Seldom has there been a GTE Pro field this competitive, and with this amount of manufacturer interest and new machinery.
With the addition of Ford’s two IMSA Ford GTs, Corvette Racing’s C7.Rs, Risi Competitzione’s 488 and two Porsche Motorsport 911 RSRs to the FIA WEC field, it has the potential to be an astonishing race.
The pace of the cars is up for much debate, with a controversial BoP after Spa causing many to wonder just what this crop of machines are capable of. The answer to that will most certainly come during Qualifying, but before then, here’s a break down of what we do know about 14-strong GTE Pro class of 2016:
#51 | AF Corse | Ferrari 488 GTE | Michelin | Gianmaria Bruni, James Calado & Alessandro Pier Guidi
On pace the combination of Gianmaria Bruni and James Calado and Alessandro Pier Guidi is lethal. The #51’s season thus far though has been littered with issues.
At Silverstone the car had to start at the back of the field after mechanical niggles during Qualifying; it did however plough through the field to finish second. And at Spa the car was pushed back into the garage in the final 10 minutes with further mechanical woes after leading almost the entire race.
The 488’s performance levels aren’t in question here, but the reliability of the car is.
Even at the Test Day the team had to perform an engine change before the running even started, missing the photo call.
With Calado and Bruni driving so far this season, the car has been rapid, the 488’s performance levels aren’t in question here, but the reliability of the car is. Pier Guidi is a nice addition to the lineup, with a breath of GT3 experience in Ferraris; it’ll be intriguing to see what he can do at his first Le Mans. Pier Guidi let’s not forget has already won a 24 Hour race in a Ferrari too – he was in the Level 5 458 at Daytona a couple of years back in GTD.
But is it a year too early for the 488?
#63 | Corvette Racing | Chevrolet Corvette C7.R | Michelin | Jan Magnussen, Antionio Garcia & Ricky Taylor
After crashing out in Qualifying, and missing the race, Jan Magnussen and the #63 crew will be looking to make up for a disappointing 2015 run at Le Mans.
So far this season the #63 impressed at the first of the two big early races in IMSA, finishing second in Corvette’s 1-2 at Daytona after a superb battle for the lead between the pair of ‘Vettes.
Magnussen and Garcia know their way around the Circuit de la Sarthe after a combined 27 appearances (six sharing the same car), while Taylor has had past experience racing for Larbre in 2013 and 2014 in both GTE and LMP2.
With all that considered, as well as the fact that the car ran quickest of the GTE field at the Test Day, certainly makes the car a primary contender for the win
#64 | Corvette Racing | Chevrolet Corvette C7.R | Michelin | Oliver Gavin, Tommy Milner & Jordan Taylor
2015’s GTE Pro winners Milner, Gavin & Taylor are back sharing the #64 this year, and there’s nothing to suggest that they can’t achieve the same feat this time around.
In a class made up almost entirely of factory drivers, you’d struggle to find a better mix of experience and speed.
Gavin and Milner head to Le Mans with the GTLM championship lead after winning both Daytona and Sebring, while Jordan Taylor sits joint leader overall in with brother Ricky in the Prototype ranks with a win at Long Beach and a second at Daytona.
As a trio in a class made up almost entirely of factory drivers, you’d struggle to find a better mix of experience and speed.
#66 | Ford Chip Ganassi Team UK | Ford GT | Michelin | Olivier Pla, Stefan Mücke & Billy Johnson
Just in case you have been living under a rock since the announcement at Le Mans last year, Ford is back, and with an ambitious four-car programme racing its new GT. It marks a definite step forward for the GTE class; especially in the aero department, because it looks like the child of both an LMP1 and DTM car.
So far it’s been a quiet start to the season in both the WEC and IMSA, aside from the remarkable win after a fuel-saving run at Laguna Seca, but on the 50th anniversary of Ford’s big win, they’ll be pulling out all the stops.
Like Aston Martin’s Vantages, the GTs received a 20kg weight reduction after Spa, which should translate to a more competitive showing, just how much remains to be seen. At the Test though, the four GTs continued to lap slower than the Ferraris and Corvettes, and to a remarkably similar set of times.
The #66 car, which is one of the two WEC cars in the quartet has the rapid Pla, ex-Aston factory star Mücke and Johnson driving which means on paper it should be pacey; though Johnson (one of two Americans in the brand’s stable of drivers) will need to adapt to driving at Le Mans on his debut quickly.
#67 | Ford Chip Ganassi Team UK | Ford GT | Michelin | Marino Franchitti, Andy Priaulx & Harry Tincknell
The second of Ford’s quartet is also a WEC points scorer at the race, and features a trio of Brits, with two of them searching for their first class wins at La Sarthe.
Tincknell needs no introduction nowadays, after starring in Jota Sport’s 2014 triumph at the race, before becoming one of the races of Nissan’s ill-fated LMP1 programme, impressing in his approach to development and testing.
Franchitti’s record at Le Mans doesn’t reflect his talent: three DNFs, a non-classified finish and a 9th in class.
This year he’s relished the chance to drive for Ford and along with his teammates finished second last time out at Spa.
Franchitti and Priaulx meanwhile, are looking for their first big result at the race. WTCC-champ Priaulx finished third back in 2011 driving for BMW, but DNF’d the year before, and Franchitti’s record doesn’t reflect his talent either: three DNFs, a non-classified finish and a 9th in class.
#68 | Ford Chip Ganassi Team USA | Ford GT | Michelin | Joey Hand, Dirk Müller & Sébastien Bourdais
Over in IMSA, Ford’s set of driving talent is just as strong, with the #68 sporting three very experienced pairs of hands.
So far the combo of Joey Hand and Dirk Müller who have been aboard all the way has had the least success of the two GTs in the states, finishing 7th, 8th, 8th and 6th in the first four rounds of the season.
Le Mans could easily be a different story though, with Bourdais rejoining the pair for the first time since Sebring. Bourdais has come so close to winning in the past, finishing 2nd three times with Team Peugeot Total back in the day.
#69 | Ford Chip Ganassi Team USA | Ford GT | Michelin | Ryan Briscoe, Richard Westbrook & Scott Dixon
Aboard the #69 is the only trio to have won in the new Ford. IndyCar aces Briscoe and Dixon with IMSA veteran Westbrook have proven themselves to the ‘Blue Oval’ and sit third in the IMSA standings.
Westbrook in particular should run well having run with Corvette Racing each year since 2011, and nabbed a podium with BMS Scuderia Italia back in 2010.
Their performance at Laguna was both intelligent and skilful.
Westy and his co-drivers should be noted for their performance at Laguna was both intelligent and skilful, managing the fuel of the car perfectly to take the car’s inaugural win. It was a big deal for the programme to get an early victory, especially before the biggest race of the year in France.
Whether it’s just too early or not for Ford to grab that all elusive win though is very much up for debate at this stage.
#71 | AF Corse | Ferrari 488 GTE | Michelin | Davide Rigon, Sam Bird & Andrea Bertolini
Undoubtedly the runaway success of the WEC season so far is the #71 car, which unlike the #51 hasn’t suffered technical issues, and won at both Silverstone and Spa.
The partnership of Davide Rigon and Sam Bird has combined for a ludicrous showing of raw speed, with the pair performing well in both qualifying sessions and the race. Sure they inherited the win from the #51 after it retired in the dying moments at Spa, but they were there or thereabouts for the win throughout anyway.
If this car goes untroubled, look out!
At Le Mans Rigon and Bird should flourish further if all goes to plan, with Bird in particular being the one to look out for after his performance with G-Drive Racing in LMP2 last year.
Joining the WEC championship-leading duo is Andrea Bertolini, who needs no introduction to DSC readers after years of stunning drives as a Ferrari factory driver in an ageless Bernd Schneider kind of way. He also won Le Mans in Am just last year with SMP.
With the Ferrari receiving a weight increase of 10kg in the latest round of BoP, the 488’s pace advantage hangs in the balance. Needless to say though, if this car goes untroubled, look out!
#77 | Dempsey Proton Racing | Porsche 911 RSR | Michelin Richard Lietz, Michael Christensen & Phillip Eng
From the most impressive to the most disappointing, the #77 Dempsey Proton car has shown little pace and has struggled to achieve any sort of results so far in 2016.
With factory boys Lietz, Christensen and Eng driving, there’s no concern over the talents behind the wheel, but something has been missing here. This is in part due to the 2016-spec RSR being the best that can be delivered by Porsche with the opportunities offered by the new regulations, and the restrictions imposed by having a rear-engined car. The all-new 2017 model is on its way.
Hopefully Le Mans will be the race, which for the Dempsey effort last year, proved to be the podium-snatching reliable run to the finish entry in the field.
#82 | Risi Competizione | Ferrari 488 GTE | Michelin | Giancarlo Fisichella, Toni Vilander & Matteo Mallucelli
It’s great to see Risi back in the big race for the first time since the F430 days. This year it returns with a new bit of kit and extra hungry for its fourth class win at the race.
Driving for the team is ex-F1 driver Giancarlo Fisichella and Toni Vilander who are to put it lightly, two of the best Ferrari GT drivers on offer, with Ferrari-nominated Matteo Mallucelli getting another shot with the team after a disastrous outing at Sebring back in 2014.
This trio will be quick, and driving for a team that knows how to win at the 24 hours means they could well be in for a good result if everything goes to plan; without forgetting that the 488 is at the start of its development curve.
#91 | Porsche Motorsport | Porsche 911 RSR | Michelin | Patrick Pilet, Kevin Estre & Nick Tandy
Despite Porsche taking a year out of GTE Pro to focus on LMP1 and the development of the 2017 car, it’s good to see the make back for a one-off with two cars. As much as anything, it does give last year’s Le Mans champions a drive at least, with Tandy in the #91 and Bamber in the #92.
All three drivers in the #91 will be craving a good result after a bad outing at the Nürburgring 24 Hours last month.
Tandy in particular though was quick to squash any hopes of a win when speaking to DSC at the ‘Ring; and little has changed to help them in BoP since.
#92 | Porsche Motorsport | Porsche 911 RSR | Michelin | Frédéric Makowiecki, Earl Bamber & Jörg Bergmeister
The other factory Porsche In the race includes the aforementioned reigning champ Earl Bamber, and the seemingly ever-present Jörg Bergmeister searching for his second class win at Le Mans. His first was back in 2004 with the White Lighting team, after 15 years of racing at the French classic, all in GT Porsches too, he’d love another.
Bamber will be pleased to be back at the race, though left wondering what could have been if there was a third 919 for himself and Tandy to drive.
The third driver on the bill is Makowiecki who on his day is as quick as any GT driver in the world. But as has already been alluded to, the jury is out on the 2016 RSR’s capability in this company.
#95 | Aston Martin Racing | Aston Martin Vantage | Dunlop | Nicki Thiim, Marco Sørensen & Darren Turner
Aston Martin has gone through so many changes over the past year. The Vantage itself has seen a facelift, with the aero on the car, especially at the rear, looking incredibly aggressive. The colour scheme used by the team has also reverted back to green after running Gulf liveries since 2008.
The tyres are also a big talking point, with the first year of a new technical partnership with Dunlop providing the team with a challenge at this early stage, but reasons for optimism going forward. Both Dunlop and Aston Martin will be particularly keen to see whether they can find any advantage in mixed conditions going into their first year together at La Sarthe.
It’s strange to see long-standing Aston factory driver Darren Turner not in the #97 after so many years, but the new safety regulations for GTE including a fixed seat, the lineups have been shaken up to provide comfort for drivers of differing sizes. Driving in what used to be the Aston with three drivers from Denmark – Darren has had to become an honorary Dane.
With ‘true’ Danes Thiim and Sørensen, Turner should have just as much of a chance as ever at having a run to the finish with few mistakes.
#97 | Aston Martin Racing | Aston Martin Vantage | Dunlop | Richie Stanaway, Fernando Rees & Jonathan Adam
In the British marque’s other challenger, Jonny Adam, Fernando Rees and Richie Stanaway are looking to continue their form after finishing a season-high third at Spa, and the latest round of BoP should help their cause.
Going into Le Mans the Vantages have received a further 20kg reduction in minimum weight, which makes the car 1190kg. The restrictor however will be smaller, just 0.4mm.
Adam has been incredibly busy all year, driving in British GT, WEC and at the Nürburgring 24 Hours, which all seem to clash. He was down to drive in the ELMS too, but that proved to be just too tricky on the logistics front. But this is all because he’s quick, and quickly becoming a driver of choice at Prodrive.
Stanaway and Rees are also continuing to improve race by race, and look good for a result should the car hold up. As last year the pair ran well together in the Hanergy-livieried Vantage, particularly at the start of the race, when Stanaway charged to the lead.
