Corvette Z06 GT3.R teams news in IMSA

IMSA

Nov 26

Ahead of its first season of worldwide GT3 competition, Corvette Racing is expanding its roster of factory drivers that will compete in championships and events around the globe with the new Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R.

Daniel Juncadella, Earl Bamber, Charlie Eastwood and Nico Varrone will be part of the group that will race Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs in either the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, FIA World Endurance Championship – or in some cases both.

They join existing Corvette factory drivers Antonio Garcia, Tommy Milner, Nicky Catsburg and Alexander Sims, all of whom will contest the full WeatherTech Championship season. The eight collectively will compete as factory drivers for Corvette Racing – the brand that encompasses all factory-supported and customer Z06 GT3.R efforts going forward.

Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports in IMSA GTD PRO

Juncadella and Bamber each will be part of Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports’ two-car effort in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s GT Daytona (GTD) PRO class. Both drivers will race with the factory-backed program in the Rolex 24 At Daytona, Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans. Juncadella will drive with Garcia and Sims while Bamber joins Milner and Catsburg.

In addition, Juncadella will have the distinction of driving the Z06 GT3.R in two championships as he joins TF Sport for its full-season effort in the LM GT3 class of the FIA World Endurance Championship – including the 24 Hours of Le Mans – his first year in the global series.

Bamber will contest IMSA’s endurance rounds in the Z06 GT3.R. Previously a long-time rival to the Corvette Racing program, Bamber already has tested the Z06 GT3.R, adding to a long list of GT3 cars he has driven throughout his career. He also remains under contract for Cadillac Racing’s WEC program in 2024.

In FIA WEC, Eastwood joins the Corvette factory lineup alongside Juncadella as TF Sport’s two professional drivers. It’s a familiar relationship for Eastwood, who has driven for TF Sport in the championship from 2018-20 and the current season.

Varrone, Corvette Racing’s rising star in this year’s FIA WEC, will transition to full-time IMSA duties in his first year as a factory driver. He rejoins AWA – a team with which he won this year’s Rolex 24 At Daytona in the LMP3 class – and will partner with Anthony Mantella in the GTD category.

“As we move into GT3 and customer racing, it is important that we add to our roster of drivers that are available to teams,” said Christie Bagne, Corvette Z06 GT3.R program manager. “We are excited about the wealth of experience in our Corvette factory lineup. Both GM and our teams will benefit from the learnings from each driver.”

AWA Takes Delivery of Corvette Z06 GT3.R

The first two customer Corvette Z06 GT3.R racecars are now in private hands as AWA has taken delivery of its two Corvettes for the 2024 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

📷 © Courtesy of Corvette Racing. Delivery of Corvette Z06 GT3.R to AWA for IMSA GTD Championship.

A pair of Z06 GT3.Rs rolled into AWA team transporters from GM’s Performance and Racing Center on Monday. The Canadian team will campaign the Corvettes in the GT Daytona (GTD) class starting with the Rolex 24 At Daytona in January.

"Delivering the first two customer Z06 GT3.Rs to AWA marks the start of the next phase of our Corvette Customer Support program,” said Christie Bagne, Corvette Z06 GT3.R Program Manager. “A big thank you to our constructor Pratt Miller, our GM Performance and Racing team and everyone at the GM Assembly Plant in Bowling Green. We look forward to the continued collaboration with AWA ahead of their preseason test program and on toward the Rolex 24."

The highly anticipated delivery is the first of three leading up to the debut of the Corvette GT3 on racetracks around the world; TF Sport will receive their Z06 GT3.Rs in January ahead of the FIA World Endurance Championship season, followed by DXDT Racing for GT World Challenge America.

"Receiving our two Corvette Z06 GT3.R was a special moment,” said Andrew Wojteczko, AWA team owner. “We are excited and motivated for this next chapter, and I'd like to extend my gratitude to Team Chevy for welcoming us with open arms. We can't wait to get out on track."