Works Chevrolet and Aston Martin drivers Oliver Gavin and Tomas Enge have welcomed the move by Le Mans organisers to abandon the new-era GT1 cars from next year.
The ACO announced on Thursday that the 2010-style GT1 cars, which run in the FIA GT1 World Championship, will be replaced by a two-tier GT2-based class in 2011. Gavin (left), who now races a GT2 Corvette after years of success in the previous GT1 era, said, "That's great. I think it's a bit diluted for the fans at the moment. It'll streamline it a little.
"GT2 is where the manufacturers want to be. GT1 in the ACO and Le Mans Series is a dying category.
"In most forms of motorsport there are too many classes, too many categories. It would be great if they could come together."
GT1 pole-sitter Tomas Enge added: "I'm really looking forward to one GT class. I love the DBR9, but I said years ago there should be one class. This year we have 18 GT2 cars and next time we will have over 20 so it will be great, a really hard fight."
Gavin's No. 64 Corvette will start the 24 Hours from GT2 pole on Saturday after the No. 82 Risi Competizione Ferrari was sent to the back of the grid. The No. 63 Corvette will join the sister car on the class front row.