Larbre Competition made the most of a two-day test at Sebring International Raceway earlier this week (9/10 March) when it got to grips with the new Corvette C7.R it will run in this year’s World Endurance Championship LMGTE Am category.
In preparation for the test, the French outfit’s technical team visited the US constructor’s factory in Detroit to learn more about the car’s building process and collect valuable data ahead of its 2015 campaign.
That allowed the Val de Vienne-based squad to strengthen its relationship with Corvette Racing, a collaboration that has enjoyed much success in its four-year history. Indeed, the duo won the LMGTE Am class of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup in 2011 and new-for-2012 WEC, and notched up a pair of victories at the iconic Le Mans 24 Hours.
Larbre also used the Sebring test as an opportunity to announce that reigning LMGTE Am champion Kristian Poulsen will join the team as its third driver from Aston Martin Racing, partnering seasoned racers Paolo Ruberti and Gianluca Roda.
The latest Larbre trio boasts a solid pedigree in GT racing, with Poulsen also winning the Le Mans 24 Hours last year. His new Italian team-mates already enjoy a strong relationship having raced together in the 2012 WEC where they claimed four class victories.
Following a trouble-free maiden outing that saw 250 laps completed at the Florida venue, Larbre and the Corvette C7.R now head to Paul Ricard for the car’s presentation at the official WEC Prologue, which takes place on March 27/28.
Kristian Poulsen: “The car felt really good, everything went very smoothly and there were no problems. The team looks really strong this year and my co-drivers have a lot of experience, so hopefully we have a good chance of winning some races, and perhaps even Le Mans and the championship. I’m very much looking forward to the season getting underway at Silverstone.”
Gianluca Roda: “My first experience with Larbre Competition has been great! The team are fantastic and extremely competent, and Jack is massively passionate about his work as team manager. The car has taken a little getting used to but, now I’m more familiar with it, the Corvette seems really responsive to even the slightest set-up change. I think Paolo, Kristian and I will work really well together and I’m looking forward to seeing how we get on in the championship.”
Paolo Ruberti: “I really enjoyed my first experience of the Corvette; it’s incredibly sophisticated and easy to drive. We managed to get a lot of pretty quick laps under our belt without any issues, which already suggests a solid level of performance and consistency. With such a good team and driver line-up I really think we can fight for the WEC’s LMGTE Am title this year.”
Jack Leconte, Team Manager: “Four years ago our partnership with Corvette Racing began with the C6.R at Sebring. Earlier this week, we returned to Florida to continue our association and get a feel for the new C7.R.
“Over the years, we have nurtured our relationship with the US manufacturer and achieved tremendous results together. For that reason we were really excited to trial the new C7.R on track. The car has great potential, as has already been proven after its class win at this year’s Daytona 24 Hours in late-January.
“The engineers and mechanics massively benefitted from their trip to Detroit, once they’d acclimatised to the difference in temperature between Florida and France!
“With regard to the drivers, we’re delighted to welcome one of the reigning LMGTE Am champions, Kristian Poulsen, to our team. As for Gianluca Roda and Paolo Ruberti, we’re obviously familiar with their talent behind the wheel seeing as the pair of them finished just behind us two years in a row in both ILMC and WEC. All in all, we’re delighted with the strength and consistency of our 2015 crew.
“After the 12 Hours of Sebring, the car will go to Detroit for a complete check up before jumping on a direct flight to France where Larbre will present the car at the traditional WEC Prologue at Paul Ricard.”
