Experienced and new drivers piloting the #50 Corvette C7.R24th Le Mans 24 Hours entry for the Le Vigeant team
Larbre Competition will compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship’s LMGTE Am class once again this year with its #50 Corvette C7.R.The new season is shaping up to be a competitive one for the front-running squad, which will make its 24th appearance at the blue-riband Le Mans 24 Hours race. The team approaches the upcoming campaign with a combination of new and experienced crewmembers in Paolo Ruberti, Pierre Ragues and Yutaka Yamagishi.
Larbre will also strengthen the close relationship it has enjoyed with Corvette Racing since joining forces five years ago. Together, the partners have built a star-studded racing CV, which includes the 2011 Intercontinental Le Mans Cup GTE Am title, victory in the corresponding FIA WEC category during its inaugural season in 2012 and two Le Mans class victories in as many years.
The experience and set-up data gained with the C7.R in 2015 give the Le Vigeant team good reason to be ambitious and confident ahead of the forthcoming campaign. Indeed Ruberti, who raced with Larbre last year, consistently stood out thanks to his speed, consistency and excellent race starts. Paolo will also be on hand to manage the partnership between the team and his new stable mates.
Pierre Ragues, who knows the Val de Vienne-based outfit well, joins the team as its designated Silver driver. The 2013 European Le Mans Series champion piloted Larbre’s Morgan LMP2 entry alongside Ricky Taylor and Keiko Ihara for the following year’s Le Mans 24 Hours and, after acquiring extensive experience in prototypes, now returns to GT racing for what will be his tenth season in endurance competition.
Seeking out a team with a proven track record at the legendary La Sarthe circuit, Yamagishi arrives at Larbre after a solid career in Japanese Super GT. Yutaka, who will be the squad’s Bronze driver, has already raced several times at Le Mans and recently competed in the ELMS’ LMP2 category.The FIA WEC has become one of the most elite series since its rebirth in 2012, with highly competitive entries in every class. The extensive race calendar gets even larger this season with a ninth event, the 6 Hours of Mexico City, which will see the teams descend on the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez for the first time since 1991.
Larbre Competition gets its 2016 campaign underway at the WEC Prologue, which takes place at Paul Ricard in Le Castellet, France on March 25-26.Paolo Ruberti: “I'm very proud and happy to continue with Larbre Competition and Corvette for my fifth consecutive year in the FIA WEC. It’s a top-flight, hotly contested championship and the level of competition has gone up every year. Nevertheless, we have a good driver line-up and a fast car so we can look forward to strong results this year, especially with the team’s experience at our disposal as well.”
Pierre Ragues: “I’m thrilled to return to Larbre Competition; it’s a great, experienced team that has always been competitive, so I can’t wait to start racing for them again. I have a lot of respect for Jack Leconte, and our experience at Le Mans in 2014 was a very positive one for both of us. Everything came together for this new challenge with Larbre and Corvette – a famous brand with a prestigious heritage and racing pedigree.“2016 not only marks my tenth season in endurance racing, but will also see me compete at the Le Mans 24 Hours for a tenth time, so I definitely see it as a key step in my career! I started racing GT cars at the 2003 Spa 24 Hours with another American car, the Dodge Viper, and I’m delighted to go back to competing in this category full-time.”
Yutaka Yamagishi: “Larbre Competition has an outstanding reputation on the international scene thanks to its success in the world’s best championships and at the Le Mans 24 Hours, so it’s an honour to race for them. With its Corvette Racing partnership, I’m convinced that the team is in a good position to fight for the title, as well as victory at Le Mans, once again. I’m very grateful to Larbre Competition and Jack Leconte for offering me the fantastic opportunity to drive for them throughout the 2016 season. The team has a true winning culture in GT racing, and I’m committed to giving everything I can to gain numerous victories and help the team win the championship.”
Jack Leconte, Team Manager: “Larbre Competition and Corvette Racing always strive to participate in the biggest endurance championships, and will be back in the FIA WEC paddock in 2016 with the #50 Corvette C7.R. Our entry in the LMGTE Am class confirms our commitment to the category and the team will use the experience gained with the car in 2015 to maximise its potential and aim for good results.
“On the drivers’ side, we’re delighted to welcome back Paolo Ruberti, who will continue to lead the crew. We’re equally thrilled to welcome French driver Pierre Ragues, especially considering his previous experience with us at the 2014 Le Mans 24 Hours. Finally, Larbre’s international renown has allowed us to get in contact with Yutaka Yamagishi, who brings with him a wealth of experience in Japanese GT racing.
“As well as playing the leading role in the LMGTE Am class, our drivers and team personnel will also be laying the foundations for a 2017 LMGTE Pro programme. Even with limited funding for LMGTE Pro, we’re sure that the Corvette’s reliability would’ve allowed us to beat Ford’s armada as early as this year. The recent Daytona 24 Hours proved this with a superb 1-2 finish for Corvette. I’m convinced that it’s a missed opportunity, but hopefully it’s only a matter of time!” 2016 FIA WEC calendarFIA WEC prologue, Paul Ricard, March 25-26Round 1 – 6 Hours of Silverstone, April 17Round 2 – 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, May 7Round 3 – 24 Hours of Le Mans, June 18-19Round 4 – 6 Hours of Nurburgring, July 24Round 5 – 6 Hours of Mexico City, September 3Round 6 – 6 Hours of Circuit of The Americas, September 17Round 7 – 6 Hours of Fuji, October 16Round 8 – 6 Hours of Shanghai, November 6Round 9 – 6 Hours of Bahrain, November 19
