Born in Asti, Capello began his motorsport career in 1976, competing in go-karts. He transitioned to single-seaters in 1983, starting in Formula Fiat Abarth.
Capello secured his first major championship victory in 1990, winning the Italian Superturismo Championship driving a Volkswagen Golf. He repeated this success in 1996, but this time at the wheel of an Audi A4. His first major endurance victory came in 1997 at Vallelunga, winning the Vallelunga 6 Hours in a Volkswagen Golf.
In 2000, Capello was selected by Audi Sport Joest for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, finishing third in the Audi R8. He achieved his first podium finish for Audi in endurance racing at the 1999 12 Hours of Sebring, driving an Audi R8R alongside Michele Alboreto and Stefan Johansson, finishing third overall. A second-place finish at Sebring followed in 2000, beaten only by a sister Audi R8. He then won the 12 Hours of Sebring in consecutive years, 2001 and 2002.
Capello drove for Team Bentley in 2003, partnering with Tom Kristensen and Guy Smith to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans, marking Bentley’s first victory at the circuit in 73 years. Returning to Audi and Team Goh for the 2004 24 Hours of Le Mans, he again reached the top step of the podium alongside Seiji Ara and Tom Kristensen, contributing to Audi’s unprecedented 1-2-3 finish.
The 2006 Le Mans race saw Capello finish third overall. The 2007 race ended prematurely when Capello lost control of the car due to a left rear wheel issue on the approach to Indianapolis, resulting in a barrier impact. In 2008, despite qualifying over five seconds slower than the pole-setting Peugeot, Capello, driving an Audi R10, secured a victory aided by changing weather conditions and a strategic tyre choice. This race is documented in the film Truth in 24.
The 2007 24 Hours of Le Mans saw Capello’s race end after an incident caused by a wheel issue, ending a promising run for the team.
Capello officially retired from prototype racing in 2012, while leading the FIA World Endurance Championship, hinting at a potential end to his Le Mans career. Audi confirmed that Capello would continue racing in GT3 with the Audi R8 LMS Ultra.
Capello currently ranks second all-time in overall wins at Sebring, with five victories. Alongside Tom Kristensen, he is the only Audi driver to have won the race in all four generations of Audi sports prototypes: the R8, R10, R15 and R18. He also holds the record for most Petit Le Mans victories, with five wins for Audi Sport North America and Team Joest. In 2006 and 2007, Capello was champion alongside Allan McNish in the American Le Mans Series, driving the Audi R10.
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