Marco Mapelli joins Deitz, Denyer and D'Alberto in Wall Racing Lambo

FACTORY Lamborghini ace Marco Mapelli will add his experience and pace to Wall Racing’s attack on this year’s Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour.

The 38-year-old Italian will join car owner Adrian Deitz, Grant Denyer and Tony D’Alberto aboard the team’s spectacular Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 for the February 13-15 event.

Mapelli has been a factory supported Lamborghini driver for more than a decade with success across Europe and the United Stages in the brands GT3 machinery, including podium finishes in last year’s IMSA GTD Pro Championship with Pfaff Motorsports.

His addition to the Wall Racing squad comes as the team begins their quest for a third consecutive class victory in Australia’s international enduro this year.

The team claimed the Sliver class victory in both 2024 and 2025 and will compete for the Bronze class title this year.

2026 will represent Mapelli’s fourth Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour start; his first coming in 2015 when he was part of the Phoenix Racing Audi team that finished second outright behind the winning Nissan GT-R.

He returned the following year with Jamec-Pem Racing and the with FFF Racing in a Lamborghini in 2020, though in both instances the car failed to finish.

“Well, first of all I’m very grateful to Adrian and Wall racing for their trust to bring me back in the mountain,” Mapelli said.

“I’m really happy to be part of the team and I’ll do my best to support them with my experience with the car.

“Australia and Bathurst in particular brings me back wonderful memories and I’m sure we’ll fight again together for the trophy.”

The 2026 event will be the seventh Bathurst attack in the longstanding partnership between Deitz and the Sydney-based Wall Racing squad, one that has delivered a best result of fifth outright in 2022 alongside the multiple class wins.

“We’re excited to have Marco join the team,” Wall Racing’s David Wall said.

“His experience in the Lamborghini Huracan platform is going to be very beneficial as we continue to learn and develop the car for competition here in Australia.

“He knows the car, he knows Bathurst and he’s going to be a great addition to work with Adrian, Tony and Grant throughout the event.

“It’s a big weekend and the class we’re in this year is hugely competitive but we feel like all the pieces are in place for a really strong weekend, but just as importantly an enjoyable one for the crew and drivers.

“Marco will fit right into our environment and we’re looking forward to working with him.”

The Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour will be held between 13-15 February, 2026