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.