Rinaldo Capello
The relentless Italian endurance maestro whose tactical genius and consistency made him a cornerstone of Audi's Le Mans dynasty.
Born 1964 (age 62)·Italian racing driver·Birthday: June 17·Baby Boomers
Biography
Rinaldo 'Dindo' Capello's career is a masterclass in sports car racing endurance. Hailing from Italy, he didn't chase Formula One glamour but instead mastered the art of driving fast for 24 hours straight. His smooth, precise, and incredibly consistent style made him the perfect co-driver for factory teams seeking not just speed, but reliability. Capello became synonymous with Audi's domination of Le Mans in the 2000s. His three victories there—with Bentley in 2003 and with Audi in 2004 and 2008—were built on flawless stints through day and night. In America, he was even more dominant, becoming a five-time winner of the 12 Hours of Sebring and setting the record for most wins at Petit Le Mans. More than just a quick driver, Capello was the steady hand on the wheel, the metronome that kept championship-winning teams in rhythm during the world's toughest races.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Rinaldo was born in 1964, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Rinaldo Was Born
The biggest hits of 1964
#1 Movie
Mary Poppins
Best Picture
My Fair Lady
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Rinaldo's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1964Born
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1969Started school
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1977Became a teenager
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1980Could drive
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1982Could vote
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1985Turned 21
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1994Turned 30
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
2004Turned 40
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 50
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 60
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 62 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times (2003 with Bentley, 2004 and 2008 with Audi).
- Holds the record for the most victories (five) in the Petit Le Mans endurance race.
- Is a five-time winner of the 12 Hours of Sebring, one of North America's premier endurance events.
- Won the American Le Mans Series championship twice (2007 and 2008).
Did You Know?
His nickname 'Dindo' is a childhood diminutive of his first name, Rinaldo.
He tested for the Formula One Minardi team in 1990 but his career path remained in sports cars.
He holds an honorary degree in Motor Engineering from the University of Turin.
After retirement, he became a commentator for Italian television coverage of endurance racing.
“Speed is useless if you cannot finish the race.”
