The No. 76 IMSA Performance Matmut Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. Photo credit: Rick Dole for Michelin North America

This is the eighth in a 24 Hours of Le Mans preview series. Check back to michelinracingusa.com for more features and posts in the coming days.

Of the European-based GT squads, favorites include Michelin technical partner Porsche teams Felbermayr-Proton and IMSA Performance Matmut. Felbermayr-Proton seeks to defend its 2010 GT2 class win, now in the GTE Pro category, with a trio of factory Porsche drivers: Marc Lieb, Richard Lietz and Wolf Henzler. IMSA loses Patrick Long for 2011 but still has fellow factory Porsche pilot Patrick Pilet driving alongside team principal Raymond Narac and up-and-comer Nicolas Armindo.

AF Corse has two cars worth watching as their Ferrari F458 Italias include a trio of past and present Risi Ferrari stars, Giancarlo Fisichella, Gianmaria Bruni and Toni Vilander in the No. 51, and NASCAR driver and commentator Michael Waltrip making his Le Mans debut alongside Rob Kauffman and Rui Aguas in the No. 71.

Lotus returns to Le Mans with a pair of Jetalliance-run Evoras. Photo credit: Rick Dole for Michelin North America

BMW has a fully updated M3 that has starred in North America this year with wins at both Sebring and Long Beach. The organization’s effort in Europe is through BMW Motorsport, not Bobby Rahal’s team. Having already won the year’s major endurance races at Daytona (24 Hours) and Sebring (12), Joey Hand’s season would jump to another level if he could win the class with Andy Priaulx and Dirk Mueller in the No. 56 car. The sister No. 55, the class polesitters, has Dirk Werner, Jorg Mueller and Augusto Farfus on board.

Entries from Lotus and Aston Martin see those manufacturers also in the GTE Pro field. There are 10 total entrants in the GTE Am class, new for 2011, which features year-old cars and at least two out of three classified as “gentlemen” drivers.