24h Le Mans
Twenty-one cars will take the start in LMGTE Am at the 24 Hours Centenary on 10 June. Aston Martin, Chevrolet Corvette, Ferrari and Porsche will hit the track for the last time in the class before the arrival of LMGT3. Here are the 17 LMGTE Am teams entered for a final showdown.
#16 Porsche 911 RSR-19 – Ryan Hardwick (USA) – Zacharie Robichon (CAN) – Jan Heylen (BEL)
#88 Porsche 911 RSR-19 – Harry Tincknell (GBR) – Brendan Iribe (USA) – Oliver Millroy (GBR)
#911 Porsche 911 RSR-19 – Michael Fassbender (IRL) – Martin Rump (EST) – Richard Lietz (AUT)
This German team is an expert in the LMGTE Am class and will field a remarkable three Porsche 911 RSR-19s in the Centenary. Taking the wheel of the #16 are American driver Ryan Hardwick who won the Bob Akin trophy in the IMSA, a distinction that earned him an automatic invitation to the race. He will team up with Canadian driver Zacharie Robichon (already with the outfit last year) and Belgian driver Jan Heylen (one participation). The #911 will be driven by German-Irish actor Michael Fassbender taking on his second 24 Hours after finishing 16th in LMGTE Am in 2022. The 2016 Oscar winner for Best Actor hopes to follow in the footsteps of Patrick Dempsey, 2nd in LMGTE Am in 2016, and Paul Newman, 2nd overall in 1979. He is set to share the car with Estonian driver Martin Rump and Austrian driver Richard Lietz (13 participations).
#21 Ferrari 488 GTE Evo – Simon Mann (GBR) – Julien Piguet (FRA) – Ulysse de Pauw (BEL)
#54 Ferrari 488 GTE Evo – Thomas Flohr (CHE) – Francesco Castellacci (ITA) – Davide Rigon (ITA)
In addition to taking part in the Hypercar class on behalf of Ferrari, AF Corse has entered two cars in LMGTE Am. The #21 finished 8th last year and only one driver from that crew remains, Simon Mann. He will be joined by Julien Piguet, professional stunt driver for film and TV, as well as 2022 GT World Challenge Europe champion Ulysse de Pauw (age 21).
The #54 has competed in LMGTE Am since 2017, finishing 6th last year trailing the winners by three laps. Thomas Flohr, Francesco Castellacci and Davide Rigon will look to get closer to the podium. Rigon has plenty of experience to offer after placing 3rd in LMGTE Pro in 2022.
#25 Aston Martin Vantage AMR – Ahmad Al Harthy (OMN) – Michael Dinan (USA) – Charlie Eastwood (IRL)
The 2022 LMGTE Am champion will defend its title under the name ORT by TF. Tom Ferrier's outfit formed a new line-up after Ben Keating left to join Corvette Racing, namely Omanese driver Ahmad Al Harthy, American driver Michael Dinan and Irish driver Charlie Eastwood. Their Aston Martin finished 9th at the 1000 Miles of Sebring, 8th at the 6 Hours of Portimão and 3rd at the TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, proving the team will be a contender at Le Mans.
#33 Chevrolet Corvette C8.R – Nicky Catsburg (NLD) – Ben Keating (USA) – Nicolas Varrone (ARG)
With the end of the LMGTE Pro class, Corvette Racing's Chevrolet Corvette C8.R has moved to LMGTE Am. The American team has recruited Ben Keating (age 51), largely considered one of the best amateur racing drivers in the world. He claimed the top step on the LMGTE Am podium last year at the wheel of TF Sport's Aston Martin Vantage AMR, and has won the Rolex 24 at Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring and many other FIA WEC rounds. He is set to join forces with Nicky Catsburg (four participations) and Nicolas Varrone seen in 2022 with Iron Lynx. The #33 Corvette won the 1000 Miles de Sebring and 6 Hours of Portimão before finishing 2nd at the TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. Corvette Racing currently has a 40-point lead in the FIA Endurance LMGTE Am Teams Championship on Richard Mille AF Corse.
#55 Aston Martin Vantage AMR – Gustav Dahlmann Birch (DNK) – Marco Sørensen (DNK) – Jens Reno Møller (DNK)
This Danish team earned an invitation to the Centenary thanks to its 2022 Michelin Le Mans Cup title. For its first participation and to support rookies Gustav Dahlmann Birch and Jens Reno Møller, the outfit has brought on Marco Sørensen, two-time LMGTE Pro champion and 2022 24 Hours winner in LMGTE Am with TF Sport. GMB Motorsport also competed in the European Le Mans Series this season.
#56 Porsche 911 RSR-19 – PJ Hyett (USA) – Gunnar Jeannette (USA) – Matteo Cairoli (ITA)
Team Project 1 has taken the start in the 24 Hours five times, winning the LMGTE Am class in 2019 thanks to Jörg Bergmeister, Patrick Lindsey and Egidio Perfetti, and scored a one-two at last year's 8 Hours of Bahrain. This season, the #56 Porsche finished 12th at the 1000 Miles of Sebring and 6th at the 6 Hours of Portimão before being forced to retire at the TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps when PJ Hyett left the track during qualifying. The car will sport its popular "Rexy" livery designed by Hyett's children. The usual white, orange and blue have given way to an adorable yet intimidating green Tyrannosaurus Rex with a fierce mouth, and small arms and feet, towering over the track. The design made its first appearance at the 12 Hours of Sebring and became an instant fan favourite across the Atlantic.
#57 Ferrari 488 GTE Evo – Takeshi Kimura (JPN) – Scott Huffaker (USA) – Daniel Serra (BRA)
#74 Ferrari 488 GTE Evo – Kei Cozzolino (JPN) – Yorikatsu Tsujiko (JPN) – Naoki Yokomizo (JPN)
This Swiss team has taken the start in the 24 Hours four times, finishing 12th last year. Japanese driver Takeshi Kimura will be joined by American driver Scott Huffaker and official Ferrari driver Daniel Serra. The latter has won the LMGTE Pro class twice, first in 2017 with Aston Martin Racing, then again in 2019 with AF Corse.
The #74 will be shared by an all-Japanese trio. Kei Cozzolino, participating for the third time, will lead the way for rookies Yorikatsu Tsujiko and Naoki Yokomizo.
#60 Porsche 911 RSR-19 – Claudio Schiavoni (ITA) – Matteo Cressoni (ITA) – Alessio Picariello (BEL)
After taking part in the last three 24 Hours with Ferrari 488 GTE Evos, Iron Lynx has changed cars. The Italian team has entered a Porsche 911 RSR-19 in both the FIA WEC and European Le Mans Series this season. Claudio Schiavoni and Matteo Cressoni will join forces with Alessio Picariello (2020 ELMS champion with Proton Competition). The #60 Porsche finished 6th at the 1000 Miles of Sebring, 12th at the 6 Hours of Portimão and 11th at the TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps.
#66 Ferrari 488 GTE Evo – Thomas Neubauer (FRA) – Louis Prette (ITA) – Giacomo Petrobelli (ITA)
This British team has only missed two runnings of the 24 Hours since 2009 (2013 and 2016), and won the LMGTE Am class in 2017 with Robert Smith, Will Stevens and Dries Vanthoor. The outfit is also competing in the European Le Mans Series this year, kicking off the season with third place at the 4 Hours of Barcelona. The #66 Ferrari will be entrusted to Thomas Neubauer (one participation), Louis Prette (two) and Giacomo Petrobelli at the Centenary.
#72 Aston Martin Vantage AMR – Arnold Robin (FRA) – Maxime Robin (FRA) – Valentin Hasse-Clot (FRA)
This car, an extension of ORT by TF's involvement, will be shared by two Le Mans locals: brothers Arnold and Maxime Robin. They took the start in 2021 at the wheel of an ORECA 07-Gibson fielded by SO24-Dirob by Graff (19th overall and 14th in LMP2). For the Centenary, they will be joined by Valentin Hasse-Clos who they met on the 2022 Road to Le Mans podium. The crew is hoping for an impressive showing, even eyeing the top 5 if they can pull off a flawless race without hiccups. The TF Sport team's experience will be helpful as LMGTE Am winners in 2020 and 2022.
#77 Porsche 911 RSR-19 – Christian Ried (DEU) – Mikkel Pedersen (DNK) – Julien Andlauer (FRA)
The entry of this car is similar to Proton Competition and amounts to a 10th participation for this veteran LMGTE Am outfit who last year fielded two cars, finishing 5th and 14th in the class. Team manager Christian Ried (10 participations) will join forces with Mikkel Pedersen (seen with Team Project 1 in 2022) and Julien Andlauer. The #77 Porsche kicked off the FIA WEC season with 2nd place at the 1000 Miles of Sebring.
#83 Ferrari 488 GTE Evo – Luis Pérez Companc (ARG) – Alessio Rovera (ITA) – Lilou Wadoux (FRA)
After three seasons in LMP2, Richard Mille Racing is taking on LMGTE Am by partnering with AF Corse. Set to share the #83 Ferrari are Lilou Wadoux, now an official Ferrari works driver, with Luis Pérez Companc (five participations) and Alessio Rovera (LMGTE Am winner in 2021 with AF Corse). The team claimed the top step on the podium at the TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps and is currently in second place in the FIA Endurance LMGTE Am Teams championship. Along with Corvette Racing, Richard Mille AF Corse is a favourite to win the class this year.
#85 Porsche 911 RSR-19 – Sarah Bovy (BEL) – Michelle Gatting (DNK) – Rahel Frey (CHE)
This all-female crew has already taken the start in the 24 Hours four times. The Iron Dames team was founded by Déborah Mayer, now the president of the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission created to support women's participation in racing. Sarah Bovy, Michelle Gatting and Rahel Frey will share the #85 Porsche 911 RSR-19 already having finished 8th at the 1000 Miles of Sebring, 3rd at the 6 Hours of Portimão and 5th at the TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. Now they're looking for victory at the 24 Hours Centenary!
#86 Porsche 911 RSR-19 – Michael Wainwright (GBR) – Benjamin Barker (GBR) – Riccardo Pera (ITA)
This British team based in Milton Keynes has seven previous participations, finishing 4th in LMGTE Am last year. Hoping to repeat the performance, the outfit has gathered the same crew of Michael Wainwright (eight participations), Benjamin Barker (eight) and Riccardo Pera (three). GR Racing currently figures in the 11th spot in the FIA Endurance LMGTE Am Teams championship classification.
#98 Aston Martin Vantage AMR – Ian James (USA) – Daniel Mancinelli (ITA) – Alex Riberas (ESP)
On the heels of the TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps and Paul Dalla Lana's retirement from endurance racing, this Aston Martin was taken over by American team Heart of Racing already running several Aston Martin programmes in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and GT World Series. The car will be driven by team manager Ian James, GTD Pro class winner in the IMSA Alex Riberas and Italian GT expert Daniel Mancinelli. Heart of Racing is looking to carry on the legacy of the #98 at the 24 Hours and in the FIA WEC in general.
#100 Ferrari 488 GTE Evo – Chandler Hull (USA) – Andrew Haryanto (IDN) – Jeffrey Segal (USA)
This German team earned its invitation to the Centenary after winning the GT class in the 2023 Asian Le Mans Series. It will take its rookie start with more than 10 years' experience in motorsport, fielding a Ferrari 488 GTE Evo with the racing number 100 as a tribute to the 24 Hours Centenary. AF Corse is slated to provide technical support. The crew includes Chandler Hull, Andrew Haryanto (one participation) and Jeffrey Segal (five). Team manager Niclas Königbauer: "We have ambitious goals and we want to be successful accordingly and find ourselves on the podium."
#777 Aston Martin Vantage AMR – Satoshi Hoshino (JPN) – Casper Stevenson (GBR) – Tomonobu Fuji (JPN)
This Japanese team was forced to retire with chassis problems for its second participation last year. Fortunately, the highlight of the outfit's season happened on its home turf at the 6 Hours of Fuji where the #777 Aston Martin finished third in the class. D’Station Racing is continuing its collaboration with TF Sport this year. Satoshi Hoshino and Tomonobu Fuji will welcome British driver Casper Stevenson who has made a name for himself in F4, F3 and GT World Challenge Europe.
The Top 5 FIA Endurance LMGTE Am Teams classification ahead of the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans:
1. Corvette Racing – 82 points
2. Richard Mille AF Corse – 43 points
3. AF Corse – 36 points
4. Dempsey-Proton Racing – 35 points
5. Iron Dames – 32 points
Click for the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans ENTRY LIST.
