The world of motorsport is in mourning. Cédric Sbirrazzuoli, a Monegasque driver specializing in GT and endurance racing, died on Thursday, August 20, 2026, at the age of 39, after battling cancer. In a cruel twist of fate, the driver passed away on his birthday, just weeks after his marriage to Martina Kamag. Born on August 20, 1987, in Monte Carlo, Cédric Sbirrazzuoli had built a solid international career over more than twenty years, competing in some of the most prestigious endurance races, notably driving Ferraris, Porsches, Maseratis, and Lamborghinis.
He died on his 39th birthday.
The circumstances of his death add a particularly heartbreaking dimension to the tragedy. Cédric Sbirrazzuoli died on August 20, the very day he would have turned 39. His wife, Martina, also revealed that he passed away at 21:10 p.m., the exact time he was born 39 years earlier. The pilot had also just reached a significant milestone in his personal life. Cédric Sbirrazzuoli and Martina had married last June, just two months before his death.
More than 20 years behind the wheel
Cédric Sbirrazzuoli began his motorsport career in 2005 in Italian junior formula series, notably Formula Azzurra and Formula Gloria. After his single-seater debut, he quickly moved to Grand Touring cars, the discipline in which he would spend the majority of his career. He participated in the Porsche Carrera Cup, the Trofeo Maserati, the Lamborghini Super Trofeo, as well as the GT4, GT2, and GT3 categories. In 2011, he won the Trofeo Maserati World Series, one of the first major successes of his career.
A long history with Ferrari and AF Corse
His name was also closely associated with Ferrari and AF Corse. Over the years, the Monegasque driver had piloted several generations of the Italian marque's racing cars, from the Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 to the 488 GT3, and then the 296 GT3. This collaboration led him to compete in numerous international championships: the European Le Mans Series, the Asian Le Mans Series, the GT World Challenge Europe and America, and the Italian GT Championship. He also participated several times in the 24 Hours of Spa. An experienced driver, particularly well-regarded in the endurance racing community, Cédric Sbirrazzuoli pursued his career on both sides of the Atlantic.
A particularly successful 2024
It was in the United States that the Monegasque driver achieved some of his most remarkable results. In 2024, he finished third in the GTD class at the 24 Hours of Daytona before securing second place at the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen. A few months later, he won the GTD class at Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta with Conquest Racing and the Ferrari 296 GT3. A significant victory in one of the most prestigious endurance races on the American calendar. That same year, he also won the Invitational class at the Bathurst 12 Hour in Australia.
Still in competition in 2025
His career continued into 2025. Cédric Sbirrazzuoli notably rejoined Conquest Racing in the United States for the major IMSA endurance races, participating in the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring. He also continued to race in the Asian Le Mans Series at the wheel of an AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3. Until his final seasons, the Monegasque driver thus remained a fixture at the highest level of international GT competition.
Motorsport loses one of its familiar faces.
Since the announcement of his passing, tributes have poured in from the world of motorsport. Drivers, teams, and former teammates alike are praising his driving skills as well as his personality in the paddock. Cédric Sbirrazzuoli leaves behind more than twenty years of competition, victories on several continents, and a career marked by some of the world's greatest endurance races. His death at just 39 years old, on his birthday and two months after his wedding, has caused a profound sense of loss throughout the motorsport community.
