But
can anybody predict who’ll be this year’s winner?
Once again, this year’s 24 Heurs du Mans field
sees the largest class being the LMGT3 category, with two dozen entrants headed
by la Scuderia’s five Prancing Horses.
Corvette, Mercedes and Porsche have three
entries apiece, with Aston Martin, BMW, Ford, Lexus and McLaren running two car
squads.
In alphabetical order, here’s the nine
manufacturers competing this year. With (2) Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo,
(2) BMW M4 GT3 Evo, (3) Chevrolet
Corvette Z06 GT3.R, (5) Ferrari 296 GT3, (2) Ford Mustang GT3, (2) Lexus RC F
GT3, (2) McLaren 720s GT3 Evo, (3) Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo and (3) Porsche 911
GT3R LMGT3 contestants.
Manthey EMA with Richard Lietz, Morris Schuring
and Yasser Shahin at the controls of it’s No. 91 Porsche 911 GT3R (992) are the
defending LMGT3 class winners. Are we really surprised that another legendous’
911 won again at Le Mans?
Ladies first, as how can you not cheer for the
Femme Fatales Iron Lynx trio of Michele Gatting, Rahel Frey and Celia Martin in
the No. 85 Porsche 911.
While Manthey returns with the Nos. 90 and 92
Porsche’s this year. With Lietz joined by Ryan Hardwick and Riccardo Pera in
the #92 Manthey 1st Phorm entry.
The No. 10 Racing Spirit of Leman features Eduardo
Barrichello, son of Rubino, aka Rubens Barrichello. Partnered by Derek DeBoer
and Valitin Hasse-clot.
Suppose I’ll always root for the Heart of
Racing team, even if it’s not the Team Seattle entity that inspired me. As the
No. 27 Aston Martin features team boss Ian James, IMSA competitor Zacharie
Robichon and Mattia Drudi.
Team WRT’s No. 46 BMW M4 Evo features The
Doctor, aka Valentino Rossi in the cockpit, along with Ahmad Al Harthy and
Kelvin van der Linde, older brother of Werks’ BMW Hypercar pilote Sheldon.
Having just learned thanks to For the Love of
Indy’s Raymond Hando, that the Brothers van der Linde’s, along with Agusto
Thumper’ Farfus won this year’s Bathurst 12 Hours race.
While I suppose it shouldn’t be a surprise that
United Autosport will campaign a brace of factory McLaren 720s Evo’s. As the
No. 95’s Sean Gelael and Marino Sato are the only drivers I recognize; both
being ex-Formula 2 racers.
Naturally, I’ve never heard of Ziggo Sport –
Tempesta before. As the UK based team will run somebody named Eddie Cheever
III, alongside Chris Frogga and Jonathan Hui in it’s No. 193 Ferrari 296 GT3
entry. As the team competes in the GT World Challenge Europe series.
And although it’s not a straight knife fight,
with three Corvettes ganging up against the two Ford Darkhorse Mustang’s. Not
sure which two Corvette teams I’m more inspired by?
As AWA Racing from Up North Eh! Represents IMSA
with it’s No. 13 entry, winner of this year’s Rolex 24 GTD class. Whilst TF
Sport runs a two car FIA World Endurance championship (WEC) entry, with it’s
Nos. 33 and 81
Texan Ben Keating who returns to the #33, was
part of the 2023 LMGTE AM class winning #33 Corvette Racing entry with Nicolas
Varrone and Nicky Catsburg. The car being campaigned by TF Sport in the final
year of that category, so we know that TF Sport is a winning organization.
Proton Competition runs the Werks’ Mustang
operation, with the Nos. 77 and 88. Which naturally I’ll be hoping can continue
their winning ways. Having just beaten Corvette on their home turf in Downtown
Detroit, albeit the IMSA Ford Multimatic No. 64 Stang’. As it’s too bad that
one of Multimatic’s factory Mustang’s couldn’t be granted entry…
The race will be carried live flag-to-flag this weekend on Motor Trend TV, also available via IMSA Radio’s RS1/RS2 channels. Check your local listings for times and places.
