Countdown to the 24 Hours of Le Mans - Two generations of Ferrari GTS
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Countdown to the 24 Hours of Le Mans - Two generations of Ferrari GTS

At this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans (18-19 June) there will be two generations of Ferrari GT in LM GTE Pro and Am, each with an excellent chance of winning its class.

It would be quite a feat to win two classes with two different cars!

Ferrari 488 GTE, the new one - Based on the 488 GTB road car launched in February 2015, the 488 GTE is already the car to beat in LM GTE Pro. Outwardly, the 488 resembles the 458 Italia, but the real difference is under the bonnet. The V8 architecture is the same, with the addition of a turbo engine. Ferrari has adapted its design to the new LM GTE Pro regulations and since its début at the WEC 6 Hours of Silverstone earlier this year the 488 GTE has become the benchmark of the class. Sam Bird and Davide Rigon won both Silverstone and Spa with the 488 GTE and are now busy getting the car ready for its first 24 Hours of Le Mans. If they manage to get the better of the Ford GT and the Corvette, AF Corse and the Italian GT will be in a good position to win the FIA WEC endurance titles for both drivers and constructors. However, history has proved that anything can happen at Le Mans.

Ferrari 458 Italia: the last stand? - In the LM GTE Am class, which only accepts cars over a year old, the 458 Italia stands a chance of winning for the fourth time in a row. The road version preceded the race version by two years but since its competition debut in 2011, the car has become a prominent feature of the Le Mans GTE class, winning in 2012 and 2014 with AF Corse and again in 2015 with SMP Racing. This year, official Ferrari team for the WEC, AF Corse will be looking to win LM GTE Am at Le Mans in its own name for the first time. SMP Racing having switched to LM P2 this year, there will be four teams running a 458 Italia in LM GTE Am: AF Corse, Formula Racing, Clearwater Racing and Scuderia Corsa.

Photo: STAVELOT (BELGIUM), WEC 6 HOURS OF SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, FRIDAY 6 MAY 2016, FREE PRACTICE AND QUALIFYING SESSIONS. Can the Ferrari 488 GTE win its class at its first 24 Hours of Le Mans? Answer when the chequered flag comes down at 15:00 on Sunday 19 June.
 

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