Larbre Waiting on GM Decision for Corvette GTE-Pro Effort

Photo: Vision Sport Agency

Larbre Competition has moved ahead with plans of fielding a GTE-Pro class Corvette C7.R in the FIA World Endurance Championship next year, although is waiting on a final decision from GM for the proposed single-car program.

The French squad, which has entered GTE-Am class Corvettes in recent years, plans to step up to the top GT category in 2017, with the hope of increased factory support from GM and Pratt & Miller.

GM factory driver Ricky Taylor joined the Jack Leconte-led team for the second half of the WEC season, as part of Larbre’s ramped up efforts, which included a dedicated Pratt & Miller engineer.

“The evaluation process for a WEC GTE-Pro program in 2017 is now completed,” Leconte said.

“Over the past three months, the work we have accomplished with the Pratt & Miller engineers, and the experience Ricky Taylor gained in Mexico, Fuji, Shanghai and Bahrain – which will be again on the 2017 calendar – does not leave anything to chance for next year.

“We are now waiting for the decision from the management of General Motors to enter a Corvette in the Pro class, which is very promising for us after six years of partnership with Corvette Racing.”

It’s understood a proposal is in place for Taylor to return to the team, potentially alongside 2016 season-long co-driver Pierre Ragues, although a final decision has not yet been made and is likely dependent on GM’s approval.

Larbre would need to either upgrade its existing Corvette C7.R or purchase an all-new car from GM for the GTE-Pro effort.

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