Corvette Racing at Laguna Seca: Together Again!

Trio of Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs seek to deliver first wins of the IMSA season

DETROIT (May 8, 2024) – Following GTD-only round last month just down the California coast, the Corvette Z06 GT3.R program in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship is back in full this weekend just off the Monterey coast.

Scenic WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca plays host Sunday to the Motul Corse de Monterey and the first standard-length race on the IMSA calendar – two hours and 40 minutes. The event also is the first for IMSA on a track surface that was repaved last summer and has received rave reviews from Corvette drivers and their competitors.

The three Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs in IMSA – the No. 3 and No. 4 GTD PRO entries from Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports and the No. 13 GTD entry from AWA – spent two days testing at the 2.238-mile, 11-turn circuit in April to get a head start on car setup and understanding tire degradation levels with the increased grip level in the new blacktop.

The goal is twofold – to give each team the best chance of scoring their first victories with the first-year Corvette Z06 GT3.R and to extend the Corvette brand’s record of success at the circuit. WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is one of three tracks – Sebring and Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta later this year are the others – to play host to Corvette Racing entries every season since the program’s debut in 1999.

The track record in Monterey is impressive: eight class victories for Corvette Racing since 2004 and 12 total manufacturer wins for Chevrolet.

The AWA and Pratt Miller teams have differing levels of experience at Laguna Seca. The GTD PRO squad will race there for the 26thh consecutive year – and its drivers have a combined six victories at the circuit including Antonio Garcia and Tommy Milner with multiple wins.

On the AWA side of the paddock, the first-year Corvette team has never raced in Monterey, and only Orey Fidani has previous race experience there – 2021 in the Michelin Pilot Challenge series.

The Motul Corse de Monterey is scheduled for 3:10 p.m. ET / 12:10 p.m. PT on Sunday, May 12. The race will air live on NBC with full streaming coverage also on Peacock. IMSA Radio will air Saturday’s final practice and qualifying plus Sunday’s race at IMSA.com along XM 206, SiriusXM Online 996.

CORVETTE RACING BY PRATT MILLER MOTORSPORTS
PRE-EVENT DRIVER QUOTES

ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R:

“I always enjoy going to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca and it’s a pleasure to drive. We had a good test there with the Z06 GT3.R and experienced the new asphalt on the track. There is a ton more grip in the track but it is unknown how the race will play out with the combination of the grip level and tire degradation. We have had strong runs there the last two years so hopefully this is the year we can break through for another win.”

ALEXANDER SIMS, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R:

“It’s been several years since my last GT race at Laguna Seca, although I had a good experience racing the Cadillac there last year in GTP. I always enjoyed competing there as the track presents a massive challenge with grip and tire degradation, even with a new surface. The Monterey area is fantastic and is always enjoyable. I’m looking forward to going back there, this time with the Corvette. We’re right on the cusp of breaking through with this new Z06 GT3.R. Hopefully this is the weekend.”

TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R:

“I’m happy to go back to Laguna Seca. I’ve been away from the Monterey area for a couple of years so it will be nice to get familiar with the track and that part of the world again. There have been some positive changes to the facility since the last time I was there, including the new track surface, which looks pretty good based on what I’ve heard from both Antonio and Nicky. That’s always nice for us as competitors and it makes for good racing for the fans, as well. The last time I raced there, we came away with a win in the No. 4 Corvette. I’m hoping it’s our turn again this weekend.”

NICKY CATSBURG, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R:

“It was very eye-opening to test at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. I hadn’t been to the track since 2019 in IGTC. But I was very happy to be back and to drive the Corvette again. This is a great track and is an example of why it’s fun to race in America. The elevation changes are massive and there are real penalties for going off-track. Everyone talks about the Corkscrew and while it is very iconic, there are a lot of sections of the track that you have to nail in order to put together a good lap. So I would say we are optimistic going into this weekend and hopeful for a first win for the Z06 GT3.R.”

AWA PRE-EVENT DRIVER QUOTES

MATT BELL, NO. 13 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R:

“It’ll be another new experience for me at Laguna as I’ve never raced there before, same as Long Beach. The Long Beach weekend was very strong for the team, and the car was really strong, so we’re aiming to take that momentum into this weekend. We want our first GTD podium!”

OREY FIDANI, NO. 13 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R:

“I think Laguna Seca is a track that every driver wants to race at and looks forward to driving on. I’m excited to be returning here. It’s a track I’m particularly fond of, and myself and Matt have been putting in a lot of work to make sure we’re coming into this round well prepared and ready to hit the ground running. We had a good result last time in Long Beach, and we’ve been steadily improving at each event, so our goal is to continue that progress and challenge for another top finish with our Corvette.”

2024 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Points

GTD PRO Drivers Standings
1. Daniel Serra/Davide Rigon/James Calado – 722
2. Bryan Sellers/Madison Snow/Neil Verhagen – 624
3. Ben Barnicoat/Jack Hawksworth/Kyle Kirkwood – 617
4. Laurin Heinrich/Michael Christensen/Seb Priaulx – 605
5. Franck Perera/Jordan Peppe/Mirko Bortolotti – 596
8. Alexander Sims/Antonio Garcia/Daniel Juncadella – 520
11. Nicky Catsburg/Tommy Milner/Earl Bamber – 473

GTD PRO Teams Standings
1. No. 62 Risi Competizione – 722
2. No. 1 Paul Miller Racing – 624
3. No. 14 Vasser Sullivan – 617
4. No. 77 AO Racing – 605
5. No. 19 Iron Lynx – 596
8. No. 3 Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports – 520
11. No. 4 Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports – 473

GTD PRO Manufacturers Standings
1. Lexus – 637
2. Porsche – 625
3. Lamborghini – 596
4. Aston Martin – 594
5. Ford – 547
6. Chevrolet – 542

GTD Drivers Standings
1. Philip Ellis/Russell Ward – 987
2. Patrick Gallagher/Robby Foley – 802
3. Parker Thompson – 792
4. Albert Costa Balboa/Manny Franco – 765
5. Adam Adelson/Elliott Skeer – 740
12. Matt Bell/Orey Fidani – 613

GTD Teams Standings
1. No. 57 Windward Racing – 987
2. No. 96 Turner Motorsport – 802
3. No. 34 Conquest Racing – 765
4. No. 120 Wright Motorsports – 740
5. No. 32 KorthoffPreston Motorsport – 728
10. No. 13 AWA – 613

GTD Manufacturers Standings
1. Mercedes-AMG – 1,077
2. Lexus – 912
3. Porsche – 886
4. Lamborghini – 884
5. Chevrolet – 776

Source:
Corvette Racing

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