The first customer team for the new Corvette Z06 GT3.R was just announced. Corvette Z06 GT3.R Program Manager Christie Bagne has confirmed that TF Sport will be switching from Aston Martin to Corvette for the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship and will be competing with two new Z06 GT3.Rs in the new LMGT3 class.
The British team owned and run by Tom Ferrier will be racing two of the eight Z06 GT3.R racers confirmed for the 2024 racing season. The Z06 GT3.Rs are replacing the Corvette C8.R which was first introduced in 2020 and will be retired at the end of the year.
“We are excited to welcome TF Sport to the Corvette Racing family,” said Christie Bagne, the Corvette Z06 GT3.R program manager. “Tom Ferrier and his organization showcase the elements we were looking for in a team to run our Corvette Z06 GT3.R in the FIA WEC– a first-class operation, strong collaboration and a history of success. We look forward to working with Tom and his team to make the Z06 GT3.R a success in the WEC and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2024 and beyond.”
No drivers have yet to be announced for TF Sports, but it has been speculated that Corvette’s factory drivers may be part of the line-up.
TF Sport has been campaigning the Aston Martin since 2014 and they won Le Mans in the car in 2020 while also taking the WEC GTE-Am class championship in 2022.
Ferrier expressed his gratitude to Aston Marin and discussed his move to Corvette:
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to represent such an iconic brand on the world stage,” he said. “Corvette Racing has an immense history at Le Mans and we will be looking to continue that run of success.
“I’d like to thank everyone at Aston Martin Racing for the support and success we have had over the past six years and seven Le Mans but now I feel the time is right for a new challenge in the WEC.
“We still have a job to do in this year’s WEC, now lying second in the championship. and will give it our all to finish on a high.”
TF Sport will still need approval from the WEC to run the new Z06 GT3.R Corvettes, but series organizers are expected to give preference to manufacturers who are also racing in the Hypercar class, and Cadillac has already announced two LMDh racers will be fielded in the WEC next year.
To support its European racing support efforts, GM plans to run its customer operation out of a new location in Europe.
“To do a proper job in Europe we want to make sure we have a setup that will likely include some type of headquarters that we can run parts in and out of,” GM sports car racing program manager Laura Wontrop Klauser said.
Stay tuned, as additional customer team announcements for IMSA and SRO America series will be made in the coming weeks.
Source:
Racer.com
Related:
Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports Set for 2024 Debut
Corvette Racing Will End its Factory-Backed Program Following Completion of the 2023 Racing Schedule
Pratt Miller Engineering to Provide Customer Support for the Corvette Z06 GT3.R Program
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The new Corvette teams need to make sure they get the support needed from GM…. Corvette Racing (GM) cannot screwup this opportunity….
This is good news. They’re one of the best teams out there.
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