Record-Breaking Lap Places Corvette Z06 GT3.R on Pole at WeatherTech Raceway

APRIL 30TH, 2024

Pratt Miller Motorsports' two Corvette Z06 GT3.R models stole the show with a record-setting performance, landing them on the front row for the Motul Course de Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on Sunday, May 12.

Nicky Catsburg's Record Lap

Nicky Catsburg won the Motul Pole Award in Grand Touring Daytona Pro (GTD PRO) with his record-setting lap of 1 minute, 19.727 seconds (101.054 mph). In the team’s sister car, the No. 3 Corvette driven by Antonio Garcia clocked in at 1:20.038, giving Corvette a sweep in the first IMSA race at WeatherTech Raceway since its offseason repave.

The Importance of Pole Position

In part because of the new surface, pole position was an important target for Catsburg and co-driver Tommy Milner, along with Garcia and his co-driver, Alexander Sims.

“We really put our emphasis on qualifying,” Catsburg said. “We know track position is going to be important here. It’s a low-degradation track now. We put a lot of effort into it, and it worked. The car felt amazing, so it was pretty much just doing some laps and letting the time get toward me. It worked out.”

A Strong Start and Early Challenges

The strong qualifying effort materialized into the first podium finish of the season for Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports as Nicky Catsburg and Tommy Milner finished third. Antonio Garcia and Alexander Sims finished fifth in GTD PRO in the No. 3 Corvette, which had its race compromised by an early full-course caution.

Catsburg led early from pole position and a strong pace early with Garcia right behind. The two Corvettes consistently ran within one second of each other while building a gap of upwards of three seconds to the third-place car in class.

Pit Stops and Race Strategy

Catsburg was the first of the Z06 GT3.Rs to make its first stop with four tires, fuel and a driver change to Milner at the 45-minute mark. But an issue on the pit stop and then a full-course yellow near the 50-minute mark turned the race on its head.

Garcia was set to pit the No. 3 Corvette when the yellow came out but had to wait until the GT pits opened with the field behind the safety car. He handed over to Sims, who left the pits in seventh place and mired in out-of-class GTD traffic. Meanwhile, Milner restarted second in class but was shuffled back to third by the eventual class-winner not long after the green flag dropped.

Final Pit Stops and Race Finish

The No. 3 Corvette was the first of the GTD PRO contenders to make its final stop, opting for right-side tires and fuel with less than 70 minutes left. The strategy pushed Sims from sixth when he entered the pitlane to fourth after the class pit cycle ended. Milner came back in for four tires and fuel about 10 minutes later after inheriting the lead and re-emerged third. The rest of the race went green with the Corvettes unable to make up ground in traffic.

Looking Ahead

The next IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship event for the Corvette Z06 GT3.R program is the Chevrolet Detroit Sports Car Classic on the streets of downtown Detroit on Saturday, June 1. Stay tuned for more exciting updates from Corvette Racing as they continue to push the limits of performance and speed.