A grid of 32 cars was announced by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), promoter of the World Endurance Championship, in the presence of VIPs, teams and competitors entered for 2016, and the world’s media both present in Paris and online via the live transmission of the conference.
Leading the battle for defence of its World Championship titles in the top LMP1 category for hybrid-powered prototypes will be Porsche. Profiting from lessons learned in 2015, they will be fiercely
challenged by Audi and Toyota, and all six cars entered by these manufacturers will feature the most sophisticated hybrid technology currently in use. In just four years the WEC has proven itself to be the most relevant motorsport championship in the world as far as the crossover of technology to production vehicles is concerned, upholding a trend started by the 24 Hours of Le Mans over a century ago.
Joining the factory competitors will be three Privateer entries, bringing the total
in LMP1 to nine. Swiss team Rebellion Racing and the Austrian ByKolles Racing Team both show great fidelity to the WEC, and the two Rebellion R-Ones will also introduce a new element to LMP1 this year as they will be shod with Dunlop rubber.
The LMP2 grid will, for the second year in succession, consist of 10 entries, representing seven different nationalities and five different chassis manufacturers. Joining 2015 LMP2 champions G-Drive Racing from Russia, this year competing with an ORECA 05, will be two BR01 prototypes in the hands of class returnee SMP Racing. From the USA, Extreme Speed Motorsports return stronger and wiser after a full season in the WEC, ready to challenge for championship titles alongside Britain’s Strakka Racing and the French entered Signatech Alpine team. Three new teams are welcomed to LMP2 – the Baxi DC Racing Alpine team from China, RGR Sport by Morand from Mexico and the Manor team from Britain.
As announced at Le Mans last year, the Ford brand makes a welcome return to top level GTE racing and its inclusion means there will be seven entries in the LMGTE Pro category. In the hands of Ford Chip Ganassi Team UK, the two entries from the American automotive giant will undoubtedly provide non-stop action and excitement alongside current World GT Champion Porsche – this year represented by Dempsey Proton Racing – plus two new Ferraris from AF Corse and two new Aston Martin Racing challengers.
The LMGTE Am class, for cars which are at least one year old and a pro-am driver line up, will feature four different marques among the six entries. Alongside Aston Martin Racing, AF Corse (Ferrari) and Larbre Competition (Chevrolet Corvette) will be a new full-season entrant to the WEC, Gulf Racing, which makes the step up from the European Le Mans Series. A name more familiar to the LMP2 class of recent years, KCMG from Hong Kong, will – like Gulf Racing – be contesting the WEC with a Porsche.
Musical Chairs for 2016