With the exception of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where Corvette Racing puts in an appearance despite concentrating on its national championship for the rest of the season, the LM GTE Pro class generally has fewer competitors but proves to be the most hotly contended category. As they say, every marque is in with a chance of taking the title... but in the end Ferrari always wins

This has certainly been the case since the World Endurance Championship was introduced in 2012, with the Italian constructor winning the WEC Cup for GT Manufacturers three times, beating rivals Porsche and Aston Martin. Admittedly, the Prancing Horse, represented by AF Corse, didn’t win its class at Le Mans, robbed of the pleasure by the only Corvette left in the running. However, it finished second and third to score maximum championship points (because Chevrolet is not competing in the World Endurance Championship).

Since points count double at Le Mans, Ferrari hit the jackpot, putting it in top spot in the standings. Even so, it is only two points ahead of Porsche, who are hot on their heels after 1-2 finishes at Nürburgring and Austin. The constructors seem to be heading for a fierce two-horse race over the rest of the season, with Aston Martin lagging more than 60 points behind.

Mathematically, the British firm is still in with a chance of winning because there are three times 44 points up for grabs (25 for a win, 18 for second place and 1 point for pole position), but AMR would have to bank on serious setbacks for its rivals, both more than one victory out in front. Nonetheless, Aston Martin holds one advantage over Ferrari and Porsche in fielding three cars in the class: while only the two highest-ranked Vantages can score championship points, if one of them runs into problems, the third car can take over.

Things are looking good for Porsche – it might be second in the Manufacturers’ standings but one of its works drivers tops the Drivers’ table. This is because the same car won the last two races whereas the Ferrari squads took turns to score points for the Italian constructor. Current World Endurance Champions, Gianmaria Bruni and Toni Vilander have been pretty unlucky since the start of the season, claiming a single victory at Silverstone. They are even behind their team-mates James Calado and Davide Rigon, ranked second some 11 points behind Richard Lietz. The latter sits alone at the top because his co-driver Michael Christensen, currently fourth, did not compete at Spa-Francorchamps.

The winners in the LM GTE Am class at Le Mans, Andrea Bertolini, Aleksey Basov and Victor Shaytar are currently sixth in the standings because, for the GT Drivers’ Cup, the LM GTE Pro and Am classes are merged. Similarly, in the Manufacturer’s championship, the two highest-ranked cars score points but for the LM GTE Pro Team trophy, the cars score individual points, which is why AF Corse and Porsche appear twice and Aston Martin Racing three times.

Mirroring the Drivers’ championship, the #91 Porsche 911 for Porsche Team Manthey, driven by Richard Lietz, sits at the top of the Team table, after its two wins in the last two races. It is six points ahead of the #71 Ferrari 458 Italia from AF Corse, but 21 points in front of the second Ferrari. AF Corse is thus still in with a chance of claiming a second title, even if Porsche and Aston Martin are more than keen to take the crown.

Text Cécile Bonardel/ACO Translated from French by Clair Pickworth

PHOTO: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), PLACE DE LA REPUBLIQUE, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, MONDAY 8 JUNE 2015, SCRUTINEERING. Watch out: Ferrari has more than one card up its sleeve!