For generations to come the 2016 GTE season will primarily be remembered for producing a highly entertaining, though somewhat controversial, ‘Ford vs Ferrari’ battle at the Le Mans 24 Hours.
The 2016 FIA WEC and IMSA seasons saw Ford Performance debut its revolutionary GT, which in many ways changed the game for the formula. In Year 1 of the Ganassi-led programme, Ford would go on to win the GTE Pro class at the Le Mans 24 Hours in fine style, fending off Risi Competizione’s valiant Ferrari attack.
But the GT wasn’t the only new car to make its debut in 2016, as Aston Martin refreshed its V8 Vantage GTE, BMW introduced the M6 GTLM and Ferrari’s magnificent 488 GTE began winning races.
Stateside it was Corvette that would take the GTLM title, with Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner’s matured C7.R beating Ford’s Ryan Briscoe and Richard Westbrook to top honours after winning at Daytona, Sebring, Lime Rock and Road America.
The FIA WEC meanwhile, saw the #95 Aston Martin Racing ‘Dane Train’ take the Pro title and the venerable trio of Manu Collard, Francois Perrodo and Rui Aguas secure the championship in Am. It was a remarkable season for the AF Corse crew, with two wins and podiums in all but one of the races during the season.
Aston Martin Racing also won the GTE title in the ELMS that season, with Andrew Howard, Alex MacDowall and Darren Turner collecting two victories along the way.
2016 – European Le Mans Series – LMGTE – AF Corse – #51 Ferrari 458 Italia GT2
2016 – European Le Mans Series – LMGTE – AF Corse – #55 Ferrari 458 Italia GT2
2016 – European Le Mans Series – LMGTE – AT Racing – #56 Ferrari 458 Italia GT2
2016 – European Le Mans Series – LMGTE – Formula Racing – #60 Ferrari 458 Italia GT2
2016 – European Le Mans Series – LMGTE – JMW Motorsport – #66 Ferrari 458 Italia GT2
2016 – European Le Mans Series – LMGTE – Proton Competition – #77 Porsche 911 RSR
2016 – European Le Mans Series – LMGTE – Proton Competition – #88 Porsche 911 RSR
2016 – European Le Mans Series – LMGTE – Aston Martin Racing – #96 Aston Martin Vantage GTE
2016 – European Le Mans Series – LMGTE – Aston Martin Racing – #99 Aston Martin Vantage GTE – Andrew Howard, Darren Turner, Alex MacDowall
