GTE cars have featured in the World Endurance Championship since its rebirth in 2012 but, from next year, will be replaced by the new LMGT3 class.
The GTE Pro division was already axed for 2023 amid dwindling numbers, leaving only the GTE Am division that will also disappear at the end of this season.
Despite a plethora of manufacturers having GT3 machines - with Ford revealing its new Mustang GT3 on Friday - and interest in the new class high, drivers have lamented the end of the GTE era.
Charlie Eastwood, who won the GTE Am class at Le Mans with a TF Sport Aston Martin in 2020 and is starting second for this year's race, believes the presence of ABS on GT3 cars will diminish the driving challenge.
"I'm absolutely gutted," he told Autosport about the demise of GTE. "I drive round here and I know GT3 will just never feel the same.
"For me, ABS takes out 80% of the driving for the driver and what made qualifying so difficult was going from the highest speeds the GTE can go to right down to the lowest at the chicanes.
"You're on the verge of missing the corner and that's the bit that, when you then get to the line, it’s so satisfying.
"I have no doubt the racing is still going to be incredible [with GT3], but I absolutely love the GTE."
Source: Autosport