Claudio Bortoletto 1954 - 2025
Bortoletto passed away Tuesday following a short battle with illness.
From the Veneto region of Italy, Bortoletto made a name for himself in the legendary Jolly Club, rapidly rising through the ranks to become the sporting director of the Italian rallying powerhouse.
Under his watchful eye, Jolly Club produced more than 150 victories, won Italian and European titles and most impressively two Manufacturer World Championships - the first being the inaugural FIA Cup for Drivers of Production Cars in 1987.
In 1992, they were celebrating their biggest victory when Juha Kankkunen and Didier Auriol led Jolly Club to the main title with the Lancia HF Integrale.
Following the disassembly of Jolly Club in the mid-nineties, Bortoletto remained closely involved in rallying, working for ACI Sport as the head of the Italian rally championship and later on the organizational team of Italy’s round of the WRC.
M-Sport Ford founder and FIA Deputy President of Sport Malcolm Wilson OBE said: “I was honoured first of all to do business with him as he was a team principal that I always admired…his style, his passion and professionalism.
“He gave me the chance to drive one of the Martini Escorts that MWM Ltd had built on San Remo rally - I still treasure to this day the Martini overalls worn while with his team. Additionally, getting that particular car back in my collection means he will never be forgotten.
“Show them some style in heaven Claudio.”
Former world champion co-driver Luis Moya added: “We lost a great man, not only professional but as a person as well. It was really nice to work with him in 1993, he had a great character and incredible charisma.”
“For me it is a big loss,” expressed former Hyundai Motorsport Team Principal Andrea Adamo, who worked for Bortoletto at Jolly Club as a young mechanic. “What he gave to the motorsport world and rallying was a big thing, it is a big loss, I owe him a lot.”
The WRC community expresses its condolences to the family and friends of Claudio.
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