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LE MANS: GT Preview
John Dagys takes a team-by-team look at this year’s GTE-Pro and GTE-Am class contenders in the 80th Le Mans 24 Hours...
John Dagys  |  Posted June 09, 2012   Le Mans, (FRA)
SPEED.com previews this year's GTE-Pro and GTE-Am class contenders in the 80th Le Mans 24 Hours. (Photo: John Dagys)


While prototypes dominate this year’s entry, the 80th Le Mans 24 Hours still features a stellar field of GT machinery that will be vying for top class honors in both production-based categories.

The best of the American Le Mans Series meets the FIA World Endurance Championship for the second time after an enthralling battle seen at Sebring, while additional entries, in both the GTE-Pro and GTE-Am categories, should add some further excitement.

READ: Le Mans Resource Guide

Browse through SPEED.com’s favorites, dark horses and other notables entered in the highly competitive GTE ranks this weekend. Check back tomorrow for an extensive look at LMP1 and LMP2, ahead of the twice-around-the-clock French endurance classic (Sat. 8:30 a.m. ET, Live! SPEED).

GTE-PRO (9 Entries)
Corvette Racing and AF Corse are among the expected front-runners in GTE-Pro. (Photo: John Dagys)

After a packed 18-car entry in 2011, the top production-based category sees a mere nine cars for this year’s race. While its a noticeable drop, the main contenders (minus BMW, which has switched focus to its DTM program in Europe), have returned and have each upped their game.

Corvette vs. Ferrari vs. Aston Martin vs. Porsche... Each of the four manufacturers holds a legitimate shot at victory, which could make the fight for top honors in GTE-Pro the most interesting battle this year.

THE CONTENDERS:

Corvette Racing (Corvette C6.R): Returning as defending class winners, the Pratt & Miller squad ride plenty of momentum, having won the last two ALMS rounds with its wide-body Corvette C6.R. After nearly three years of hard work and persevering, it appears the factory squad is at the top of their game in the GT(2) category.

The bow-tie brigade features a freshened-up driver lineup this year, as 21-year-old Jordan Taylor makes his Le Mans debut in the No. 73 Corvette with Jan Magnussen and Antonio Garcia. The squad’s No. 74 car, though, will likely be the one to watch with Long Beach and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca winners Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner being joined by Richard Westbrook.

An heavily updated car that’s two inches wider and featuring new suspension and bodywork, Corvette is in prime position to take its unprecedented eighth class victory at La Sarthe and two in a row in the highly competitive GTE-Pro ranks. A test day accident for Le Mans rookie Taylor may have come as a slight setback but the team is certainly up for the task.

AF Corse (Ferrari F458 Italia): Corvette’s main competition will likely come from a pair of screaming Prancing Horses, which have been on form since the FIA WEC season-opener at Sebring. As one of the most accomplished GT teams in the world, AF Corse has achieved nearly every major victory and championship, except for Le Mans.

Given the strength of the Ferrari F458 Italia and the all-star driver lineup the Amato Ferrari-owned operation has assembled, 2012 could be AF Corse’s year to shine at La Sarthe. Both the No. 51 car of Gianmaria Bruni, Giancarlo Fisichella and Toni Vilander as well as the Andrea Bertolini, Olivier Beretta and Marco Cioci-driven No. 71 Ferrari will likely be knocking on the door for the victory, as long as reliability, a known fault for the 458 Italia in endurance races, remains strong.

Team Felbermayr-Proton (Porsche 911 GT3 RSR): Perhaps the strongest entry from the Porsche contingent, Team Felbermayr-Proton will be seeking its second class victory at Le Mans with the same lineup that took the German squad to the top step of the podium in 2010. The trio of Marc Lieb, Richard Lietz and Wolf Henzler could be tough to beat, although their wide-body Porsche may be lacking in aero balance.

The German manufacturer had been hoping to run a larger rear wing and splitter for this race, in the same configuration Porsche’s ALMS cars ran at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca under IMSA sanction. It could put the 911 GT3 RSRs at a slight disadvantage, although Lieb and Lietz are coming off class victory at Spa in the original configuration which they started the FIA WEC season with.

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