WEC 2017 Season Update: GTE-Pro & GTE-Am

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With a manufacturer returning to GTE-Pro with a factory effort and a combined set of 2015/2016 technical regulations for GTE-Am, there’s plenty of change in the works in the production-based categories of the FIA World Endurance Championship.

Sportscar365 takes a look at the current confirmed, likely and possible entries for GTE-Pro and GTE-Am next year.

GTE-Pro:

Ford Chip Ganassi Racing – The Multimartic-run, UK-based operation will return for its second season campaigning factory Ford GTs, with a likely unchanged full-season lineup of Stefan Muecke, Olivier Pla, Harry Tincknell and Andy Priaulx. Marino Franchitti, who was dropped from the lineup mid-season, is unlikelky to return. (2 cars confirmed)

Porsche Motorsport – Porsche will return to GTE-Pro with two brand-new factory Manthey-run 911 RSRs. Richard Lietz, Michael Christensen and Fred Makowiecki are three of the likely four confirmed full-season drivers. While not having been announced as a factory driver at its end-of-year dinner, Ferrari ace Gianmaria Bruni is understood to still be in contention for the final seat. Otherwise, it could go to Romain Dumas or Sven Mueller, who both have been confirmed as GT factory drivers for next year. (2 cars confrmed)

Aston Martin Racing – After winning the 2016 driver and team titles, the British manufactuer is expected to return with a two-car Vantage GTE program at a minimum. Drivers have yet to be confirmed but it would see logical for World Champions Nicki Thiim and Marco Sorensen to continue, as well as longtime AMR factory driver Darren Turner. (2 cars likely)

AF Corse – The Italian squad, led by Amato Ferrari, is likely to continue, despite continued disputes over Balance of Performance. However, it’s unclear if its star driver Gimmi Bruni will return, with the Italian repordiely wanting out of his contract and having been close to a deal with Porsche. James Calado, Sam Bird and Davide Rigon, however, are all expected to be back. (2 cars likely)

Larbre Competition – Jack Leconte’s team has laid out plans of fielding a Corvette C7.R in the GTE-Pro class, although is waiting on a final decision from GM on whether they’ll be able to run a 2016-spec car. It’s understood a proposal is in place involving 2016 drivers Ricky Taylor and Pierre Ragues, who could make the step up to the top GT category. (1 car possible)

Expected Entries: 8-9 cars

GTE-Am:

Aston Martin Racing – At least one Aston Martin Vantage GTE will be on the GTE-Am grid next year, for Paul Dalla Lana, Pedro Lamy and Mathias Lauda, a car which will be upgraded to 2016 GTE specifications. There are prospects of a second entry, potentially spearheaded by Abu Dhabi Racing-backed driver Khaled Al Qubaisi, who tested a Vantage GTE last month in Bahrain. (1 car confirmed, 1 additional car possible)

Proton Competition – After fielding three Porsche 911 RSRs across GTE-Pro and GTE-Am this year, the German squad is likely to be reduced to a singe-car effort in 2017, with Al Qubaisi and David Heinemeier Hansson not returning. Team boss Christian Ried is likely to continue with a car for himself and a to-be-determined remaining lineup. (1 car likely)

AF Corse – With Francois Perrodo graduating to LMP2, Amato Ferrari does not yet have a confirmed GTE-Am entry, although it wouldn’t be a surprise to see at least one 488 GTE entered by the Italian squad. (1 car possible)

Larbre Competition – Should its proposed GTE-Pro effort not materialize, look for the French squad to return to GTE-Am with its existing Corvette C7.R, running to 2015 specification. (1 car possible)

Gulf Racing – The status of the Michael Wainwright-backed team, which entered into the WEC for the first time this year, is unclear, after multiple failed attempts for Sportscar365 to reach Wainwright for comment at last month’s season-ending Six Hours of Bahrain. (unknown)

Expected Entries: 2-5 cars

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Scuderia Corsa Set for Two-Car Ferrari 488 GTE Effort for Le Mans

Scuderia Corsa will defend its 24 Hours of Le Mans class victory with an expanded two-car effort next year, both with Ferrari 488 GTE cars, team principal Giacomo Mattioli has confirmed.

Mattioli revealed to Sportscar365 that he will take up the two auto-invites awarded to the California-based squad, courtesy of Bill Sweedler, Townsend Bell and Jeff Segal’s class win, and for the team’s GT Daytona title in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

“Both will be 488 GTE cars,” Mattioli said. “The idea is to work with Kessel and Michelotto again… I think by Jan. 10 or 15 at the latest we’ll make the [driver lineup] announcements.”

While lineups have yet to be announced, both 2016 Le Mans winners Sweedler and Bell are planning to be part of the effort again, for what would be their third consecutive year with the team in the French endurance classic.

“Le Mans is Le Mans,” Sweedler told Sportscar365. “Obviously it was special [this year] as all of the drivers were from the U.S.

“The 24 Hours of Daytona and Twelve Hours of Sebring are absolute bucket-list races but Le Mans is the top of the bucket list. To be able to go back again and defend a win should be quite surreal.”

Sweedler and Bell, however, would be without their regular co-driver Segal, who has been upgraded from Silver to Gold driver rating.

GTE-Am class rules mandate only one Gold/Platinum-rated driver per lineup, alongside at least one Bronze-rated driver, which applies to Bell and Sweedler, respectively.

“It’s bittersweet that Jeff cannot join us but both Townsend and I are thrilled that he’s now part of the Acura factory program,” Sweedler added.

While not likely being part of the team’s projected GTE-Am lineup, the newly signed Michael Shank Racing Acura driver has vowed to be at Le Mans in support of his co-drivers and friends.

“It is a shame we’re not able to return as a winning team,” Segal told Sportscar365. “What I’ve told Bill and Townsend is that my intention is to be there with them, in whatever capacity necessary, because we are a team together.

“Even if I’m not driving, [it would be] helping out in any way I can, whether it’d be in supporting them, coaching and spotting for them.”

Bell, one of only two drivers to have tackled the Rolex 24 at Daytona, Indianapolis 500 and Le Mans in the same year in 2016, admitted the upgrade from Sweedler’s Ferrari F458 Italia GT to the new 488 GTE would be a significant step forward.

“Without question the 488, from the word go, from the very first day that thing hit the track, it’s delivered,” he said. “In the history of Michelotto race cars, this is clearly their finest piece of work in terms of being able to launch out of the gate with authority. That’s pretty rare.

“They really nailed it, both with the GT3 and GTLM specifications. I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of that and take the knowledge we gained with Michelin at these two years at Le Mans and apply that to the 488. It should be great.”

It’s understood a handful of other drivers, including 2016 GTD champion Christina Nielsen, are in the frame for the team’s two-car GTE-Am effort.

Mattioli said he’s ruled out running the 488 GTE car in the WeatherTech Championship next year, with its focus being around Nielsen and Alessandro Balzan’s title defense in GTD.

In addition to a possible Le Mans return, Sweedler and Bell were confirmed earlier this week in a new Audi R8 LMS effort run by Alex Job Racing for the Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup races.

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