The #33 Corvette Z06 GT3.R Is favorite in LMGT3
We view the #33 TF Sport Corvette Z06 GT3.R as our favorite contender to win LMGT3 races and the LMGT3 championship. Here is why.
The drivers lineup
📷© Luc Warnotte at Lusail. Ben Keating takes over from Dani Juncadella the #33 TF Sport Corvette Z06 GT3.R
The #33 TF Sport Corvette Z06 GT3.R is the only team to count its three drivers within the top 16 LMGTE drivers’ fastest lap during the prologue. There is a gap of only 0.253” between the fastest, Jonny Egar, and the “slowest” of the three, Ben Keating. The difference between platinum and gold drivers is rather minor comparing to the silver or bronze drivers.
Ben Keating, the “bronze” driver, is one of the fastest of the pack since Sarah Bovy has become a “silver” driver. Only a few like Al Harthy and Ian James are able to drive as fast as Keating but Keating is very strong in driving with consistency during a couple of stints still preserving the tires for a long run. Ben Keating won two times the LMGTE AM class of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and was the last “bronze” member of the last LMGTE AM championship two years ago.
European Le Mans Series LMP2 champion Jonny Edgar is one of the fastest “silver” driver in the LMGT3 entries. No surprise he delivered the fastest lap of the three #33 Corvette drivers.
Daniel Juncadella is starting his second season with TF Sport in the FIA World Endurance Championship with the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R and recently demonstrated his talent at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, where the Spaniard was a contender for GTD Pro victory finishing second alongside Antonio Garcia and Alexander Sims with the Corvette Z06 GT3.R.
📷© Luc Warnotte at Lusail. #33 TF Sport Corvette Z06 GT3.R
The team
TF Sport has grown as one of the best team in endurance racing with wins at the Spa 24 Hours in 2019, the Le Mans 24 Hours in 2020 and 2022. In 2022, TF Sport earned the FIA WEC GTE AM championship and ELMS LMP2 Pro-Am title.
📷© Luc Warnotte at Lusail. #33 TF Sport Corvette Z06 GT3.R.
The car
The Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R made its competitive debut at the 2024 24 Hours of Daytona. For its first year in IMSA in 2024, the Corvette Z06 GT3.R scored five podiums with a double at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, a P3 At Laguna Seca, Watkings Glen and Indianapolis. A P2 in the last edition of the 24 Hours of Daytona demonstrates the reliability of the USA made Chevrolet for endurance races.
📷© Luc Warnotte at Lusail. #33 TF Sport Corvette Z06 GT3.R
Qatar 1812 km schedule.
Two 90-minute free practice sessions kick off the race week on Wednesday February 26, including one which ends after sunset. The starting grid will be determined in qualifying and Hyperpole on Thursday (5.40pm local, 3.40pm CET) while the race starts at 2pm (midday CET) on Friday 28 February.
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