This weekend's 4 Hours of Silverstone marks the start of the 2019/20 FIA World Endurance Championship. In a four-part series, Motorsport Week takes a look at all of the four classes in detail. Who are the title favorites? Who will spring a surprise? In the fourth and final part, we take a take llok at GTE Am. For years, it's been the class that has provoked the least amount of attention. But in season 8, that might just be about to change…
To some, GTE Am is still the class where wealthy entrepreneurs and businessman find themselves a weekend getaway before stuffing either their own car or someone else’s. And yes, that does still occasionally happen. For an example, just look at Satoshi Hoshino having multiple spins before sending Marcel Fässler’s Corvette screaming into a wall at Le Mans.
But that notion discards the championship’s largest class, filled with some genuine talent. There’s former F1 drivers like Giancarlo Fisichella, Le Mans-winning veterans like Darren Turner and young aces like Matteo Cairoli, Matt Campbell and Ross Gunn.
What makes the class even more interesting is that last year’s champions, Team Project 1, have now expanded to two cars. Egidio Perfetti has retained his seat to defend his title, but will be joined by Porsche Young Professional Matteo Cairoli and David Heinemeier Hansson, who won both the title and Le Mans in class with Aston Martin in 2014, and racked up an LMP2 win upon his return to WEC in Sebring this year.
Project 1’s second car might be even more qualified for success, as the German team has brought in one of IMSA’s fastest and most consistent trios. Jeroen Bleekemolen, Ben Keating and Felipe Fraga, who won the class at Le Mans in June before being disqualified, will be teaming up to make their WEC debut in the #57 Porsche 911 RSR.
Further strong contenders are the #54 AF Corse Ferrari of Thomas Flohr, Francesco Castellacci and Giancarlo Fisichella, who are joined by Francois Perrodo, Emmanuel Collard and Nicklas Nielsen in the #83 Ferrari. Dempsey-Proton Racing, who were consistently quick last year, also return with two cars, while the Aston Martin Vantage AMR makes its debut in privateer hands with Aston Martin Racing’s GTE Am team and TF Sport.
Both AMR and TF Sport’s line-ups will feature Le Mans winners. The former will have triple-winner Darren Turner, while Jonny Adam will join TF Sport. With the expansion of the class, and the inclusion of some very notable talent, GTE Am will certainly become a class worthy of attention.
Long story short: while you might not have been paying attention, GTE Am has evolved into a class full of drivers who most certainly deserve your attention.
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