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Tag: Nico Varrone

  • Corvette Teams Deliver Strong, Diverse Qualifying Results for the 2026 Rolex 24 at Daytona

    Corvette Teams Deliver Strong, Diverse Qualifying Results for the 2026 Rolex 24 at Daytona

    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.
    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.

    #81: DragonSpeed, Corvette Z06 GT3.R, GTD: Henrik Hedman, Giacomo Altoė, Casper Stevenson, Matteo Cairoli

    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.
    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…