Rockenfeller Ruled Out at Corvette Due to DTM Clash

Photo: Mike Levitt/IMSA

Mike Rockenfeller will not return to Corvette Racing next year, having been ruled out of his endurance seat with the factory squad due to a clashing DTM race with the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The Audi factory driver has been on loan to GM for the last two editions of the French endurance classic, as well as being the third driver in the No. 3 Corvette C7.R for the Michelin Endurance Cup races in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship since 2015.

Sportscar365 understands that the Pratt & Miller-run squad has opted for a new driver that can contest all four races, including Le Mans, rather than retaining the 36-year-old German for the IMSA enduros only.

Rockenfeller, as well as several other sports car veterans, including Loic Duval and Paul Di Resta, face the likelihood of missing Le Mans due to the DTM round at Anderstorp in Sweden, which ITR boss Gerhard Berger confirmed will not be moved on its 2020 schedule.

“Of course, I understand the complexity of calendar planning and all the various events that have to be taken into account, but a clash between a DTM round and Le Mans is really annoying,” Rockenfeller said during last weekend’s ‘Dream Race’ at Fuji Speedway.

“Audi have always been very helpful in letting me race elsewhere, and particularly with Corvette, but there is no doubt that in this case, my DTM season has priority. And that means I can’t be with Corvette.”

Confirmation on Corvette’s new endurance driver for the No. 3 car, which will be driven next year by Jordan Taylor and Antonio Garcia, is expected to be made in the coming weeks.

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