LM24: GTE-PRO car-by-car preview

Matt Cleary continues RACER's overview of the field for this weekend's 24 Hours of Le Mans. Today, the GTE-Pro category.

• LMP2 car-by-car preview

• LMP1 car-by-car preview

• Le Mans Resource Guide

With incredible new technologies, jaw-dropping budgets, and yet another all-time highlight roster of driving talent (minus one wee Scot, of course) set to take to the track this year at Le Mans, there is deservedly a lot of attention being paid to the top LMP1 category this year.
 
But there is another big factory-backed battle for fans to enjoy yet again as Ferrari, Chevrolet, Aston Martin and defending Le Mans winners Porsche Team Manthey are set to fight for honors in the GTE-Pro category.
 
Last year, a dramatic closing segment of the race saw class returnees Porsche take a convincing 1-2 result ahead of the heavy-hearted Aston Martin squad in third.
 
This year's race will see three Ferrari 458 Italia machines take the green flag from their own Fernando Alonso, with a Noah's Ark run of two GTE-Pro entries apiece from Corvette Racing, Porsche Team Manthey, and Aston Martin Racing making for a nine-car grid. It's a field that will likely see a race-long battle at the front once again. Porsche pilot Fredric Makowiecki set the fastest time at the Test Day, but the top four times also featured Ferrari and Corvette, promising a close fight as teams seek the ultimate bragging right for their brand with a win at Le Mans.
 
 
GTE-Pro
 
Car # 51 [ABOVE]
Team Name AF CORSE
Car FERRARI 458 ITALIA
Drivers Gianmaria BRUNI (ITA), Toni VILANDER (FIN), Giancarlo FISICHELLA (ITA)

Cleary says: An incredible line up of drivers, all three have previous class wins in the 24 Hours of Le mans to their credit, with seven podiums total.  Team principal Amato Ferrari has the pieces in the right place with this team, which arrives to Le Mans fresh from a WEC win at Spa. The reigning World Champions had a little drama with Fisichella's form last year, but despite a broad effort in the race from AF Corse across three classes, there is little reason to see that diluting the efforts of the No. 51 as this is a car that should be paid close attention to.
 
Car # 52
Team Name RAM RACING
Car FERRARI 458 ITALIA
Drivers Matt GRIFFIN (IRL), Alvaro PARENTE (PRT), Frederico LEO (ITA)

Cleary says: This British team, formed midway through 2012,  won the 2013 European Le Mans Championship and, lacking no ambition it would seem,  has stepped up to the World Endurance Championship for the 2014 season. The team grew to support the step up ahead of the 2014 season and while the first two outings have not generated headline-making results, the team ended the Test Day third quickest with a fast lap from Griffin and feeling as though they were ready to return fully prepared for the race.  
 
There is no question of the pace of McLaren man Parente and Leo, but with just two starts—both by Griffin—among three drivers, this could well prove to be a learning year for both the team and the drivers.
 
Car # 71
Team Name AF CORSE
Car FERRARI 458 ITALIA
Drivers Davide RIGON (ITA), James CALADO (GBR), Olivier BERETTA (MCO)
 
Cleary says: Another car with two Le Mans rookies in Davide Rigon and James Calado, the third leg on this stool might well make up for it as Olivier Beretta is one of the most experienced pilots on the Le Mans grid, making his 19th consecutive start.  Calado took third in the GP2 championship last year, but is making the jump to GT after impressing in testing ahead of the 2014 WEC season to earn a spot on the squad.
 
Rigon moved to sports cars after suffering injuries in a 2011 GP2 crash, and has impressed as he progressed from the Blancpain Endurance Series to WEC competition,  taking a podium at Spa with AF Corse in the most recent round. This is the 'second' Pro car for AF Course, but there is little reason to think this trio has any less chance of a big result this Sunday.
 
Car # 73
Team Name CORVETTE RACING
Car CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7
Drivers Jan MAGNUSSEN (DNK), Antonio GARCIA (ESP), Jordan TAYLOR (USA)

Cleary says: The race marks the Le Mans debut of the latest edition of the unforgettable yellow Corvette C7.R as the team celebrates its 15th year of competition at Le Sarthe.

Using direct-injection for first time since the GT1 years, the team is hoping it will generate a small gain (3%) in fuel economy, and will also look for a performance boost from a recently-tested low-drag configuration. The C7.R is the first completely-new racing Corvette to compete at Le Mans since 2005 when the C6.R made its debut, and the team will have worked to learn from and sort the gearbox and motor overheating issues suffered at Daytona and Sebring as the squad looks for an eighth class win. Both cars enjoy the continuity of having the same driver line ups for three years running.

Magnussen and Garcia have both success and experience in this race in equal measure and arrive at Le Sarthe with a two-race win streak going in TUSC. Taylor is on a career defining surge from his championship-winning efforts Stateside, and after a near-podium frustrating fourth at Le Sarthe last year, could be poised to move his name into a new echelon with a big performance this weekend.

 
Car # 74
Team Name CORVETTE RACING
Car CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R
Drivers Oliver GAVIN (GBR), Tom MILNER (USA), Richard WESTBROOK (GBR)

Cleary says: It is hard to forget Milner's clutch performance on the way to victory in 2011, and Westbrook is as hungry as ever for a big result in this race, arriving to France fresh from a pole and podium-winning performance in TUSC competition with Sprit of Daytona Racing.  Westbrook has a Le Mans class podium already to his credit, but is seeking his first as a Corvette Racing pilot. Boasting a reservoir of Le Mans experience as deep he is tall, Gavin is making his 13th start, with 12 of them coming with Corvette Racing. As quick as ever, Gavin knows how to get around Le Mans and how to bring it home.

Car # 91
Team Name PORSCHE TEAM MANTHEY
Car PORSCHE 911 RSR
Drivers Patrick PILET (FRA), Jörg BERGMEISTER (DEU), Nick TANDY (GBR)
 
Cleary says: When Porsche came back to Le Mans last year, they did it in a big way, winning in their first attempt with a 1-2 finish. The team, which returns with an evolved 911 RSR, gave the Porsche faithful something to cheer about ahead of the race weekend, leaving Test Day with the fastest speed of the day. But an off in testing—when Bergmeister took flight after making curb contact, cost some track time for the No. 91 squad. Assuming that all went well with the repair and build of the 91, it's hard to count this car out as Porsche hopes to see both of its factory teams atop the podium on Sunday. Making his first start at Le Mans, Tandy warmed up for the effort by winning the Rolex 24 At Daytona earlier this year.
 
Car # 92  [ABOVE]
Team Name PORSCHE TEAM MANTHEY 
Car PORSCHE 911 RSR
Drivers Marco HOLZER (DEU), Frédéric MAKOWIECKI (FRA), Richard LIETZ (AUT)

Cleary says: It was Makowiecki who set the fastest time on Test Day. Holzer makes his first start with the factory squad in 2013, with three previous Le Mans starts (all in Porsche machinery) including a third place finish in 2010. Lietz has fresh and fond memories of his GTE-Pro race-winning outing for Porsche last year and will hope that Makowiecki, who last year raced for Aston Martin, adds the chemistry and speed that team will need to repeat the run to the top.
 
 
Car # 97  [BELOW]
Team Name ASTON MARTIN RACING
Car ASTON MARTIN VANTAGE V8
Drivers Darren TURNER (GBR), Stefan MÜCKE (DEU), Bruno SENNA (BRA)

Cleary says: Some late performance balancing measures could see the Aston Martins have a stronger presence in the race after being over two seconds adrift of the No. 92 Porsche entry in the Test Day. But even with some additional fuel capacity (5 liters), the team is likely still missing the ride height change that has seemingly kept them from being a faster force of late. Turner and Mucke are as familiar with each other as a married couple, and Senna was quick to adapt to GT competition last year. This car would factor in the "you never know" category, but would likely need a lot to go its way to match last year's podium.
 
Car # 99
Team Name ASTON MARTIN RACING
Car ASTON MARTIN VANTAGE V8
Drivers Alex MACDOWALL (GBR), DARRYL O'YOUNG (CAN), Fernando REES (BRA)
 
Cleary says: The second Aston Martin Racing entry sees Darryl O'Young leading in the experience category with but two Le Mans starts to his credit, taking runner up in GTE-AM last year at Le Mans with AF Corse. Young Briton MacDowall (23 years old) was teammates in WTCC competition with O'Young and continues to build his racing resume, having started in Clio Cup. His Brazilian teammate Rees, like O'Young, is moving up to the Pro stage after having won the 2012 WEC GT-AM championship.

These three drivers have each made considerable progress in their respective careers, and if they can bring home a finish this weekend, will have achieved something more to build on.