2023 WEC 6 Hours of Spa-Fracorchamps - LMGTE -AM

 

Aston Martin and Ferrari during qualifying.

This post covers the LM GTE Class at the 2023 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. This was the third round of the 2023 World Endurance Championship following Sebring and Portimaõ.   The next stop is Le Mans so an important race in terms of preparation for the 24 hours.  I always like seeing the GT class and now the GTE Pro class has disappeared we are left just with the GTE AM competitors, but they are still worth watching.  There were GT cars from four manufacturers competing and three of them remained on the lead lap for the GTs (140 laps) and all of them was represented in the top four positions in the class.  Big congratulations to 22 year old French driver Lilou Wadoux who became the first woman to be a class winner in the WEC since it started in 2012.

GTAM cars late in the race with the leading Ferrari ahead of the field.

All of the LM GTE AM cars that were at Spa-Francorchamps for the 2023 WEC 6 hours and many of the drivers are shown below:

The GTAM winning Richard Mille AF Corse Ferrari 488 GTE EVO driven by Louis Perez Companc, Lilou Wadoux and Alessio Rovera during the race at Radillion.

The winning drivers. during the pit walk.  By finishing first Lilou Wadoux (centre) became the first woman to win her class in a WEC event. Louis to the left and Alessio to the right of her.

The sole Corvette at Eau Rouge early in the race.

Three abreast down the Kemmel straight with the Corvette closest to the camera.

Second in GT AM was this Corvette Racing Chevrolet Corvette C8.R driven by Ben Keating, Nicolas Varrone and Nick Catsburg.

The Corvette Racing team signing autographs during the pit walk, Bean Keating is on the left. 

The GT AM Aston Martin which took pole for the class in qualifying.

This Ort by TF Aston Martin Vantage AMR finished third driven by Ahmad Al Harthy, Michael Dinan and Charles Eastwood.

The drivers of the third placed Aston Martin.

The fourth placed GT AM Porsche in Raidillion..

The fourth placed Proton Competition Porsche 911 RSR - 19 driven by Ryan Hardwick, Zacharie Robichon and Harry Tincknell going along the Kemmel Straight.

The Iron Dames Porsche closely followed by an Aston Martni,

Fifth place went to the Iron Dames Porsche 911 GTR - 19 driven by Sarah Bovy, Michelle Gatting and Rahel Frey.

The Iron Dames on the pit walk.

AF Corse Ferrari leading the Iron Dames at Eau Rouge.

The sixth placed AF Corse Ferrari 488 GTE EVO driven by Diego Alessi, Simon Mann and Ulysse De Pauw.

The No.21 Ferrari drivers.  Left to Right seated, Alessi, Mann, De Pauw.

The seventh placed Northwest AMR Aston Martin Vantage AMR of Ian James, Daniel Mancinelli and Alex Riberas.

The No.98 AMR drivers.  Left to Right - Mancinelli, Riberas, James.

The No.98 Aston leads the No.57 Ferrari.

The Kessel Racing Ferrari.

This Kessel Racing Ferrari 488 GTE EVO driven by Takeshi Kimura, Scott Huffaker and Daniel Serra finished in eighth place.

The Kessel drivers.

The Dempsey-Proton Porsche leading a Ferrari through Eau Rouge.

The ninth placed Dempsey-Proton Racing Porsche 911 RSR - 19 driven by Christian Ried, Mikkel Pedersen and Julien Andlauer.

Mikkel Pedersen.

The No.777 Aston leading a Ferrari.

The tenth placed D'Station Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR driven by Satoshi Hoshino, Casper 

Stevenson and Tomonobu Fujii.

The D'Station drivers.   Left to Right - Hoshino, Fujii, Stevenson.

The eleventh placed Iron Lynx Porsche 911 GTR - 19.

Iron Lynx Porsche exiting Radillion.

The Iron Lynx drivers -  Left to Right - Alessio Picariello, Matteo Cressoni and Claudio Schiavoni.

GR racing Porsche descending towards Eau Rouge.

The twelfth placer GR Racing Porsche 911 GTR-19 driven by Michael Wainwright, Riccardo Pera

and Benjamin Barker.

The AF Corse Ferrari 488 GTE EVO was not classified after an accident in the race.

The No.54 AF Corse drivers - Left to Right - Thomas Flohr (Mr Vista Jet), Francisco Castellacci and Davide Rigon.

John Etherton asserts his copyright to all of the photos on this blogpost.  However, you may post the photos elsewhere on the web as long as you credit the photographer, John Etherton, and this blog post, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com and provide a link to this page.

John Etherton affirme son droit d'auteur à l'ensemble des photos sur ce billet de blog. Cependant, vous pouvez poster des photos ailleurs sur le web à condition de créditer le photographe, John Etherton, et ce blog, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com, et de fournir un lien vers cette page.

After this qualifying accident in tricky condition, the No.56 Project 1-AO Porsche didn't start.

The No56 drivers during Friday's pit walk and thus before the accident.

24 Hours of Le Mans 2018 - LMGTE-Pro

Le Mans for me is the time just before dawn and just before dusk.  That is when the magic starts!

It should have been a great GT battle of Porsche vs Ford vs Ferrari vs Chevrolet vs Aston Martin vs BMW.  But somehow, it wasn't quite as close as one might have hoped.  At times some of the racing was very close, especially for third place between Porsche and Ford.  however, this turned a little controversial as Ford GT driver Sebastien Bourdais complained about the driving tactics of Porsche's Frédéric  Makowieeki.  Another controversial aspect as usual was the Balance of Performance, with both Ferrari and Aston Martin complaining.  However, i mustn't complain too much as the LMHTE-Pro cars are my favourite.

All seventeen cars that competed at Le Mans in this class are shown below in the order that they were classified:

15th overall, 1st in class - 92 - Porsche GT Team - Porsche 911 RSR - Christensen/Estre/Vanthoor.

Great to see Porsche use famous old liveries on its car.  Here it is during the warm-up.

Iconic shot of the class winning Porsche exiting the Esses with the Dunlop bridge behind.

The Pink Pig Porsche in the Esses during Saturday evebning.

Just before the eight hour mark and it is dark at the Esses and the leading porsche is about to lap a Ferrari.

Early Sunday morning and the Pink Pig is well on its way to a popular class win.

16th overall, 2nd in class - 91 - Porsche GT Team - Porsche 911 RSR - Lietz/Bruni/Makowiecki.

As well as the Pink Pig colour scheme, Porsche brought along a car in the old "Rothmans" colour scheme.

The "Rothmans" Porsche in Tertre Rouge on Saturday afternoon.

The 91 Porsche led the 92 for quite a while early in the race.  Here it leads at the Esses early on Satuday evening.

There was quire a controversial battle between the Porsche and this Ford with the Ford drivers accusing the Porsche driver of over aggressive driving.

17th overall, 3rd in class, 68, Ford Chip Ganassi Team USA, Ford GT, Hand/Muller/Bourdais.

The lead Ford during the Warm up on the way to Tertre Rouge.

The Ford on Saturday afternoon ion Tertre Rouge.

18th overall, 4th in class, 63, Corvette Racing, Chevrolet Corvette C7R, Magnussen/Garcia/Rockenfeller.

In the warm-up, on the way to Tertre Rouge.

In Tertre Rouge on Saturday afternoon.

Leading a BMW through the Esses.

20th overall, 5th in class, 52, AF Corse, Ferrari 488 GTE Evo, Vilander/Giovinazzi/Derani.

The Ferrari during the warm-up on Saturday morning.

The AF Corse Ferrari leading a LMP2 car through the Esses on Saturday evening.

On Sunday morning in the Esses.

21st overall, 6th in class, 66, Ford Chip Ganassi Team UK, Ford GT, Mücke/Pla/Johnson.

In the Esses on Sunday morning.

At night at Tertre Rouge.

Exiting the Esses.

22nd overall, 7th in class, 51, AF Corse, Ferrari 488 GTE Evo, Pier Guidi/Calado/Serra.

During the Saturday morning warm up.

Heading a BMW into the Esses.

The Ferrari in the Dunlop Chicane, Sunday lunchtime.

23rd overall, 8th in class, 95, Aston Martin Racing, Aston Martin Vantage AMR, Sørensen/Thim/Turner.

The lead Aston Martin in Tertre Rouge on Saturday afternoon.

24th overall, 9th in class, 71, AF Corse, Ferrari 488 GTE Evo, Rigon/Bird/Molina.

Heading some other cars out of the Esses during the warm-up.

The Ferrari at night, rounding Tertre Rouge.

The 71 Ferrari in the Esses on Sunday morning.

27th overall, 10th in class, 93, Porsche GT Team, Porsche 911 RSR, Pilet/Tandy/Bamber.

The 93 Porsche at Tertre Rouge on Saturday afternoon.

On Saturday evening heading a BMW through the Esses.

Tertre Rouge at night with the 93 Porsche third in class.

33rd overall, 11th in class, 81, BMW Team MTEK, BMW M8 GTE, Tomczyk/Catsburg/Eng.

During the morning warm-up on the way to Tertre Rouge.

In Tertre Rouge on Saturday afternoon.

The 81 BMW in the Dunlop Chicane.

36th overall, 12th in class, 67, Ford Chip Ganassi Team UK, Ford GT, Priaulx, Tincknell, Kanaan.

The 67 Ford in Tertre Rouge on Saturday afternoon.

37th overall, 13th in class, 97, Aston Martin Racing, Aston Martin Vantage AMR, Lynn/Martin/Adam.

The 97 Aston heading towards Tertre Rouge in the morning warm up.

In Tertre Rouge on Saturday afternoon.

39th overall, 14th in class, 69, Ford Chip Ganassi Team USA, Ford GT, Briscoe/Westbrook/Dixon.

Ford leading Ferrari through the Esses early on Saturday evening.

Exiting the Esses.

On Sunday morning in the Esses.

Retired, 64, Corvette Racing, Chevrolet Corvette C7R, Gavin/Milner/Fässler.

Leading the works Porsches during the warm-up.

Exiting the Esses and heading for Tertre Rouge.

Heading down the start finish straight on Sunday morning.

Retired, 82, BMW Team MTEK, BMW M8 GTE, Farfus/DaCosta/Sims.

The 82 BMW heading down to Tertre Rouge.

Retired, 94, Porsche GT Team, Porsche 911 RSR, Dumas/Bernhard/Müller.

In Tertre Rouge on Saturday afternoon.

The 94 Porsche watched by the crowds at Tertre Rouge.

John Etherton asserts his copyright to all of the photos on this blogpost.  However, you may post the photos elsewhere on the web as long as you credit the photographer, John Etherton, and this blog post, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com and provide a link to this page.

John Etherton affirme son droit d'auteur à l'ensemble des photos sur ce billet de blog. Cependant, vous pouvez poster des photos ailleurs sur le web aussi longtemps que vous créditez le photographe, John Etherton, et ce blog, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com et fournissez un lien vers cette page.