Corvette Confirms Tandy, Sims

Photo: IMSA/BMW

Nick Tandy and Alexander Sims have been confirmed at Corvette Racing as replacements for Oliver Gavin and Marcel Fassler.

As first revealed by Sportscar365 last month, the pair of Englishmen will join the Pratt & Miller-run factory squad in full-season and endurance capacities, respectively, in the No. 4 Chevrolet Corvette C8.R alongside Tommy Milner.

The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GT Le Mans class championship-winning No. 3 entry of Jordan Taylor, Antonio Garcia and Nicky Catsburg remains unchanged for the 2021 season.

Tandy, who has spent the last eight years as a Porsche factory driver, makes the move to GM following the conclusion of the German manufacturer’s GT Le Mans class program.

The Englishman holds 15 career IMSA class wins, all in the GT ranks and is coming off a solid end to the 2020 season with victory at Motul Petit Le Mans and the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.

“Since I’ve been racing in IMSA and at Le Mans, Corvette Racing has been the team that everyone looks up to,” Tandy said. “Many operations aspire to get to the level that Corvette Racing operates at.

“It’s something I’ve always looked at, and it’s impressed me.

“The fact that the opportunity arose where I could join the team and stay racing within IMSA is a dream opportunity.

“You look at the history of Corvette Racing, and it’s been a team that has consistently been in top-level motorsport. And not just competing but winning races and championships wherever they go. It’s an appealing aspect.

“I hope I can add something to the party and continue that successful legacy that Corvette Racing has. I’d very much like to be part of the next chapter.”

Sims, who won this year’s Nürburgring 24, is a former BMW factory driver, having most recently contested the ABB Formula E championship and also a stint with Team RLL in the WeatherTech Championship from 2017-18.

“During my two previous years in IMSA, it was clear the level that Corvette Racing is on,” he said. “I have such fantastic memories of battling with some of the Corvette guys, and some of those battles went against me!

“My appreciation and respect for Corvette Racing certainly increased.

“It’s a team that always seemed to be able to achieve a result, even if the track wasn’t one that suited its cars perfectly.

“If someone was going to make something out of a difficult situation, it usually was Corvette Racing.

“Now, to have a chance to be in that fold and be part of the program with the absolute pros on this team is really quite special.”

Taylor and Garcia, meanwhile, will be back for their second consecutive year together in the No. 3, following five class wins and six poles en route to a sweep of the GTLM titles.

Confirmation of Corvette’s driver lineup has solidified the fact that Gavin will not be part of the team’s IMSA program next year.

All six of its 2021 drivers are expected to be in action next week at Sebring International Raceway, as part of a two-day private test.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John