The sun will set on the LMGTE era when the chequered flag falls on the WEC’s 8 Hours of Bahrain this weekend.

The LMGTE class first appeared at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2011 after GT2 was renamed. 

Corvette Racing took the first LMGTE victory that year on the Circuit de la Sarthe. 

WEC and the European Le Mans Series have seen LMGTE cars compete in the two series for the last 12 seasons and 13 years, respectively.

The LMGTE class was contested in IMSA from 2014 through 2021.

The LMGTE class gained worldwide popularity from its inception, and the 2019 24 Hours of LeMans saw 17 GTLME entries, ten of which were full-time WEC entries.

The following year, BMW, Ford, and Aston Martin withdrew from WEC, leaving Porsches and Ferrari as the only manufacturers to race in LMGTE in 2021.

IMSA chose to end LMGTE following the 2021 season after only three full-time entries, two Corvettes, and a privateer Porsche, contested the season.

For those reasons, factory-backed LMGTE efforts suffered.

Part of the impetus for the exits was strong manufacturer interest in the new Hypercar and LMDh classes in WEC and IMSA, a focus on reducing racing budgets and the opportunity for convergence in the GT category. 

IMSA created a GTD class that follows the FIA SRO Group GT3 category. 

Beginning in 2024, the ACO will adopt the GT3 formula, a more cost-effective and universally used set of rules, that has gained global popularity since approval by the FIA in 2006. 

GT3 cars have less horsepower and less downforce than their predecessors. 

For the first time, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, WEC, and the European Le Mans Series will allow the participation of GT3 cars. 

Corvette Racing holds the honor of being the last WEC GTLME champion. 

The Corvette C8.R clinched the WEC title at the 4 Hours of Monza in July. 

A win by the Corvette would give Chevrolet the distinction of winning the first and last GTLME race.