Pratt Miller Motorsports Corvette Z06 GT3.R Achieves Historic 1-2 Finish in First IMSA Victory at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park
JULY 31ST, 2024
The new Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R achieved its first IMSA victory with a 1-2 finish for Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports in the GTD Pro class. The No. 3 Corvette, driven by Antonio Garcia and Alexander Sims, led most of the race and secured the win just ahead of the No. 4 Corvette driven by Nicky Catsburg and Tommy Milner. This win followed the car's maiden victory in GT World Challenge America earlier in the year, marking a significant milestone for Corvette Racing.
Domination by the #3 Corvette
The race at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park saw Sims and Garcia dominate, only briefly losing the lead during the first round of pit stops. Despite a full-course yellow triggered by a crash, the team maintained their lead to the finish. Garcia, who now holds wins with three generations of Corvette racers, emphasized the importance of this victory for the entire Corvette program, noting the team's consistent pace and execution throughout the season despite earlier setbacks.
“This is huge for the entire Corvette program,” said Antonio Garcia. “I’m glad that we could finally get the first win in IMSA for the Z06 GT3.R and to get my first win with Alex. We just need to carry on like this and build on the things we have been doing. More wins will come.”
A significant step forward in the short and long-term
This win was particularly notable as it was the first IMSA victory for the Z06 GT3.R, a car designed for international GT3 homologation and customer sales. The victory also added to Corvette Racing's impressive record, marking their 116th win in IMSA, ALMS, and Grand-Am competitions. Alexander Sims expressed his excitement about the performance and execution of the team, highlighting the significance of achieving a Corvette 1-2 finish at such a prestigious event for Chevrolet.
The victory at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park demonstrated the high levels of performance, reliability, and teamwork that define Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports, earning them well-deserved recognition and praise from Chevrolet executives.
“Congratulations to Antonio Garcia, Alexander Sims and the No. 3 team on winning the Chevrolet Grand Prix today at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park for the first victory in IMSA with the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R,” said Scott Bell, Vice President, Global Chevrolet.
“This is one of the world’s toughest categories of racing with a strong and deep field of GT manufacturers and teams. The high levels of performance, reliability and execution from the Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports drivers, crew and engineers were evident throughout the race. We congratulate them and the entire team for the hard-earned, one-two GTD PRO finish.”
Looking towards the remainder of the racing season
With four races remaining in the season, Sims and Garcia's win positions them fourth in the GTD PRO points standings, although a championship win remains a challenging goal. The team looks forward to their next opportunity at Road America, aiming to build on their success and continue their momentum.
