype Cup: Catalano und Rogalski mit Debütsieg / Sportwagen - SPEEDWEEK.COM |url=https://www.speedweek.com/sportwagen/news/208592/Prototype-Cup-Catalano-und-Rogalski-mit-Debuetsieg.html |access-date=2023-11-10 |website=www.speedweek.com |language=de}}{{Cite web |date=2023-06-01 |title=Schwieriges Rennen gut beendet |url=https://www.usinger-anzeiger.de/sport/lokalsport/schwieriges-rennen-gut-beendet-92317150.html |access-date=2023-11-10 |website=www.usinger-anzeiger.de |language=de}}
Karting record
= Karting career summary =
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 85%; text-align:center"
!Season !Series !Team !Position |
| 2017
|align=left|ADAC Kart Masters — X30 Junior |align=left| |style="background:#FFDF9F;"|3rd |
|---|
| rowspan=2|2018
|align=left|ADAC Kart Masters — X30 Junior |align=left| |style="background:#FFDF9F;"|3rd |
| align=left|ADAC Kart Bundesendlauf — X30 Junior
|RMW Motorsport |4th |
| colspan=4|Sources:{{Cite web |title=Valentino Catalano {{!}} Racing career profile {{!}} Driver Database |url=https://www.driverdb.com/drivers/valentino-catalano/ |access-date=2023-01-22 |website=www.driverdb.com}} |
Racing record
= Racing career summary =
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%; text-align:center"
!Season !Series !Team !Races !Wins !Poles !F/Laps !Podiums !Points !Position |
| 2020
|align=left| French F4 Championship |align=left| FFSA Academy |21 |0 |0 |0 |4 |144 |5th |
|---|
| rowspan=2| 2021
|align=left| ADAC Formula 4 Championship |rowspan=2 align=left|BWR Motorsports |6 |0 |0 |0 |0 |10 |18th |
| align=left| Drexler Automotive Formula 4 Cup
|2 |0 |0 |0 |2 |33 |4th |
| rowspan=2| 2022
|align=left| European Le Mans Series - LMP3 |rowspan=2 align=left| RLR MSport |6 |0 |0 |0 |0 |18 |15th |
| align=left| Le Mans Cup - LMP3
|1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |NC |
| rowspan="2" | 2023
|align=left| Asian Le Mans Series - LMP3 | rowspan="2" align="left" | DKR Engineering |4 |1 |0 |0 |1 |43 |4th |
| align=left| Prototype Cup Germany
|12 |1 |3 |2 |4 |130 |4th |
| rowspan="4" |2024
|align=left| Prototype Cup Germany | rowspan="2" align="left" | Gebhardt Motorsport |12 |3 |2 |0 |10 |206 |style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1st |
| align=left| Prototype Winter Series - Class 3
|3 |0 |0 |0 |0 |6.67 |14th |
| align=left| IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge - LMP3
|align=left nowrap| Gebhardt Intralogistics Motorsports |2 |0 |0 |0 |2 |600 |15th |
| align=left nowrap| Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie - VT2-R+4WD
|align=left nowrap| Adrenalin Motorsport Team Mainhatten Wheels | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC† |
| rowspan="3" |2025
|align=left| IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge - LMP3 | rowspan="2" align="left" | Gebhardt Motorsport | | | | | | | |
| align=left| Le Mans Cup - LMP3
| | | | | | | |
| align=left| Prototype Cup Germany
|align=left| Gebhardt Intralogistics Motorsports | | | | | | | |
† As Catalano was a guest driver, he was ineligible for points.
* Season still in progress.
=Complete French F4 Championship results=
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%" |
| Year
! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! 8 ! 9 ! 10 ! 11 ! 12 ! 13 ! 14 ! 15 ! 16 ! 17 ! 18 ! 19 ! 20 ! 21 ! Pos ! Points |
|---|
| 2020
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| NOG |style="background:#DFDFDF;"| NOG |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| NOG |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MAG |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MAG |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MAG |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| ZAN |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| ZAN |style="background:#FFDF9F;"| ZAN |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| LEC1 |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| LEC1 |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| LEC1 |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SPA |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SPA |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SPA |style="background:#FFDF9F;"| LEC2 |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| LEC2 |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| LEC2 |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| LEC3 |style="background:#FFDF9F;"| LEC3 |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| LEC3 ! 5th ! {{Tooltip|144|160, including dropped points}} |
=Complete ADAC Formula 4 Championship results=
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%" |
| Year
! Team ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! 8 ! 9 ! 10 ! 11 ! 12 ! 13 ! 14 ! 15 ! 16 ! 17 ! 18 ! Pos ! Points |
|---|
| 2021
! nowrap| BWR Motorsports |style="background:#CFCFFF"| RBR |style="background:#CFCFFF"| RBR |style="background:#DFFFDF"| RBR |style="background:#CFCFFF"| ZAN |style="background:#CFCFFF"| ZAN |style="background:#EFCFFF"| ZAN |SAC |SAC |SAC |NÜR |NÜR |NÜR ! 18th ! 10 |
= Complete European Le Mans Series results =
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%"
!Year !Entrant !Class !Chassis !Engine !1 !2 !3 !4 !5 !6 !Rank !Points |
| 2022
!nowrap|RLR MSport !LMP3 !nowrap|Ligier JS P320 |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|LEC |style="background:#DFFFDF;"|IMO |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|MNZ |style="background:#DFFFDF;"|CAT |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|SPA |style="background:#DFFFDF;"|ALG !15th !18 |
= Complete Le Mans Cup results =
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%"
! Year ! Entrant ! Class ! Chassis ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! Rank ! Points |
| 2025
!nowrap| Gebhardt Motorsport ! LMP3 !nowrap| Duqueine D09 | CAT | LEC | LMS | LMS | SPA | SIL | ALG ! * ! * |
= Complete Asian Le Mans Series results =
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%"
|+ ! Year ! Team ! Class ! Car ! Engine ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! Pos. ! Points |
| 2023
!nowrap| DKR Engineering ! LMP3 !nowrap| Duqueine M30 - D08 !nowrap| Nissan VK56DE 5.6L V8 |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DUB |style="background:#FFFFBF;"| DUB |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| ABU |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| ABU ! 4th ! 43 |
= Complete Prototype Cup Germany results =
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%"
! Year ! Team !Car !Engine ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! 8 ! 9 ! 10 ! 11 ! 12 ! 13 ! 14 ! DC ! Points |
| 2023
!nowrap| DKR Engineering !nowrap| Duqueine M30 - D08 !nowrap| Nissan VK56DE 5.6 L V8 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | HOC | style="background:#DFDFDF;" | HOC | style="background:#FFDF9F;" | OSC | style="background:#FFFFBF;" | OSC | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | ZAN | style="background:#DFDFDF;" | ZAN | style="background:#EFCFFF;" | NOR | style="background:#EFCFFF;" | NOR | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | ASS | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | ASS | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | NÜR | style="background:#EFCFFF;" | NÜR |colspan=2| ! 4th ! 130 |
| 2024
! nowrap| Gebhardt Motorsport ! nowrap| Duqueine M30 - D08 ! nowrap| Nissan VK56DE 5.6 L V8 | style="background:#FFFFFF;" | SPA | style="background:#FFFFFF;" | SPA | style="background:#FFFFBF;" | LAU | style="background:#FFDF9F;" | LAU | style="background:#DFDFDF;" | LAU | style="background:#FFDF9F;" | ZAN | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | ZAN | style="background:#;" | HOC | style="background:#DFDFDF;" | HOC | style="background:#FFDF9F;" | HOC | style="background:#FFDF9F;" | NÜR | style="background:#FFFFBF;" | NÜR | style="background:#FFFFBF;" | SAC | style="background:#FFDF9F;" | SAC ! style="background:#FFFFBF;" | 1st ! style="background:#FFFFBF;" | 206 |
* Season still in progress.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{DriverDB driver|valentino-catalano}}
- {{Official website|https://valentino-catalano.de/}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Catalano, Valentino}}
Category:German racing drivers
Category:Racing drivers from Rhineland-Palatinate
Category:French F4 Championship drivers
Category:ADAC Formula 4 drivers
Category:European Le Mans Series drivers