WEC 2023: Corvette Racing third driver in #33 C8.R
📷 © Corvette Racing: Corvette #33 tests at Sebring December 2023.
As we announced November 17th 2022, Axcil Jefferies and Nicolas Varrone drove the Mobil 1/SiriusXM Chevrolet Corvette C8.R at Bahrain to decide who would be the third driver to contest the full seven-race WEC calendar including the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June together with Ben Keating and Nicky Catsburg.
The silver-rated Nico Varrone has been chosen after testing following the 2022 WEC finale at Bahrain and in a private test at Sebring in December.
Although his early racing focused on karting and single-seaters, Varrone’s most recent success has come in sports cars with victories in both prototype and GT cars. Among them are wins in the GTE Am category of this year’s European Le Mans Series along with a victory in the 24H Series’ round in Barcelona earlier this season.
“I’m really, really happy and over the moon for this opportunity. It always was my dream to be at this level and be on a team with a magnificent brand like Corvette Racing. To be paired with two legendary drivers like Ben and Nicky also is very special. I have to say a big thank to you to Jeroen Bleekmolen for recommending me. He is close to both Ben and Nicky so it’s quite a nice feeling. I can’t wait for us to start with this program.”
📷 © Corvette Racing: Nico Varrone
“It’s really special at Corvette Racing. I’ve never been inside a factory team, and I was expecting things to be kind of quiet and different. But it’s such a nice feeling because Corvette Racing is a big family. You have fun with the crew guys, the engineers and the drivers. They are so open to talking about things that it’s really special. Nicky and Ben also are guys who have always watched on TV. To share a car with them is something I never could have imagined.”
“I’ve driven other GT cars but the Corvette is one of the best feelings I’ve ever had in a racecar. It’s a natural and proper racecar, for sure. The confidence it gives in the high-speed corners, the traction and the braking of the car is amazing. It fits me just right. I felt comfortable almost right away. I was expecting it to be like other GT cars I’ve driven, but to me it’s more similar to a prototype. It’s a mega sensation for the drivers. I enjoyed every lap I’ve done so far. I can’t wait for more.”
Corvette Racing ended its first full FIA WEC season with a runner-up finish by Tommy Milner and Nick Tandy in the #64 Corvette.
📷 © Luc Warnotte: Brilliant P2 at 1.000 Miles of Sebring for Nick Tandy and Tommy Milner with their Corvette C8.R for their first full-season WEC campaign.
It’s the second straight full-season program in the FIA WEC for Corvette Racing, which celebrate its 25th season of competition in 2023. The campaign will be the first for the Corvette program in GTE Am, where the sporting rules require at least one Bronze-level driver (Ben Keating), as rated by the FIA. One professional-level driver (Nicky Catsburg) is allowed along with a second Bronze or Silver-rated driver (Nico Varrone).
The combination of Catsburg, Keating and Varrone will contest the full seven-race WEC calendar including the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June. The season begins with the 1,000 Miles of Sebring on Friday, March 17.
📷 © Luc Warnotte: Bad luck for Corvette Racing, Nick Tandy and Tony Milner who had to stop for a five-second emergency service for fuel under a red flag at 6 hours of Spa-Fraancorchamps 2022.
📷 © Luc Warnotte: Both Corvette C8.R dominated the week at Le Mans but had bad luck during the race.
📷 © Luc Warnotte: Corvette Racing got their first win in the WEC championship with Milner and Tandy at 6 Hours of Monza 2022. Read more here.
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📷 © Corvette Racing: WEC 2023: CORVETTE RACING AT BAHRAIN ONE-DAY TEST. Read more here.
📷 © Luc Warnotte: Corvette Racing Returning to IMSA, FIA WEC in 2023.
📷 © Luc Warnotte: Both Corvette were dominating the 24 Hours of Le Mans until… Read more here.
