With five manufacturers officially entered, the race looks so closely contested that it is impossible to choose a favourite...

The 24 Hours of Le Mans is divided into four classes, and as many races within the race. Introducing the GTE Pro class.

☛ Entry list for 24 Hours of Le Mans 2013

Ferrari 458 Italia: Everything to play for.
Launched in September 2009 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the Ferrari 458 Italia road owes its name to its mechanics: 45 for 4.5 litre, 8 for its V8 cylinders. Technically, the evolution of the 2013 race version receives several discrete changes like few more cut-outs seen on the nose. JMW Motorsport is the sole car in the class on Dunlop tyres. Depending on the weather, this choice could make the difference. For drivers, AF Corse remains the home of seasoned professionals Fisichella, Melo, Bruni Beretta and Bertolini. With four invitations, the emissaries of the Scuderia are outnumbered ... But this advantage could turn into a disadvantage because with two cars in "Pro", three in "Am" and one in "P2" ( Pecom Racing), AF Corse mechanics will be well occupied!

Photo : Ferrari S.p.A.	Photo : Ferrari S.p.A.

Porsche 911 RSR: Factory entry...
Since its launch at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1963, the 911 has embodied the image of Porsche on the road and on the track, including Le Mans where it has come every year since the reintroduction of GT in 1993. However, the winning machine has faltered a little past two seasons, despite continuous evolution. A return to form is expected in June with the official factory participation, which has not happened since 1998! This is perhaps an opportunity to hone the skills of the men who will be responsible for the great offensive of 2014 in LM P1, howerver it would be presumptuous to think that Porsche is only coming to practice. As proof, the birth of the new GT3 RSR that will be entrusted to two top notch crews (Lieb-Lietz-Dumas and Bernhard Bergmeister-Pilet). The objective is clear: to win!
 

Photo : Porsche AG	Photo : Porsche AG

Corvette C6-ZR1: A pragmatic approach ...
Launched on the 30th of June 1953, the Corvette entered the collective memory with its third generation, C3, produced until 1982 in over half a million examples. Since 2001, race versions of the C5 and C6 have accumulated seven class wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (GT1, GT2, GTE). After eleven successive participations in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Detroit manufacturer can rely on two driver line-ups rolled over from last year: Garcia-Gavin and Magnussen Taylor-Milner-Westbrook. Introduced in 2009, the C6 is reaching the end of its life and will be replaced by the C7 in 2014. Is it too old to win? Well.. in addition to being reliable, the American legend still remains competitive through its successive improvements!

Photo : Corvette	Photo : Corvette

Aston Martin V8 Vantage finally matures?
Originally seen in the fifties, the name Vantage was used for an improved version of the DB Mk II. After Reappearing in 1977 as the V8 Vantage, it took over the silhouette of the DB9 in 2005, before also replacing it in endurance racing. The GTE version, released in 2008, has not attracted customers despite some success for JMW in 2010 (pole position and podium at Silverstone). Finally, it took the involvement of the factory last year to see the car finally win its first podium at Le Mans and its first victory in the FIA World Endurance Championship in Zhuhai (China). This winter, 30% of the car has been modified to make it more efficient and easier to drive. The choice of drivers, is simply amazing! Undoubtedly, the trios of Turner-Mücke-Dumbreck and Makowiecki-Senna-Bell could both claim victory ... Will there be internal rivalries?

Photo : Aston Martin	Photo : Aston Martin

Chrysler Viper GTS-R: All to learn ...
The Dodge Viper was born in 1992 from the passion of Bob Lutz (future CEO of Chrysler) and Carroll Shelby (Ford, GT40 and Cobra). In an era marked by the exploits of the Dream Team and Michael Jackson, the spider embodied its share of the American dream in the minds of thousands of teenagers. A few years later, the racing version flooded onto circuits before gradually disappearing... Until the announcement of the comeback in May 2012! This time, Chrysler has entrusted the race programme to offshoot SRT rather than specialists like those at Oreca through whom they had three consecutive victories in the GTS class at Le Mans (1998-1999-2000) and a resounding victory at Daytona in 2000, ahead of all the prototypes! A daunting American legacy in the face four very experienced builders in GTE. More than ever, they need to believe in the phrase "yes we can"!

Photo : Chrysler	Photo : Chrysler

Julien HERGAULT

Photo : CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES (LE MANS, SARTHE), 24 HOURS OF LE MANS 16th JUNE 2012.