Veteran Corvette ace will become first IMSA driver to make 100th post-merger start
DETROIT (May 10, 2023) – It’s a very special weekend for Corvette Racing’s Antonio Garcia. With the green flag for Sunday’s MOTUL Course de Monterey, the No. 3 Corvette C8.R ace driver will become the first driver in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship to make 100 starts in the series since the start of the post-merger era in 2014 when the American Le Mans Series and GRAND-AM joined together for one American sports car championship. Garcia and Jordan Taylor will share the No. 3 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Chevrolet Corvette as they have since 2020. All of Garcia’s previous 99 IMSA starts have come in a Corvette. To mark Sunday’s milestone start at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, we asked Garcia for three of his most memorable races in the series. So without further delay…
1. Sebring 2017
“My best race with Corvette? I think so. We struggled through much of the race but the car came alive with three hours left when I got in. It was like driving blind because the windscreen was so bad! But I knew I had to start passing cars if we wanted to win.”
2. Daytona 2021
“I remember this for many reasons. My grandfather and my manager Adrian Campos passed away a few days before. So I really wanted to win that one, and we managed it! But I had a false positive COVID test with four hours to go in the race and had to watch the end from a parking lot outside the track. Definitely a day I will never forget, but I’m happy it ended with a win and a watch!”
3. VIR 2018
“I tore the ACL in my knee literally three minutes before having to drive the car to the grid. The pain was really bad and it was a tough hour driving. Jan did an amazing job to finish P2 and move us into the points lead. I’m glad my injury didn’t compromise that race or the following, winning another championship with Jan and Corvette Racing.”
The MOTUL Course de Monterey Powered by Hyundai N is set for 12:10 p.m. PT / 3:10 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 14 and airs live on NBC with full streaming coverage on Peacock. IMSA Radio will have live audio coverage on XM 207, SiriusXM Online 992 and IMSA.com, which will have IMSA Radio coverage of all practice sessions, Saturday’s qualifying and Sunday’s race.
2023 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship – GTD PRO
(After three of 11 events)
Driver Standings
1. Ben Barnicoat/Jack Hawksworth – 1067
2. Daniel Juncadella/Jules Gounon – 994
3. Antonio Garcia/Jordan Taylor – 991
4. Klaus Bachler/Patrick Pilet – 989
5. Alex Riberas/Ross Gunn – 844
Team Standings
1. No. 14 Vasser Sullivan – 1067
2. No. 79 WeatherTech Racing – 994
3. No. 3 Corvette Racing – 991
3. No. 9 Pfaff Motorsports – 989
5. No. 23 Heart of Racing Team – 844
Manufacturer Standings
1. Lexus – 1067
2. Mercedes-AMG – 994
3. Chevrolet – 991
4. Porsche – 989
5. Aston Martin – 854
Source:
Corvette Racing at Chevrolet
Photo Credits: Richard Prince for Corvette Racing
Related:
Corvette Racing at Laguna Seca: 25 Years of Monterey Magic
Corvette Racing at Long Beach: Hard-Fought, Runner-Up Finish
Corvette Racing at Sebring: Fifth in Late-Race Carnage
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Antonio Garcia is one of the greatest race car drivers in the history of auto racing. Chevy Corvette Racing is fortunate to have him as one of their drivers. Go get ’em Antonio & Jordan (also a great driver). Get a win for Chevy Corvette Racing! Take no prisoners!
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