Corvette groups goal for first Petit Le Mans win since ’10, Endurance Cup and Akin Award
DETROIT (October 8, 2024) – Corvette Racing and the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R groups are set to shut the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar season with the annual 10-hour Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Highway Atlanta in a extremely anticipated finale.
Three of the first-year Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs will race within the sequence for a remaining time in 2024 – the No. 3 and No. 4 from Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports in GTD PRO together with the No. 13 GTD entry from AWA, every sporting gifted lineups for the day-to-night race across the 2.54-mile, 12-turn Michelin Raceway Highway Atlanta circuit:
- Antonio Garcia, Alexander Sims and Daniel Juncadella within the No. 3 Corvette
- Tommy Milner, Nicky Catsburg and Earl Bamber within the No. 4 Z06 GT3.R
- Orey Fidani, Matt Bell and Lars Kern within the AWA Corvette
There’s a lot at stake at this yr’s Petit Le Mans. For starters, Corvette Racing entries haven’t tasted victory within the occasion since 2010, the longest drought at any venue in this system’s 26-year historical past.
Of the 9 Corvette drivers on this yr’s race, solely Sims (2018 GTLM), Bell (2014 GTD) and Juncadella (2023 GTD PRO) have received Petit Le Mans. Amongst those who haven’t are Corvette Racing veteran stalwarts Garcia and Milner.
However, hopes and confidence is excessive going into this yr’s working. A victory in GTD PRO would go a good distance towards securing the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Producers championship, which Chevrolet leads by two factors going into Highway Atlanta.
The Pratt Miller Corvettes have displayed sturdy efficiency at every of the 4 earlier endurance rounds this season – Daytona, Sebring, Watkins Glen and Indianapolis. For Petit Le Mans, factors can be awarded on the four-, eight- and 10-hour marks.
One of many greatest prizes on the finish of Petit Le Mans might await AWA. Going into Saturday, full-season driver Fidani leads the standings for the Bob Akin Award, which works to the highest-finishing, Bronze-rated driver on the finish of every race and on the finish of the season. Fidani, Bell and Kern scored most factors within the final spherical at Indianapolis, and the No. 13 Corvette did the identical within the race earlier than that at VIR.
Ought to AWA retain its maintain on the lead place following Petit Le Mans, Fidani and AWA will earn an automated invitation to the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans within the LMGT3 class.
DXDT RACING ADDS TO CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R LINEUP IN 2025 IMSA GTD
Recent off ending its GT World Problem America season with 10 victories and second place in Professional factors, DXDT Racing will enter a Corvette Z06 GT3.R for the complete 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship within the GTD class.
It provides a fourth Corvette GT3 to the grid with Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports (GTD PRO) and AWA (GTD) already confirmed.
“We’re thrilled to see a number of Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs in IMSA’s GTD class for 2025,” stated Mark Stielow, Director, Chevrolet Motorsports Competitors Engineering. “DXDT Racing proved itself this yr in GT World Problem with double-digit victories throughout the Professional and Professional-Am courses within the first yr with our Corvette GT3. We’re proud to help David Askew and DXDT Racing as they proceed pursuing their objectives in turning into a well-established and profitable crew throughout a number of sequence in sports activities automotive racing.”
Petit Le Mans is scheduled for 12:10 p.m. ET on Saturday, October 12. The primary three hours will air stay on NBC beginning at midday adopted by USA’s protection from 6-10:30 p.m. Reside streaming begins at midday ET on Peacock inside the US and IMSA.com exterior the U.S. IMSA Radio will air all on-track classes starting with Thursday’s opening observe at IMSA.com with the race name additionally on XM 206 and SiriusXM On-line 996.
CORVETTE RACING BY PRATT MILLER MOTORSPORTS PRE-EVENT DRIVER QUOTES
ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R:
“That is going to be actually loopy with the site visitors however good for the present! I’m wanting ahead to it. I feel we’re coming into it in sturdy form. It’s good to have Dani again so Alex and I can have a bit of little bit of a relaxation within the race! Let’s see the way it comes out. I’ve been racing a Corvette at Highway Atlanta since 2009 and haven’t received this one but. It’s time to make it up and repair that!”
ALEXANDER SIMS, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R:
“With the variety of GTP vehicles and the tempo variations they’ve on the straights and never a lot within the corners – plus the P2s – it’s going to be fascinating among the many completely different courses or vehicles, however the GTD PRO subject is stacked in itself. It’s going to be super-hard from a driver perspective. There’s at all times mayhem. It’s the final race of the yr and everyone seems to be out to attempt to win championships or get the perfect positions they’ll. The racing is at all times fairly arduous and fraught, however I like it. It’s an superior place and actually good enjoyable with the undulation and good, lengthy backstraight for some overtaking alternatives.”
DANIEL JUNCADELLA, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R:
“It’s fairly loopy that I’ve not been again in IMSA since Sebring. It’s good as a result of I really feel like I’m far more ready forward of Petit Le Mans with my expertise in WEC with Corvette. It goes with out saying that I need to defend my title there from final yr, and it was an incredible expertise. Being again within the automotive with Antonio, who’s such a profitable Spanish driver within the U.S., however hasn’t received Petit Le Mans, I hope I may be a part of that success that he deserves after so a few years racing there. That’s the aim and dream for that weekend. It must be an thrilling weekend due to the race, the observe, the ambiance… every part that entails Petit Le Mans has at all times been thrilling to me. So I’m actually excited to get again and race once more with the Pratt Miller guys in our Corvette.”
TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R:
“It’s thrilling to go to Petit Le Mans. We had a powerful automotive within the IMSA race at Indianapolis. Highway Atlanta is a observe that I actually take pleasure in and a spot the place the Corvette has gone properly. We simply don’t appear to have Woman Luck on our aspect there. I’d say we haven’t had plenty of luck this season in IMSA, so perhaps we’re saving all of that for this race. We’ll must work for it, that’s for certain. We’ve seen that every one yr lengthy and know what it’s like on this championship. I haven’t received there, Antonio hasn’t received there, and Corvette Racing hasn’t received there in 2010. I can promise you with out having to be requested the query that each man and girl at Corvette Racing is keen to have a superb consequence there. We’ll put our best possible effort ahead to make that occur.”
NICKY CATSBURG, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R:
“Petit Le Mans is a race that everybody appears to be like ahead to but in addition a race that not many people within the crew haven’t received earlier than. So everybody badly needs to win however sadly for us so does the remainder of the sphere. This race is just like Sebring the place issues on the finish of the race get barely loopy. Hopefully issues can be a bit of bit calmer than they’ve been. We have to give attention to executing every part, not making errors and never getting any injury early on within the race. It’s at all times a bit loopy when it comes to site visitors, so I feel we have to give attention to being there for the tip. It’s good to have Earl as he’s a really skilled driver and somebody who suits in very properly with our crew. Hopefully we will lastly get that well-earned win within the No. 4 Corvette this yr! To do it at Petit Le Mans can be unbelievable.”
EARL BAMBER, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R:
“I can’t wait. I did some simulator work just a few weeks in the past for the Corvette guys. It was actually good to be again with the Corvette Racing guys again on the store. I like the Z06 GT3.R and am wanting ahead to rounding out the yr in it. The automotive has been fast. We had the tempo and potential to podium earlier this yr. It’s definitely fast. I hope we will obtain one thing cool at Petit Le Mans.”
AWA RACING PRE-EVENT DRIVER QUOTES
MATT BELL, NO. 13 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R:
“I like the Petit Le Mans occasion. It actually is among the hardest sports activities automotive races on the earth. It’s an excellent intense race with one of the crucial packed fields of the season, however I at all times relish that problem. It’s what makes it such an incredible occasion. We’re coming right here after an especially aggressive efficiency within the Battle On The Bricks, and our focus stays firmly centered on securing the Bob Akin Award and reserving some aircraft tickets to France subsequent yr!”
OREY FIDANI, NO. 13 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R:
“We’re prepared to provide one remaining push this yr. Petit Le Mans is such an awesome race, the observe is quick and technical, and it actually places you to the check as a driver. We all know we will do properly right here, we completed on the rostrum in final yr’s occasion and we had a profitable couple of days of testing right here just lately. The automotive feels good, and I feel we’re all extraordinarily motivated and hungry for an additional nice consequence to complete off the yr and achieve the aim we set for ourselves at the start of the season.”
LARS KERN, NO. 13 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R:
“Petit Le Mans is among the finest IMSA occasions of the yr, and clearly we need to finish the season on a excessive. We had an awesome check at Highway Atlanta and we really feel properly ready for what can be a reasonably busy 10-hour race. Our Corvette confirmed nice reliability and efficiency at Indianapolis, so I’m assured for what’s up subsequent. The crew began the yr being new to the Corvette itself and to the GTD class as an entire. You’ll be able to solely think about how troublesome and intense this route has been, however we’ve constructed such an incredible, gifted group inside AWA. It’s an absolute pleasure being part of this crew and I’ve nice confidence for 2025. Right here’s to hoping we will reduce out the ‘Petit’ for one of many 2025 races.”
2024 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Factors
GTD PRO Drivers Standings
1. Laurin Heinrich – 2887
2. Ross Gunn – 2788
3. Bryan Sellers/Madison Snow – 2668
4. Ben Barnicoat/Jack Hawksworth – 2659
5. Alexander Sims/Antonio Garcia – 2646
7. Nicky Catsburg/Tommy Milner – 2452
GTD PRO Groups Standings
1. No. 77 AO Racing – 2887
2. No. 23 Coronary heart of Racing Staff – 2788
3. No. 1 Paul Miller Racing – 2668
4. No. 14 Vasser Sullivan – 2659
5. No. 3 Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports – 2646
6. No. 4 Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports – 2452
GTD PRO Producers Standings
1. Porsche – 2950
2. Aston Martin – 2828
3. Chevrolet – 2761
4. Lexus – 2730
5. Ford – 2681
GTD Drivers Standings
1. Philip Ellis/Russell Ward – 3006
2. Patrick Gallagher/Robby Foley – 2784
3. Mikael Grenier – 2513
4. Parker Thompson – 2213
5. Loris Spinelli/Misha Goikhberg – 2213
7. Matthew Bell/Orey Fidani – 2088
GTD Groups Standings
1. No. 57 Windward Racing – 3006
2. No. 96 Turner Motorsport – 2784
3. No. 32 Korthoff/Preston Motorsport – 2513
4. No. 78 Forte Racing – 2213
5. No. 34 Conquest Racing – 2204
6. No. 13 AWA – 2088
GTD Producers Standinga
1. Mercedes-AMG – 3217
2. BMW – 2646
3. Lamborghini – 2608
4. Porsche – 2607
5. Aston Martin – 2518
7. Chevrolet – 2360
Supply:
CorvetteRacing.com
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