Some 2017 facts and figures from the GTE classes

• A fantastic season for Ferrari’s James Calado and Alessandro Pier Guidi led the Prancing Horse to a 5th GTE Manufacturers’ title and 3rd Drivers Championship…but this year was different as both were official FIA World Championship titles. 
• AF Corse’s No.51 crew, together with No.71’s Davide Rigon and Sam Bird, took 5 wins, 6 podiums and 4 poles.

• 8 of the 9 WEC rounds in 2017 saw at least one of the 6 British drivers on the top step in GTE Pro…Denmark reigned supreme in Mexico.  Full season drivers represented 6 different countries and GTE champions have come from 8 different nations.

• Alessandro Pier Guidi became the 3rd Italian GTE champion, joining Gianmaria Bruni (2013/14) and Andrea Bertolini (2015)
• James Calado became the 3rd British driver to win an FIA WEC GTE Drivers’ title after Aston Martin Racing’s Jamie Campbell-Walter and Stuart Hall (2013). 

• Porsche GT Team’s Fred Makowiecki and Richard Lietz finished just 8 points behind in the new 911 RSR’s first season, with 6 podium finishes.  Team mates Kevin Estre and Michael Christensen contributed 3 podium finishes, and were extremely unlucky on several occasions not to win.
• Ford Chip Ganassi Team UK’s Andy Priaulx and Harry Tincknell started 2017 with a home victory at Silverstone, took a great 2nd place in class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, won again in Shanghai.

• Ford finished 2nd in the GT Manufacturers’ title race, 14 points ahead of Porsche. 

• The 6 Hours of Bahrain was the final race for Aston Martin Racing’s Vantage V8 in GTE Pro…in 6 seasons: 19 different winning drivers, 24 Hours of Le Mans wins in Pro and Am, 7 GTE Pro / Am sweeps, victories at all WEC events except Sebring in 2012, 50% of all GTE wins in 2013 and 2014
• The No.98 Vantage’s success in GTE Am in Bahrain saw Aston Martin’s win total rise to 37 – 14 in Pro and 23 in Am.  Pedro Lamy became the most successful WEC driver of all, with 18 class victories to his name.

• 2017 saw Dempsey Proton Racing’s Christian Ried become one of 3 drivers to start every WEC race (with André Lotterer and Darren Turner).  The team impressed in GTE Am, Ried supported strongly by Matteo Cairoli and Marvin Dienst, taking 7 podiums including wins at the Nürburgring and in Mexico.  Ried was named Porsche Private Driver of the Year!

• Clearwater Racing from Singapore started its WEC campaign in style with a last-lap win after Aston Martin and Ferrari entries clashed.  Backed up by pole at Fuji and 2nd place in three of the last four rounds, the team showed it meant business!
• Victory for Spirit of Race in Fuji plus 3 further podium finishes, and 2 podiums including 2nd place in Shanghai for Gulf Racing ensured spirited and competitive racing throughout the season for this treasured category.

With grateful thanks to Alex Harrison (@WECDATA on Twitter) for his considerable contribution.