LE MANS: GT Preview

Le Mans / ALMS

LE MANS: GT Preview

SPEED.com’s comprehensive car-by-car preview of the GTE-Pro and GTE-Am contenders in the 79th Le Mans 24 Hours...

John Dagys | Posted June 07, 2011 Le Mans, (FRA)

The battle for top honors in GTE-Pro could be a four-horse affair with Porsche vs. Ferrari vs. BMW vs. Corvette. (Photo: John Dagys)

Le Mans Watch Presented by Corvette Racing - 24 Hours of Le Mans - June 11-12, 2011

The demise of the GT1 class has seen the production-based ranks unite around a single base category, GT Endurance, for 2011. Split up into GTE-Pro, for new cars generally featuring all-pro driver lineups, and GTE-Am, reserved for one-year-old machinery with gentlemen drivers, the new structure is aimed at giving both pros and amateurs a chance of victory.

READ: Le Mans Resource Guide

With 18 entries, GTE-Pro is stacked with some of the best teams in the business. From factory entries from BMW, Corvette and Lotus to the various Porsche and Ferrari works-assisted programs, there’s no shortage of talent in the category formerly known as GT2. It would be hard pressed to pick a clear-cut winner.

GTE-Am, on the other hand, is a little more defined with ten cars entered. However, with five manufacturers represented, it again could be a toss up as to who takes home top honors. And with multi-car teams being spread across the Pro and Am classes, a team could end up with a double victory on Sunday.

Before the Tri-Colour drops at 3 p.m. local on Saturday, SPEED.com analyzes this year’s starting field with its traditional car-by-car preview.

GTE-Pro (18 Entries)

Car No.: 51
Team: AF Corse (ILMC)
Car: Ferrari F458 Italia
Drivers: Giancarlo Fisichella - Gianmaria Bruni - Toni Vilander

Dagys says:
It’s hard to realize that this European powerhouse hasn’t yet won the granddaddy of endurance races. But 2011 could very well be AF Corse’s year. While the Amato Ferrari-owned squad heads in with two bullets in GTE-Pro, only one has a realistic shot at victory.

AF Corse Ferrari F458 Italia. (Photo: John Dagys)

As one of six Ferrari F458 Italias in the field, the No. 51 machine of factory drivers Giancarlo Fisichella, Gimmi Bruni and Toni Vilander no doubt boasts the strongest driver lineup in what could arguably be the car of choice.

While ‘Fisi’ and Bruni started their ILMC campaign in a year-old Ferrari F430 GT, grabbing pole at Sebring, the duo went onto take top honors in last month’s 1000km of Spa with its new Prancing Horse. A second win, in a race that scores double points, would help them extend their lead in the all-important ILMC teams’ championship.

Car No.: 55
Team: BMW Motorsport (ILMC)
Car: BMW M3 GT
Drivers: Augusto Farfus - Jorg Muller - Dirk Werner

Dagys says:
Ferrari’s main protagonist in the battle for the ILMC championship, BMW returns to Circuit de la Sarthe for the second straight year with a pair of M3 GTs. But with wins at Sebring and Long Beach already under their belt, the Bavarian manufacturer has an entirely new level of expectations for this year’s twice-around-the-clock classic.

Now considered the benchmark in the GTE class, BMW has benefitted from a single-spec M3 for its worldwide sportscar programs this year. But can the Charly Lamm-led Schnitzer squad get the job done in one of the races that matters most for BMW?

BNW’s driver lineup is certainly not lacking. World Touring Car Championship veterans Augusto Farfus and Jorg Muller are joined by Dirk Werner, now a full-time driver in BMW Team RLL’s American Le Mans Series program, in the No. 55 machine. Farfus and Muller combined for a solid fourth place run at Spa. Could a podium finish be in store this time out?

Car No.: 56
Team: BMW Motorsport (ILMC)
Car: BMW M3 GT
Drivers: Andy Priaulx - Dirk Muller - Joey Hand

Dagys says:
BMW’s Sebring winning trio of Andy Priaulx, Dirk Muller and Joey Hand will be looking for the endurance racing double aboard the No. 56 entry. While it’s the same lineup and car number from March’s victory, that’s essentially where the similarities end.

BMW Motorsport. (Photo: John Dagys)

With the German Schnitzer squad running the show in Europe, and utilizing one of its M3 GTs, albeit identical to BMW Team RLL’s in the States, it will be interesting to see the trio perform up against the likes of the European competition that wasn’t at Sebring.

And if they can get the job done, it would be a history-making day for 32-year-old Hand, who will have completed the endurance racing ‘Triple Crown’ of wins at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, Sebring and Le Mans in the same year.

Car No.: 58
Team: Luxury Racing (ILMC)
Car: Ferrari F458 Italia
Drivers: Anthony Beltoise - Pierre Thiriet - Francois Jakubowski

Dagys says:
One could say Luxury Racing was thrown in the deep end when it made its international debut at Sebring in March. The French squad perhaps didn’t know what it was going to be in for when it started its global campaign, not only with a new car to come to grips with, but also the high level of competition that is GTE-Pro.

Their ninth-place finish at Sebring, as a solo entry, was backed up with a double DNF at Spa, leading to more question marks heading into the biggest race of the young team’s career.

For Anthony Beltoise, Pierre Thiriet and Francois Jakubowski, pilots aboard the team’s No. 58 Ferrari F458 Italia, getting to the finish will be a victory in itself. However, that’s not necessarily the case for their sister Prancing Horse, thanks to some assistance from the leading U.S.-based Ferrari squad.

Car No.: 59
Team: Luxury Racing (ILMC)
Car: Ferrari F458 Italia
Drivers: Stephane Ortelli - Frederic Makowiecki - Jamie Melo

Dagys says:
Don’t necessarily be fooled by the name, because under the skin rests a three-time Le Mans winning team. That’s right, the core of Risi Competizione is behind Luxury’s all-pro car of Stephane Ortelli, Fred Mako and Jamie Melo. And if the cards fall the right way, they could be a potential spoiler come race day.

Key members of the Houston-based Risi squad joined forces with Luxury at the Le Mans Test to give them a helping hand. Now, nearly the entire crew has returned in its bid for class glory, led by team manager Dave ‘Beaky’ Sims and engineer Mark Shomann.

While no strangers to victory, having achieved back-to-back class wins in 2008 and 2009, Risi will have their work cut out for them this year with a brand-new car and increased competition. Yet, with one of the quickest driver lineups in the field, including rising star Fred Mako, this joint effort might just have the right ingredients to get the job done.

Page 1 of 5

12 3 4 5

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

John Dagys

MORE BY THIS AUTHOR

PHOTOS: Indy 500 Carb Day 2013
Enjoy a selection of photos from Indy 500 Carb Day, including the…
GRAND-AM: Valiante Joins 8Star For Mid-Ohio
Daytona Prototype ace to sub for Stephane Sarrazin in next month's…
LE MANS: BoP Adjustments For GTE Announced
GTE-Pro Aston Martins handed extra weight, larger restrictor for…