As the current Corvette racing program draws to a close, we are happy to know that our 2023 FIA World Endurance Champion (WEC) team finished the season on a high note by completing an eight-hour WEC race in Bahrain. Masu. The team finished in a disappointing 7th place in its class at the final race of the season, but its 2nd place finish at Spa gave it a total of wins at the opening FIA WEC races, the 1000 Miles of Sebring, the 8 Hours of Portimao, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The 2023 Corvette Racing GTE AM team was able to win both the driver championship and team championship. In fact, the team won these championships at the end of the historic WEC Monza circuit race on July 9, 2023, but they were finally able to close out the racing season in Bahrain and fully celebrate a great season. Ta.
For those who aren’t familiar, the WEC Series uses a “reward weight” system that increases or decreases the weight of every car in the field by tracking each race’s position and overall position during the season. To do. This season’s championship ranking. Considering that Chevrolet’s No. 33 Mobil 1/Sirius I gained 35 pounds (35 kg). This extra weight includes his 33 lb (15 kg) for leading the championship, his 22 lb (10 kg) from his second place finish at the previous race at Fuji, and his 22 lb (10 kg) from his second place finish at the previous race at Fuji. Includes an additional 22 lbs (10 kg) with great performance.
While this type of performance impediment may sound unsportsmanlike, it is common practice in the WEC and agreed upon by all teams admitted to the event. be. And it’s not just the “compensation weights” that have had a negative impact on race teams. The WEC sanctioning body also required Corvette racing teams to install smaller restrictor plates than those previously used in racing, reducing the plate thickness from 41.3mm to 40.7mm. . While a 1.4mm reduction may not seem significant, it has a significant impact on the engine. The team loses about 10 horsepower, which definitely puts it at a competitive disadvantage if the team utilizes all of the available power throughout the race event. It is also worth noting that the C8.R was already competing with less horsepower than other his GTE Am class vehicles throughout the entire race season.
Based on both of these items, it seemed likely that the Corvette Racing team would not perform as well in Bahrain. Nevertheless, the team remained optimistic about its chances, especially considering its overall performance history on Bahrain’s 3.36-mile road course. Corvette Racing finished second in GTE Pro during the 2022 WEC season thanks to extremely talented team drivers Tommy Milner and Nick Tandy. Ben Keating, this year’s Corvette Racing bronze driver, has won twice in GTE AM at the Bahrain International Circuit. The team’s Platinum driver, Nicky Catsburg, has two top-five finishes in the 2022 World Touring Car Cup, and the team’s Silver-rated driver, Nico Varone, was behind the wheel of the C8.R in Bahrain last year. He has proven his ability. This year’s rookie test.
The team were aware of the challenge they faced as Keating, who had taken three pole positions in the six races leading up to Bahrain, could only manage a starting position fifth in class. To make matters worse, the teams struggled for position after several prototype cars collided with each other at the start of the race, causing the GTE AM cars to scramble out of position to avoid collisions. Keating slowed the Corvette and avoided trouble, but his actions caused the team to fall back four positions from their starting point. Fortunately, the team’s strategist advised Keating to pit early, and this decision allowed Keating time to return to the field and prepare for the remaining on-track sessions. In subsequent sessions, he drove his C8.R Corvette to fourth place in its class.
As the race approached the three hour mark, Nico Varone took over driving responsibilities and was able to run the car all the way to fourth place. Vallone suffered from tire deterioration due to the track’s high temperatures and generally rough surface. With two hours left in the race, Nicky Catsburg took over driving responsibilities for the final stint of the race. By the time he took over control of the car, the team had fallen to eighth in class. However, considering the car’s increased weight and reduced power, Catsburg could only advance the car to his disappointing seventh place in class. Although the final race had no bearing on the team’s championship standings, Vallone, Keating, and Catsburg all wanted to achieve the best possible finish in the final race of the season.
Despite a disappointing result in Bahrain, the WEC Corvette Racing Team finished the 2023 race in style thanks to championship-winning performances throughout the race season. More than that, since the introduction of Chevrolet’s mid-engine race car C8.R in 2020, the WEC and IMSA Corvette Racing programs have participated in a total of 82 events, including Daytona, Sebring, Le Mans, and both race series. won the championship. The race in Bahrain marks the end of the Chevrolet-backed Corvette racing program, but the past accomplishments of this great racing program are a precursor to what comes next: the Pratt Miller Motorsports Corvette Racing Program worldwide. We also laid the foundation for The new 2024 Z06 GT3.R Corvette race car at the Rolex 24 at Daytona in January 2024.
Congratulations to Corvette Racing…and thank you so much for the years of great racing in both IMSA and WEC. I can’t wait for the next chapter to begin!!!