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Le Mans / ALMS
LE MANS: AF Corse, Felbermayr-Proton Confirm WEC Entries
NASCAR star Michael Waltrip among drivers on-board for AF Corse’s three-car Ferrari effort...
AF Corse team owner Amato Ferrari confirmed to SPEED.com last weekend that NASCAR star Michael Waltrip will be among the drivers in its three-car Ferrari WEC squad. (Photo: John Dagys)
Two powerhouse GTE teams have announced their entries for the new FIA World Endurance Championship. Defending Intercontinental Le Mans Cup winners AF Corse will return with three Ferrari F458 Italias, while a pair of Porsche 911 GT3 RSRs will be run in the hands of Team Felbermayr-Proton.
AF Corse team owner Amato Ferrari confirmed to SPEED.com last weekend that he submitted three entry requests, two for GTE-Pro and one for GTE-Am.
The successful pairing of Giancarlo Fisichella and Gianmaria Bruni, who teamed to win the European Le Mans Series drivers’ title and led the Italian squad to the ILMC teams’ championship, will return in one Prancing Horse.
Former FIA GT1 World Champion Andrea Bertolini will contest the eight-round global sports car championship with a yet-to-be-confirmed co-driver in the second F458 Italia.
AF Corse’s third car will be of interest to American followers, as Ferrari confirmed NASCAR star Michael Waltrip, MWR co-owner Rob Kauffman and Portuguese ace Rui Aguas as the driving force of the team’s solo GTE-Am entry. It’s unclear if the two-time Daytona 500 champion will race the entire season.
Team Felbermayr-Proton, meanwhile, has entered two Porsches as the German squad steps up its program after a single-car entry in the ILMC last year.
The strong German-Austrian pairing of Marc Lieb and Richard Lietz will lead the team’s attack in GTE-Pro, with team co-owner Christian Ried joining two-time and defending Porsche Cup winner Gianluca Roda in a GTE-Am-class Porsche.
"It's going to be good for our experienced team and a tremendous advancement into the FIA World Endurance Championship,” Ried said. “Just the logistical task with races on almost every continent will be a challenge for us all.
“Our goal is to be front runners. The conditions are perfect. We have a good driving pairing in the pro car, excellent mechanics and a reelable car.”
In addition to AF Corse and Felbermayr-Proton, Aston Martin Racing is believed to have entered a pair of revised Aston Martin Vantages for GTE-Pro, while Luxury Racing will return with two Ferraris as well, likely split amongst the Pro and Am categories.
Other GTE-Am entries include an expected two-car Corvette lineup from Larbre Competition and the return of Krohn Racing, but this time with a 2011-spec Ferrari F458 Italia.
Entries for the WEC and 24 Hours of Le Mans will be announced on Feb. 2 in Paris.
John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at
AF Corse team owner Amato Ferrari confirmed to SPEED.com last weekend that he submitted three entry requests, two for GTE-Pro and one for GTE-Am.
The successful pairing of Giancarlo Fisichella and Gianmaria Bruni, who teamed to win the European Le Mans Series drivers’ title and led the Italian squad to the ILMC teams’ championship, will return in one Prancing Horse.
Former FIA GT1 World Champion Andrea Bertolini will contest the eight-round global sports car championship with a yet-to-be-confirmed co-driver in the second F458 Italia.
AF Corse’s third car will be of interest to American followers, as Ferrari confirmed NASCAR star Michael Waltrip, MWR co-owner Rob Kauffman and Portuguese ace Rui Aguas as the driving force of the team’s solo GTE-Am entry. It’s unclear if the two-time Daytona 500 champion will race the entire season.
Team Felbermayr-Proton, meanwhile, has entered two Porsches as the German squad steps up its program after a single-car entry in the ILMC last year.
The strong German-Austrian pairing of Marc Lieb and Richard Lietz will lead the team’s attack in GTE-Pro, with team co-owner Christian Ried joining two-time and defending Porsche Cup winner Gianluca Roda in a GTE-Am-class Porsche.
"It's going to be good for our experienced team and a tremendous advancement into the FIA World Endurance Championship,” Ried said. “Just the logistical task with races on almost every continent will be a challenge for us all.
“Our goal is to be front runners. The conditions are perfect. We have a good driving pairing in the pro car, excellent mechanics and a reelable car.”
In addition to AF Corse and Felbermayr-Proton, Aston Martin Racing is believed to have entered a pair of revised Aston Martin Vantages for GTE-Pro, while Luxury Racing will return with two Ferraris as well, likely split amongst the Pro and Am categories.
Other GTE-Am entries include an expected two-car Corvette lineup from Larbre Competition and the return of Krohn Racing, but this time with a 2011-spec Ferrari F458 Italia.
Entries for the WEC and 24 Hours of Le Mans will be announced on Feb. 2 in Paris.
John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at
FIA WEC Six Hours of Spa
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