James Calado
A British driver who transitioned from single-seater promise to become a cornerstone of Ferrari's modern endurance racing dynasty.
Born 1989 (age 37)·British racing driver·Birthday: June 13·Millennials
Biography
James Calado's path to the top of sports car racing was forged through the fiercely competitive junior formula ranks. Backed by the Racing Steps Foundation, he shone in GP3 and GP2, proving himself a quick and determined competitor. While a traditional Formula One seat remained elusive, he found his true calling in GT and endurance racing. Signing with Ferrari's AF Corse factory team in 2017, Calado became part of a formidable partnership. His steely consistency and raw speed in the GTE Pro class were instrumental in securing multiple world championship titles. The pinnacle arrived at the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans, where he, alongside Alessandro Pier Guidi and Antonio Giovinazzi, guided the new Ferrari 499P Hypercar to a historic overall victory, ending decades of dominance by other manufacturers and writing his name into Ferrari folklore as a key architect of their return to the top step at La Sarthe.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
James was born in 1989, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When James Was Born
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
James's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1989Born
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1994Started school
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2002Became a teenager
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Could drive
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2007Could vote
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Turned 21
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2019Turned 30
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 37 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Achieved overall victory at the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans driving the Ferrari 499P Hypercar.
- Won the 2017 FIA World Endurance Championship LMGTE Pro drivers' title.
- Secured the 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans class win in the LMGTE Pro category.
- Became the 2025 FIA World Endurance Champion in the Hypercar class with Ferrari.
Did You Know?
He competed in the inaugural 2014-15 Formula E season for the Jaguar-backed team.
Before focusing on cars, he was a national-level swimmer as a junior.
He won the prestigious McLaren Autosport BRDC Award in 2009.
His 2023 Le Mans win was Ferrari's first overall victory at the race since 1965.
“You have to be aggressive in a prototype; you can't just sit behind someone.”
