Corvette Racing did not leave Laguna Seca with the GTD PRO win, but it left Monterey with something nearly as important this early in the IMSA season: control of the championship conversation.
The No. 4 Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R of Tommy Milner and Nicky Catsburg finished second in GTD PRO after starting eighth in class, turning a difficult opening position into one of the team’s strongest results of the year. It was not a straightforward afternoon. Milner had to manage the usual Laguna Seca traffic and early contact, while the Pratt Miller crew quickly recognized that the race would likely be decided as much by pit timing and fuel strategy as outright speed.
That call proved critical. By moving the No. 4 Corvette onto an alternate strategy, the team gave Catsburg a chance to bring the car back into contention during the second half of the race. As the GTD PRO field cycled through stops and fuel-saving strategies began to unravel late, Catsburg was positioned to capitalize. He came home second, just behind the winning Ford Mustang GT3, securing another podium for the No. 4 team.
For the No. 4 Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports Z06 GT3.R, Laguna Seca was a championship-building afternoon. Tommy Milner and Nicky Catsburg turned an eighth-place starting position into a second-place GTD PRO finish, using smart pit strategy and a disciplined closing run to stay in contention as the race became a fuel-and-timing exercise. The result gave the No. 4 Corvette its second straight podium and moved Milner, Catsburg, Chevrolet, and the Pratt Miller entry into the GTD PRO points lead. It was not the win they wanted, but it was the kind of measured, high-value result that defines a serious title campaign. (Image credit: Autosports.com)
More importantly, the finish moved Milner and Catsburg into the GTD PRO drivers’ championship lead. The No. 4 Corvette also took over the team standings, while Chevrolet moved to the top of the manufacturers’ championship. For a program still in the early stages of the Z06 GT3.R era, that is a meaningful marker.
The sister No. 3 Corvette of Antonio Garcia and Alexander Sims also delivered a solid points-paying result, finishing fourth in GTD PRO. Their strategy played out differently, with Sims among the drivers trying to stretch fuel late in the race. When the caution they needed never came, the No. 3 Corvette slipped out of podium position but still gave Corvette Racing both factory-supported entries inside the top four.
DragonSpeed’s No. 81 Corvette Z06 GT3.R had a quieter but useful afternoon at Laguna Seca, bringing the car home 11th in GTD after a cleaner run than some of its earlier-season outings. It was not the breakthrough result the team is chasing, but for a customer Corvette program still building rhythm with the Z06 GT3.R platform, finishing the race and gathering data represented a step in the right direction.
The customer Corvette programs had a more mixed afternoon. DragonSpeed’s No. 81 Corvette Z06 GT3.R finished 11th in GTD, giving the team a cleaner result after a difficult start to the season. The No. 13 13 Autosport Corvette retired with a mechanical issue, ending its day early.
Laguna Seca was not perfect for Corvette Racing, but it was productive. The Z06 GT3.R showed pace, the Pratt Miller pit stand made the right calls, and Corvette left California leading the GTD PRO title fight.
Corvette Racing turned a challenging Laguna Seca weekend into a championship-building result, with the No. 4 Z06 GT3.R landing on the GTD PRO podium and taking the points lead. The win slipped away, but Corvette’s two-car factory effort showed pace, strategy, and resilience when it counted.
DAYTONA BEACH, FL – What began as a promising title defense for Corvette Racing in this year’s 64th Rolex 24 at Daytona has unfolded into a dramatic endurance spectacle, with fortunes swinging wildly in both GTD PRO and GTD competition as the iconic 24-hour event nears its conclusion.
Corvette Racing, campaigned by Pratt & Miller Motorsports, entered two factory-supported Corvette Z06 GT3.R machines in the GTD PRO class — the No. 3 of Antonio García, Alexander Sims and Marvin Kirchhöfer and the No. 4 driven by Tommy Milner, Nicky Catsburg and Nico Varrone. The team arrived off a strong off-season and secured GTD PRO pole with the No. 3 Corvette, marking a high point for the program before racing began.
Drama Strikes the No. 3 Corvette
After running strongly through the first 19 hours of the race, Corvette’s championship hopes took a severe blow with a mechanical failure on the No. 3 Corvette. While running second in class and still well in contention with roughly five hours remaining, the right-rear suspension of the car gave way. The car limped back to the garage for repairs, effectively knocking the No. 3 Corvette out of contention for a class victory.
The incident was a stark reversal of fortune for the trio of García, Sims and Kirchhöfer, who had led much of the race from the front row early on and appeared set for another strong Daytona result. This marks one of the most significant GTD PRO setbacks of the 2026 event.
No. 4 Corvette Keeps Fight Alive
While the No. 3 car’s misfortune dominated headlines, its sister entry, the No. 4 Corvette Z06 GT3.R, has continued to run competitively in the GTD PRO class following the setback. At the time of the latest updates, the No. 4 Corvette was reported to be leading the GTD PRO battle, holding off rivals as strategy and attrition begin to shape the closing hours of the race.
This performance underscores the depth of Corvette’s GT3 program: despite one car falling out of contention, the remaining factory entry remains very much in the hunt for a class victory.
GTD Class: Corvette Customers in the Mix
The GTD class — populated with privateer and customer Corvette Z06 GT3.R entries — has seen intense competition throughout the 24-hour race. At the latest checkpoints, the GTD class lead was held not by a Corvette but by the #96 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 EVO, riding a solid margin over rivals.
Corvette Z06 GT3.R customer efforts — such as DXDT Racing’s No. 36 Corvette — had shown strong pace in qualifying and throughout the event, with Corvette machinery historically competitive in GTD. However, as of the latest timing, the top spots in GTD had been shuffled by incidents, strategy calls and ongoing punishing night conditions.
Race Conditions and Overall Standings
The 2026 Rolex 24 has been heavily influenced by weather — including dense fog that delayed action overnight — and a string of cautions that have kept the field tightly bunched across classes. Prototype entries such as Porsche Penske Motorsport’s factory 963s have asserted dominance overall, but the GT battles have remained dynamic and unpredictable.
With approximately one and half hours remaining in the race, competition across GTD PRO and GTD remains fierce. The AMG, Porsche and Ferrari GT3 entries are pressing the Corvettes hard, while strategy, tire life and pit execution will be decisive in the final run to the flag.
With just 90 minutes remaining in the 2026 Rolex 24 at Daytona, the race has shifted from endurance to execution. What began as a promising, multi-car charge for Corvette Racing has been reshaped by overnight drama, mechanical heartbreak, and a relentless GT battle that refuses to settle. As the field sprints toward the checkered flag,…
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Qualifying for the Rolex 24 at Daytona set the stage for another hard-fought endurance classic, and the five Corvette-entered teams produced a mix of headline-grabbing pace and strategically solid starting positions across both GTD PRO and GTD. With the grid now finalized, Corvette Racing and its customer partners head into the twice-around-the-clock marathon positioned to contend from multiple angles.
Corvette Racing celebrates a statement-making moment in Daytona Victory Lane after securing GTD PRO pole position for the Rolex 24 at Daytona. The No. 3 Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R delivered the pace when it mattered most, setting the tone for the twice-around-the-clock endurance classic. A strong qualifying result, a confident crew, and a Corvette ready to lead the field into one of the toughest races in motorsports.
The most eye-catching result came in GTD PRO, where Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports locked down class pole. In the No. 3 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R, Alexander Sims delivered a blistering lap to secure the Motul Pole Award, placing the car at the head of the GTD PRO field for Saturday’s start. Sims shares the No. 3 with Antonio Garcia and Marvin Kirchhöfer, and the trio’s qualifying performance reaffirmed Corvette’s outright speed in IMSA’s premier GT category.
#4: Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports, Corvette Z06 GT3.R, GTD Pro: Tommy Milner, Nicky Catsburg, Nico Varrone
The sister No. 4 Corvette Z06 GT3.R, also entered by Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports, qualified eighth in class. With Nicky Catsburg handling qualifying duties, the No. 4 crew—completed by Tommy Milner and Nico Varrone—secured a mid-pack starting spot that keeps the car within striking distance once endurance strategy and traffic management come into play.
The No. 36 DXDT Racing Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R flashes its qualifying pace at Daytona during sessions for the Rolex 24 at Daytona. A strong lap placed the DXDT Corvette near the sharp end of the GTD field, underscoring the team’s speed heading into the 2026 endurance classic. With qualifying complete, the focus now shifts from outright pace to execution, strategy, and survival over 24 demanding hours on the high banks of Daytona International Speedway.
In the highly competitive GTD category, Corvette customer teams showed encouraging pace and depth. DXDT Racing led the way for the customer entries, qualifying fourth in class with Charlie Eastwood setting the time in the No. 36 Corvette Z06 GT3.R. The result places DXDT firmly among the GTD frontrunners heading into race day.
Close behind, DragonSpeed continued its early progress with the Corvette platform by qualifying sixth in GTD. The No. 81 Corvette—shared by Giacomo Altoè, Henrik Hedman, Casper Stevenson, and Matteo Cairoli—earned a solid grid position that provides flexibility for pit strategy during the opening hours.
The No. 13 13 Autosport Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R heads down pit lane during qualifying for the Rolex 24 at Daytona. While the qualifying result placed the team deeper in the GTD field, Daytona has never been about a single lap. With 24 hours ahead, the focus now turns to clean execution, strategy, and endurance—areas where 13 Autosport has repeatedly proven it can fight its way forward when it matters most.
Rounding out the Corvette contingent, 13 Autosport qualified 16th in GTD with Orey Fidani behind the wheel. While the starting spot is deeper in the field, 13 Autosport enters the weekend with proven Daytona endurance credentials and will rely on consistency and clean execution to move forward over 24 hours.
Collectively, qualifying underscored the breadth of Corvette’s presence at Daytona: a class pole in GTD PRO, competitive top-10 pace throughout GTD, and multiple teams positioned to capitalize as the race inevitably evolves. When the green flag waves, all five Corvette entries will shift focus from outright speed to durability, traffic management, and strategy—hallmarks of success at the Rolex 24.
Sources IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship – Official Qualifying Results Corvette Racing / Pratt Miller Motorsports – Team Communications CorvetteBlogger – Rolex 24 Qualifying Coverage NBC Sports – Rolex 24 at Daytona Qualifying and Grid Reports
Qualifying for the Rolex 24 at Daytona offered the first true competitive snapshot of where Corvette Racing stands heading into IMSA’s biggest endurance test. Across five Corvette Z06 GT3.R entries—spanning factory-backed efforts and customer teams—the results revealed outright speed, strategic starting positions, and the kind of depth that defines success at Daytona. This article breaks…
Corvette Racing has appointed Andrea Hidalgo as its new Program Manager, a pivotal leadership role within the storied Chevrolet motorsport organization, as the 2026 racing season gets underway. Hidalgo steps into the position at one of the sport’s most critical junctures — just days before the Roar Before the 24 and the iconic Rolex 24 At Daytona — as Corvette continues its evolution in global GT competition.
The announcement, confirmed by both IMSA.com and RACER, marks a significant internal promotion for Hidalgo, who has spent the better part of two decades advancing through technical and racing-oriented engineering roles at General Motors and within the Corvette racing ecosystem.
A long-time GM engineer and Corvette specialist, Andrea Hidalgo brings deep technical and competitive experience to the program manager post. Before her promotion, she served as Senior Race Engine Calibration, Development, and Track Support Engineer for the Corvette Z06 GT3.R program at GM’s Performance and Racing Center, a role that saw her deeply involved in engine calibration and customer team support for GT3 competition.
In that capacity, Hidalgo supported Corvette customer teams like TF Sport in the FIA World Endurance Championship for the past two seasons, as well as in select European Le Mans Series (ELMS) events in 2025, providing a blend of on-site engineering acumen and program-level strategic execution.
Her responsibilities included not only calibration and development but also helping implement controls strategies — work that was important as Corvette customer programs worked toward meeting evolving FIA GT3 engine regulations worldwide.
Andrea Hidalgo brings a deeply technical, engineer-driven perspective to her role as Program Manager for Corvette Racing. With years of hands-on experience supporting the Corvette Z06 GT3.R program—spanning engine calibration, trackside development, and customer racing operations—Hidalgo represents the modern evolution of Corvette Racing leadership: rooted in data, shaped by competition, and focused on execution. Her appointment signals General Motors’ continued emphasis on technical continuity and engineering excellence as Corvette competes on the global GT3 stage.
Before ascending to her most recent engineering leadership roles, Hidalgo spent multiple seasons embedded within the factory Corvette Racing program, particularly during the C8.R era, contributing across myriad technical disciplines. Her résumé extends back to 2008, when she first joined General Motors as an intern and subsequently became part of GM’s production engineering team in 2010 — laying the foundation for her later motorsports work.
Her technical expertise spans a broad engineering portfolio, including combustion, drivability, aftertreatment, diagnostic systems, and transmission development, a diverse skill set that has anchored her progression through increasingly complex roles at GM.
Academically, Hidalgo is grounded in rigorous mechanical engineering training: she holds a Master of Engineering in Global Manufacturing and Automotive Engineering from the University of Michigan, and a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from Stony Brook University in New York. During her undergraduate years, she was an active member of the Stony Brook Motorsports SAE Baja team — an early indicator of her sustained commitment to motorsports engineering.
Her new leadership role comes amid organizational turnover within the broader Corvette Racing program. Hidalgo replaces Jessica Dane, who departed General Motors earlier in January 2026. Reports from multiple outlets note that Corvette Racing has now seen three different program managers in as many years, reflecting broader shifts within GM Motorsports leadership over the past several seasons.
The 2026 IMSA season roars to life next weekend at Daytona International Speedway, where the world’s top sports car teams converge for the Roar Before the 24 and the iconic Rolex 24 At Daytona. As the first true test of the new season, Daytona sets the tone with equal parts speed, endurance, and unpredictability—demanding precision from cars, crews, and drivers alike. Under the lights and over 24 relentless hours, reputations are forged, weaknesses are exposed, and championship ambitions begin their long march forward. For Corvette Racing and its rivals, Daytona isn’t just the opener—it’s the proving ground.
Dane, who joined GM in 2024 after relocating from Australia, had been instrumental in expanding Corvette Racing’s GT3 presence on the global stage before her exit, including strategic involvement in expanding the program to major international events such as the Bathurst 12 Hour.
Hidalgo’s first official assignment as Program Manager will be overseeing Corvette Racing’s campaign at the 64th Rolex 24 At Daytona on January 24–25, a marquee endurance race that serves as the season opener for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
Corvette’s program manager position is pivotal, combining managerial oversight with close technical interaction across engineering, strategy, and race operations. Past program managers, such as Doug Fehan — who led the team through much of its earlier success — helped shape Corvette’s legacy in endurance racing, including multiple overall and class victories at Daytona, Sebring, and Le Mans.
Hidalgo’s appointment signals Corvette Racing’s intent to maintain technical continuity and competitive rigor as it continues to navigate the complex demands of GT3 competition globally. Her combination of trackside experience, engineering depth, and institutional knowledge could prove integral as Corvette competes against a deep field of international manufacturers in 2026 and beyond.
Sources:
IMSA.com — “Andrea Hidalgo Appointed as Corvette Racing Program Manager.”
RACER — “Corvette Racing appoints Hidalgo as Program Manager.”
Sportscar365 — “Hidalgo Replaces Dane as Corvette Program Manager.”
V8Sleuth — “Jess Dane leaves General Motors.”
MidEngineCorvetteForum — Corvette historical context on program managers.
Corvette Racing has appointed Andrea Hidalgo as its new Program Manager, a pivotal leadership role within the storied Chevrolet motorsport organization, as the 2026 racing season gets underway. Hidalgo steps into the position at one of the sport’s most critical junctures — just days before the Roar Before the 24 and the iconic Rolex 24…
