Larbre Still Working on GTE-Pro Corvette Entry

Photo: Vision Sport Agency

Larbre Competition has not given up on entering a Corvette C7.R in the GTE-Pro class of the FIA World Endurance Championship, with talks still ongoing with GM for next year, according to team boss Jack Leconte. (En Français)

The French squad, which is absent from full-time FIA World Endurance Championship action this year, is targeting a two-car effort in 2018 with a pair of Pratt & Miller-built cars.

“I have been waiting two years to run a car in GTE-Pro,” Leconte said. “I hope we can do it soon enough.

“I spoke with Corvette, Pierre Fillon and Gerard Neveu earlier this year. Cadillac is making its debut in DPi this season and budgets are not extensible.”

A deal to enter a factory supported Corvette in GTE-Pro with brothers Ricky and Jordan Taylor on the driving strength fell through at the last minute, leaving Larbre with only a two-race program with its previous-generation Corvette in GTE-Am this year.

Romain Brandela, Christian Philippon and Fernando Rees are set to pilot the car in this weekend’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, in a special art car livery designed by renowned French street artist Ramzi Adek.

Leconte said a final decision on the team’s 2018 program should be made by the end of the summer.

“The idea is to have a Corvette in GTE-Pro and one in GTE-Am,” he said. “This is the package needed to go into WEC. Having a single car is a very heavy burden for the team.”

It’s believed Larbre will also be involved with the European customer support program of the new Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R, which made its competition debut earlier this year in Pirelli World Challenge.

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