Larbre Confirms Corvette C7.R Entry for GTE-Am

Photo: Larbre Competition

As first revealed by Sportscar365, Larbre Competition will return to the FIA World Endurance Championship this year, campaigning a Corvette C7.R in the GTE-Am class. (En Français)

The French squad, run by Jack Leconte, did not take part in the globe-trotting series last year due to the C7.R’s ineligibility for the GTE-Am category.

It marked an absence for the Corvette brand from a full-season presence in FIA WEC following two seasons of running a C6.R, fielded by Larbre, which has finalized a last-minute deal to enter the championship again.

“Everything was decided in 10 days,” Leconte told Endurance-Info. “I said a few weeks ago that I was expecting to propose something and it happened.

“Running a Corvette C7.R last season in GTE-Am was impossible and the GTE-Pro class is reserved for professional drivers. It was therefore difficult to assemble a budget.

“When Larbre engages in such a competitive championship as the FIA WEC, we’re not [here to make up the numbers].”

Paolo Ruberti and Gianluca Roda have been confirmed as two of its drivers. The Italian pairing drove the AF Corse-run 8Star Motorsports Ferrari F458 Italia GT in the championship last year.

The team, meanwhile, is expected to use one of the chassis currently campaigned by Corvette Racing in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.

While three cars were initially built, a fourth chassis is in the process of being assembled.

Larbre is expected to begin testing with its newly acquired Corvette C7.R later this month at Sebring.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John