TF Sport Shakes Down LMGT3 Corvettes in Dubai

TF Sport shook down its pair of Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs ahead of the car’s FIA World Endurance Championship debut at the upcoming Qatar 1812km.

The two cars, fitted with their race liveries, turned laps at the Dubai Autodrome as part of a two-day test to prepare for the team’s first season with Corvette.

At least six drivers took part in the test, with Bronze-rated drivers Tom van Rompuy and Hiroshi Koizumi both on site, as well as factory stars Daniel Juncadella and Charlie Eastwood and Silver-rated additions Rui Andrade and Sebastien Baud.

Belgian racer Van Rompuy, who previously competed in LMP3 and LMP2, will share the yellow-nosed No. 81 machine with Andrade and Eastwood, while the sister lineup sees Koizumi and Juncadella team up with Frenchman Baud.

The Tom Ferrier-led operation will be the first team to represent Corvette in WEC’s new LMGT3 category, stepping into a new chapter after many years of racing Aston Martin machinery.

The team enjoyed a highly successful alliance with the British manufacturer in WEC, securing seven class wins (including two at the 24 Hours of Le Mans), a further 14 podiums and winning the GTE-Am title in 2022.

Juncadella, who will be making his WEC debut in his new role as Corvette factory driver is cautiously optimistic about the team’s chances for its first year with the GM brand, but stressed vigilance.

“I know there will be support from Corvette in the early days, because everything is so new,” Juncadella told Sportscar365.

“But the TF Sport guys are also very high-level. I got to know them last year when we did a test at COTA, and they are highly motivated to be successful.

“Still, we have to accept that it’s early days and we can’t go into the first round thinking we’re going to blow the field away.”

Juncadella had his first outing as a Corvette factory driver in the recent Rolex 24 at Daytona, finishing fifth in class as part of the Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports stable in GTD Pro.

The Spaniard believes the mileage clocked in what was a trouble-filled debut race for the Corvette Z06 GT3.R will be a benefit for the driver crew aboard the No. 82 car.

“I’m the kind of driver who doesn’t like to set expectations too high, I don’t think that helps the mentality and the focus,” he said.

“But on the other hand it’s great to be doing all this mileage in the car ahead of the season, because it will give me the experience to help guide the team in the first weeks.

“It’s a brand-new car, it’s a new championship for me, and it’s Pro-Am, so there are many things coming into play.

“My main focus is to help my teammates get up to speed as quickly as possible, because they will have more impact on the speed of the car.”

Jamie Klein contributed to this report