Corvette Confirms Parallel IMSA, WEC Efforts; GT3 Car for 2024

Image: Corvette Racing

Corvette Racing has confirmed that it will tackle full seasons of both the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and FIA World Endurance Championship for the first time next year, while also finalizing plans for its all-new Corvette Z06 GT3.R car for 2024.

Announced on Thursday ahead of this weekend’s WeatherTech Championship season-ending Motul Petit Le Mans, single-car efforts will be undertaken in both the IMSA GTD Pro class and WEC GTE-Pro categories in 2022.

Antonio Garcia and Jordan Taylor will contest the full ten-round GTD Pro season in a modified version of the current GTE-spec Chevrolet Corvette C8.R while Tommy Milner and Nick Tandy will take on all six races of the WEC in the GTE-Pro class.

Nicky Catsburg will rejoin Garcia and Taylor for the IMSA enduros with Alexander Sims back as well for the long-distance WEC races.

The Pratt & Miller-run squad is targeting to gain a second invite for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in what is currently the team’s only planned two-car appearance next year.

As revealed by Sportscar365 last month, GM had been evaluating a dual series program for 2022, amid IMSA and the ACO’s transition to full GT3 specification machinery.

“This is the most ambitious schedule that Corvette Racing has faced in its nearly 25 years of competition,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet U.S. Vice President, Performance and Motorsports.

“It will be an honor to race in both the IMSA and WEC series at some of the best tracks in the world.”

The GTD Pro Corvette C8.R, which will run on class-wide Michelin S9M customer tires, is set to feature a revised wing profile, GT3 class-mandated anti-lock brakes and a slightly decreased power output defined by IMSA.

It’s understood IMSA has agreed to a two-year waiver to run the modified version of the C8.R in the class prior to the arrival of its all-new GT3 car.

Corvette is officially the second team to confirm its participation in GTD Pro, joining a single-car Lexus RC F GT3 entry from Vasser Sullivan Racing.

Additional entries from Porsche and Lamborghini customer teams as well as at least one Team RLL-run BMW M4 GT3, are expected in the new-for-2022 class.

Corvette Z06 GT3.R Set for 2024 Debut 

GM has also firmed up plans for a Corvette C8 built to the FIA GT3 technical regulations, which will be available to customer teams beginning in 2024 (pictured above).

First reported by Sportscar365 in July, the Corvette Z06 GT3.R will be based on the recently launched Z06 production car.

It will utilize a 5.5-liter DOHC LT6 V8 engine with the same flat-plane crankshaft architecture that powers the Corvette C8.R.

Chevrolet, for the first time, will offer a “turn-key, customer focused” Corvette for GT3 competition worldwide.

“It’s an exciting time for Corvette – first with the reveal of the production Z06 and now confirming the Corvette Z06 GT3.R for customer racers,” said Mark Stielow, Chevrolet Director of Motorsports Competition Engineering.

“The availability of the Z06 GT3.R will allow customer race teams the opportunity to campaign a Corvette that has benefited from Corvette Racing’s rich history.”

Additional details such as pricing and support package options have not yet been confirmed.

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