After claiming two class victories and the GTE-Am teams’ title in 2013, 8Star Motorsports is set to return to the FIA World Endurance Championship to defend its crown.

Sportscar365 has learned that the Enzo Potolicchio-owned operation will again field a Ferrari 458 Italia GT car in association with AF Corse, a winning combination that helped deliver the GTE Manufacturer’s World Cup to the Prancing Horse last year.

“It’s a done deal,” Potolicchio told Sportscar365. “We were able to find some funding and sponsorship, as well as some funding from the Silver driver, who will be joining the team. It’s really good.

“After winning the championship last year, with no penalties or DNFs, we showed that we had a really good team. It showed that more people wanted to join us. So the program came together really quickly.”

Potolicchio, who was recently downgraded to Bronze status, will be joined by a to-be-announced Silver-rated pilot as well as a pro driver for the eight round championship, which kicks off at Silverstone in April.

A formal announcement regarding the team’s driver lineup is expected to be made in the coming weeks.

While having earned the teams’ title in 2013, Potolicchio and season-long co-driver Rui Aguas came within one point of claiming the GTE-Am drivers’ championship, with it being one of the top priorities this year.

“That’s the goal for sure, as well as [to win] Le Mans again,” said the 2012 Le Mans LMP2 class winner. “After being the definite favorites to win, we had a puncture that took us away from that race.

“So I’m definitely looking forward to going back to Le Mans again and be in the best position to win the championship.”

With Level 5 Motorsports’ LMP1 aspirations yet to materialize and Krohn Racing focusing primarily on the U.S. enduros, 8Star is expected to be the only American-backed effort in the FIA WEC this year.

The team will also field prototype entries in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship and IMSA Prototype Lites Championship.