Nico Castellaccio, technician

born: San Francisco, Calif., USA
current residence: Tracy, Calif., USA
unique note: Castellaccio lived in Italy for two years as a teenager.
duties: car maintenance
race day duty: Right-side tire changer
major accomplishments: Member of 2005 and 2006 ALMS GT2 Championship teams, two-time 24 Hours of Le Mans GT winner (’03, ’04), 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans victories (’05), ten ALMS victories, three-time World Challenge winner. Member of the 2007 Utah Grand Prix GT2 winning effort with Petersen Motorsports/White Lightning Racing.

bio brief
Nico Castellaccio has been a pivotal member of Petersen Motorsports/White Lightning Racing since 2000. Working with Dennis Chizma on right-side tire changes during pit stops and in every facet of car maintenance leading up to the race, he plays a linchpin role on the team. As the second-longest member of the team, Castellaccio began his automotive career working in production cars but turned his eye towards motorsports in 1999 when he began a year-long stint with The Racers Group. The following season he joined Petersen/White Lightning and helped the effort to three World Challenge event wins that first season. He has been a part of all six Petersen/ White Lightning ALMS GT2 victories, both 24 Hours of Le Mans titles and the 2005 GT2 Team, Driver and IMSA Cup championships. Individual race wins include the 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans (’05) and the GT class victory in the Grand American Rolex 24 at Daytona, second overall in 2001. His tenure with the team has also brought runner-up spots at Le Mans (’05), Petit Le Mans (2002) and Sebring (‘03) and thirds at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca (’03) and the 12 Hours of Sebring (’04). Castellaccio has also been a team member for the Rennwerks Grand-Am team earning a podium at the Rolex 24 in 2003.

away from the track
Like many of Petersen Motorsports/White Lightning Racing team members, Castellaccio works during the week on exotic and race cars as a technician. He is also regularly at the team’s shop working on the No. 31 Ferrari. He has two years of automotive technical training, two years of welding and two years of general electrical training in production cars ranging from Porsches to Lamborghinis. In rare off weekends, the former Judo brown belt enjoys scuba diving, deep sea fishing and boating. He is single and lives in Northern California.