Michelin IMSA Insider: Corvette Racing at Crossroads

If history is written by the victors, the official Corvette Racing factory team, which concludes its American competition career in this weekend’s Motul Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, may spend several years writing its complete history.

Since its launch in 1999, the Michigan-based factory team operated by Pratt Miller has compiled an incredible record, winning 16 championships, nine victories in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and 127 worldwide race wins.

The Path to Victory

“The first stage was hard, developing the continuity and teaching people how to win. That doesn’t mean winning races. It means how you extract the maximum amount of performance from each person involved in the team,” said longtime program manager, now retired, Doug Fehan in a 2018 interview.

“When you achieve the initial success, that is when all eyes are on you…That serves as a magnet for attracting the best people.  Once they are there, they don’t want to leave, because success is very addictive.”

The Corvette Racing Secret

“Build that internal pride, based on that initial success. That’s the secret to longevity in this sport…  Create an environment people want to be part of. Then you empower your people to do what they do… “Short term views are not successful, ever. You have to have a long view in this business if you are going to succeed,” said Fehan.

Michelin certainly agrees with that philosophy.

Antonio Garcia, now in his 15th year with Corvette Racing said: “It is very rare to see a single manufacturer run this long and be this successful. Since the team started, they started developing and making big results, but that didn’t stop us from keep improving and accept every single challenge we have had over the years.”   

Focus Forward

Part of Corvette Racing success comes from its ability to look ahead, see opportunities for improvements and make the tough decisions.

It was such a recognition late in 2003 that led Corvette to make, what Fehan would later call, “one of the biggest decisions in Corvette Racing history,” the switch to Michelin as its technical partner beginning in 2004.

Now celebrating their 20th season together, Corvette Racing and Michelin have teamed up for seven victories in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in addition to 102 WeatherTech Championship wins, 13 driver and team championships, and 11 manufacturers championships.

Fehan’s successor, GM Sports Car Racing program manager, Laura Wontrop Klauser, and Corvette Z06 GT3.R program manager Christie Bagne have continue to deliver success with the Corvette C8.R, the first mid-engine Corvette production model.

The program claimed 2023 IMSA WeatherTech Championship wins at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and Virginia International Raceway and victory in this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans and the FIA World Endurance Championship.

What’s Next

Corvette Racing and Michelin are already working far ahead. The next step for Corvette Racing comes in 2024 with the new Corvette Z06 GT3 R.

Introduced at Daytona in January and tested throughout 2023 by double IMSA and Le Mans champion Tommy Milner, the new Corvette will make its competition debut at the Rolex 24 at Daytona in January 2024.

With the official factory program ending, a two-car team will enter 2024 IMSA WeatherTech Championship GTD Pro competition under the Corvette Racing with Pratt Miller Motorsports banner.

The drivers will be Garcia, Milner, Nicky Catsburg, and Alexander Sims.

In addition, the Canadian AWA team led by Andrew Wojteczko will campaign in the IMSA GTD class with technical support from Pratt Miller.

While the cars, structure and team name may change, given its history, leadership, technical team and drivers, the Corvette record of success is expected to continue.