Corvettes Conquer Daytona: Dominating 1-2 Qualifying Finish Secured
Corvette Racing at Daytona: Corvettes Qualify 1-2… Again!" />
Photo Credit: Richard Prince for Corvette Racing
The roar of powerful engines is synonymous with Daytona, but the unmistakable growl of the Corvette Z06 GT3.R has been particularly notable this year. Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports made an emphatic statement with a stellar 1-2 finish in the GTD PRO class qualifying round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s Chevrolet Detroit Sports Car Classic.
Antonio Garcia showcased his skills in the No. 3 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R, securing the pole position with an impressive lap time of 1:09.092 (85.711 mph) around Detroit’s challenging 1.654-mile nine-turn street circuit. Following closely was teammate Tommy Milner in the No. 4 Corvette, trailing by a mere 0.336 seconds.
Engineering Excellence and Strategic Mastery
The second consecutive pole position for the Z06 GT3.R signifies not just skill but unrelenting engineering excellence. Previously, Nicky Catsburg, Milner’s teammate, claimed the pole at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, adding yet another garland to Corvette Racing’s already illustrious reputation. The Laguna Seca race saw the dynamic duo finish third, making a promising podium debut for the Z06 GT3.R.
Scott Bell, Vice President, Global Chevrolet, was brimming with pride as he commended Antonio Garcia’s pole-winning performance. “The second consecutive pole position for our new Corvette GT3 entry in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship highlights our engineering prowess and the commitment of the entire team,” Bell exclaimed.
Precision Preparation Leading to Success
Preparations for this thrilling event weren’t left to chance. Extensive sessions in Chevrolet’s Driver-in-the-Loop simulator, complemented by insights from the NTT INDYCAR program, laid a robust foundation. Engineers leveraged every ounce of simulation data to maximize real-world performance, yielding fantastic results in pre-qualifying runs. Alexander Sims, Garcia’s co-driver in the No. 3 Corvette, topped the GTD PRO category during the first practice session, with Milner leading the subsequent practice session.
All eyes are now on the Chevrolet Detroit Sports Car Classic, scheduled to kick off at 3:10 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 1. Fans can catch the action live on USA Network, with streaming available on Peacock. For those on the go, IMSA Radio will broadcast the race at IMSA.com, and on XM 206 and SiriusXM Online 996.
Insights from the Drivers’ Seat
Antonio Garcia, No. 3 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R
Reflecting on his commanding performance, Garcia remarked, “Our primary goal was to secure the front, and achieving another one-two finish with our yellow Corvettes makes it even sweeter. Our challenge now is to maintain our top position, unlike what happened at Laguna Seca. Smart strategizing is vital, especially in a race with potential yellow flags.”
Addressing race dynamics, Garcia emphasized, “Track position is crucial here, where passing is nearly impossible. We need to anticipate all possibilities and remain smart. It would be amazing to see a Corvette one-two finish at the RenCen!”
Tommy Milner, No. 4 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R
Milner, while satisfied with his second-place qualifying, admitted, “I would’ve preferred P1, but it’s fantastic to be here in Detroit with both Corvettes on the front row. The key now is translating this into a victory. Our cars are exceptional, and if we perform well, we’ll be in a strong position.”
Talking about race expectations, Milner added, “It’s going to be tough, especially with the strong competition from Lexus and Porsche. Their aggressive style means we need to be ready to defend and match their pace.”
With the Corvettes leading the charge, the upcoming race promises high stakes and thrilling competition. Stay tuned as Corvette Racing continues to push boundaries and set benchmarks in the world of motorsport.