Corvette Racing returns in ’24 with new car, new name
Since 1999, Corvette Racing has been competing in sports car racing via a partnership between Chevrolet and Pratt Miller Motorsports, with the team owned by Chevrolet.
That changes with the new GT3 era, which de-emphasizes corporate team ownership in favor of customer teams. Privateers buy the race cars from the manufacturers and run the operation themselves, often with the support of the company. The arrangement has worked well for Porsche, Mercedes-AMG, and Aston Martin, as well as other teams and manufacturers.
Today, it was announced that Corvette Racing will become Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports, beginning with the season-opening Rolex 24 at Daytona in January. Officials announced the formation of a program that will lead competition and development efforts with the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R.
Two of them, actually—Corvette is returning to a two-car effort with Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports, which will campaign a pair of the new-for-2024, GT3-spec Corvettes for a full season in the GT Daytona (GTD) Pro category of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The current car is technically a GT3, but it was retrofitted from its previous role as a GT Le Mans–class racer. The Z06 will be a full-fledged GT3 car. Ford, incidentally, recently announced a Mustang GT3 effort, so we’ll see the classic Ford-Chevy battle once again.
The factory-supported effort is the first of two 2024 WeatherTech Championship programs that feature the Corvette Z06 GT3.R. Additional customer programs will be announced in the coming weeks. Drivers for the GTD Pro effort will be revealed at a later date, as well. Rumors abound as to who the second factory-supported team will be, with even Hendrick Motorsports’ name tossed into the mill.
The link-up between Chevrolet and Pratt Miller Motorsports is a natural fit. The current full-factory Corvette Racing program is in the midst of its 25th season with 125 race victories to date, the most recent coming at the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the team’s ninth class win at the famed French classic. Also for the second year in a row, Corvette Racing has programs in both IMSA and the FIA World Endurance Championship with the Corvette C8.R, now in its final season of competition.
“Chevrolet and Pratt Miller have collaborated for more than 25 years on the Corvette Racing program, and we are thrilled that we are able to continue together into the GT3 era,” said Christie Bagne, Corvette Z06 GT3.R program manager.
***
Check out the Hagerty Media homepage so you don’t miss a single story, or better yet, bookmark it. To get our best stories delivered right to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletters.
I have heard the first year that up to 8 cars will race in various series globally.
Pratt and Miller was a given and this means the same team we know and love continues to race.
I was one of the first to point out that the Garage 56 team with the Camaro was not just a show case of a possible global spec car that could be raced in various series but it was also recon for Hendrick Motorsports to field a Corvette team.
Rick is one of the biggest Corvette collectors as well past GTP Corvette team owner. Who better to field an effort to run IMSA or in Europe.
I expect others to apply to GM and the number of teams can change depending on just who wants to apply. I don’t think Chevy will turn down a team if they are a potential winner.
Note too that new tires may be in the mix too as I have seen Goodyear’s on the Mustang and I hear Pirelli was testing.
This deal could really be the major glory years of Corvette racing.
Goodyear is the new LMGT3 tire provider in WECand Pirelli is the provider for World Challenge, and Michelin is the IMSA GTD tire provider; I’ll let you do the math.
Goodyear was on the new GT3 entry when shown.
Changes are coming.
This will be interesting to see. The Corvette team has been quite successful and it will be interesting to see what other teams do with the cars.
So it really is just semantics the move to a rtwo car team shows increased involvement not less. Only the team name rides off into the sunset.