Jean-Philippe Belloc will take the third seat in Larbre Competition’s No. 50 Corvette C7.R at this year’s running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, after Paolo Ruberti was injured last week at Hockenheim.

Belloc and Nicky Catsburg were drafted in as last-minute replacements for Ruberti at the Test Day last Sunday, to drive alongside full-season FIA World Endurance Championship drivers Pierre Ragues and Yutaka Yamagishi.

However, Catsburg confirmed to Sportscar365 that he would not be racing with the team due to budget issues.

Instead, the French team announced on Thursday that Belloc would fill the seat in the Larbre Corvette, one of two C7.Rs in the GTE-Am field.

“I am delighted to have been chosen by Jack Leconte to replace Paolo Ruberti, to whom everybody sends their best wishes, for this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans,” said Belloc.

“It’s a very nice show of trust and a great privilege to defend the colors of Larbre Competition in the world’s greatest endurance race. The GTE-Am category is quite competitive this year but I think we have a very solid package.”

“When the going gets tough, it’s essential to have solid footing and clear points of reference, and Jean-Philippe Belloc is definitely someone Larbre Competition can rely on,” added team manager Jack Leconte.

“I’d also like to thank Nick Catsburg for his valuable help and excellent work during last weekend’s Le Mans Test Day.

“With Paolo out of action for a long time, we’re clearly keeping an eye on him for the remainder of the FIA World Endurance Championship season.”