The Corvette C7.Rs up against the best GTs
Chevrolet, the current title holder, will have a tough job on its hands with its two Corvette C7.Rs as it will be up against more top-class rivals: from nine cars last year the number of cars in the GTE Pro category has increased to 14. This dynamic is due in particular to the arrival of four Ford GTs and also the return of Risi Competition with a Ferrari 488 GTE. In 2015, the singleton Corvette driven by Oliver Gavin, Tommy Milner and Jordan Taylor emerged victorious as its sister car was withdrawn after a heavy shunt in qualifying. This year, the team will do everything possible not to start the race with this handicap, all the more so as every little detail will count in the face of opposition from Aston Martin, Ferrari, Ford and Porsche. The Corvette C7.Rs have experience on their side as the car, which had its maiden outing in 2014 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, won the GTLM category in the 2016 Florida classic at the end of January scoring an historic double with only 34/1000sec separating the two cars! This is great preparation for Le Mans which will again be the theatre of a thrilling, no-holds-barred battle in this category.

Ford - 50 years on
For many years now fans have been awaiting the return of Ford. Today, the American make’s eagerly-hoped for comeback (often the subject of many rumours) to the Le Mans 24 Hours is official - and it’s doing it in style! Four Ford GTs will be at the start in June. Two are entered by the Ford Chip Ganassi Team UK in the FIA World Endurance Championship, and another two by the Ford Chip Ganassi Team USA in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. There is nothing accidental about the numbers allocated to Ford. With nos 66, 67, 68 and 69 the Ford GTs pay homage to the Ford GT40s, which won at Le Mans four times running between 1966 and 1969. Will history repeat itself, this time with a category victory?

Ferrari’s new challenger
While the new Fords will be the centre of attention the new car from Ferrari for the LM GTE category is one to watch out for. The Ferrari 488 GTE will make its Sarthe debut only in the LM GTE Pro category as the entrants in LM GTE Am will run the 2015 model. Three 488 GTEs will be at the start. Two cars have been entrusted to the AF Corse squad with Gianmaria Bruni confirmed in no. 51 and David Rigon in no. 71. Both cars are entered for the FIA World Endurance Championship. The third Ferrari 488 GTE is being run by Risi Competizione. The American team, victorious in the GT2 category in 2008 and 2009, is back in the Sarthe for the first time since 2010. This means that the United States will be in a strong position in the Sarthe as seven cars are entered under the Star-Spangled banner, 50 per cent of the field.