Corvette Teams face 2026 IMSA season with high expectations
The Corvette Z06 GT3.R, Chevrolet’s flagship contender for production-based GT3 competition worldwide, enters the 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship riding the momentum of a remarkable 2025 campaign. Last season proved to be a breakout year for the Z06 GT3.R platform, highlighted by a class victory in the GTD category at the Rolex 24 At Daytona, an overall win at VIRginia International Raceway, and a clean sweep of the Manufacturers’, Drivers’, and Teams’ championships in the fiercely competitive GTD PRO class. With such a successful foundation, expectations for Corvette teams heading into 2026 could hardly be higher.
The 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship officially gets underway this weekend with one of the most demanding endurance races in the world—the Rolex 24 Hours At Daytona. Corvette will be strongly represented throughout the season, with five Z06 GT3.R entries committed to the full championship across IMSA’s all-professional GTD PRO category and the Pro-Am GTD class. Together, these teams form a diverse and experienced lineup capable of challenging for wins and titles on every type of circuit IMSA offers.
In the GTD PRO class, Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports continues its long-standing factory-supported presence with the No. 3 and No. 4 entries. The No. 3 Corvette Z06 GT3.R will be driven by Antonio Garcia and Alexander Sims for the sprint rounds, with Marvin Kirchhöffer joining the lineup for endurance races. The sister No. 4 entry features the familiar pairing of Tommy Milner and Nicky Catsburg, with Nico Varrone stepping in for the longer endurance events. Aside from Kirchhöffer’s addition, the core driver lineups remain unchanged, reflecting stability and continuity following last season’s championship success.
Corvette’s presence in the GTD Pro-Am category is equally strong. The No. 13 entry, now competing under the 13 Autosport banner, features Orey Fidani and Matt Bell as full-season drivers, with Lars Kern contesting endurance races and Ben Green joining for Daytona. Although the name is new, the team itself is not—13 Autosport is effectively a rebrand of AWA, the defending GTD class winner at the Rolex 24, bringing proven race-winning credentials into 2026.
DXDT Racing returns with the No. 36 Corvette Z06 GT3.R, fielding Charlie Eastwood and Mason Filippi as its primary drivers. They will be joined by Salih Yoluc for endurance rounds and Scott McLaughlin for the season-opening Daytona event. Rounding out the Corvette lineup is DragonSpeed, which joins the Corvette family for 2026 with the No. 81 entry. The team brings a strong international pedigree and will feature Henrik Hedman and Giacomo Altoe full-time, with Casper Stevenson competing in endurance races and Matteo Cairoli handling Daytona duties.
The Rolex 24 At Daytona presents a unique challenge as the opening round of the IMSA season. Rather than easing teams into competition, IMSA begins with its longest and most physically demanding race—24 relentless hours around the Daytona International Speedway road course. For drivers and crews alike, the event tests preparation, discipline, and execution under constant pressure.
“It’s our biggest race of the year,” says Tommy Milner, driver of the No. 4 Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports entry. “With IMSA being so competitive, we have to be really on top of our game, making sure that we’re doing everything right.”
Even for Milner, a 15-year Corvette veteran and previous Daytona class winner, the significance of the Rolex 24 has not diminished. Beyond the prestige of winning one of endurance racing’s crown jewels, the race plays a critical role in shaping the championship outlook. “There’s no better way to set the tone for the rest of the season,” he notes.
Following Daytona, the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship spans 11 rounds across North America, concluding in October with the 10-hour Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. The 2026 schedule remains largely familiar, though there are a few notable changes. The event at Road America has been extended to a six-hour endurance race, while the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course round shifts to a two-hour, 40-minute sprint format. According to Milner, the stability of the calendar reduces uncertainty heading into the season.
“There’s not a lot of variables going into this season,” he explains. The Corvette Z06 GT3.R itself is largely unchanged from its 2025 specification, and while IMSA’s GTD PRO and GTD classes will utilize a new tire design this year, the overall characteristics are expected to be similar to what teams have already mastered.
Despite Corvette’s recent success, the challenge ahead remains formidable. IMSA’s GT categories feature massive grids packed with competitive, production-based machinery from rival manufacturers, leaving little margin for error. Yet history suggests that Corvette teams are well-equipped to meet the challenge. Years of race wins, championships, and endurance success have built a culture of resilience and precision—qualities that will be essential as Corvette looks to defend its position at the top of the IMSA field in 2026.
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