Corvette Racing has announced the addition of four new drivers to its works driver roster for the 2024 season with the new Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R.
Daniel Juncadella, Earl Bamber, Charlie Eastwood, and Nico Varrone will join the existing quartet of Corvette Racing factory drivers: Antonio Garcia, Tommy Milner, Nicky Catsburg, and Alexander Sims, in programmes across the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship and the FIA World Endurance Championship.
“As we move into GT3 and customer racing, it is important that we add to our roster of drivers that are available to teams,” said Christie Bagne, Corvette Z06 GT3.R programme manager. “We are excited about the wealth of experience in our Corvette factory lineup. Both GM and our teams will benefit from the learnings from each driver.”
Both Juncadella and Bamber will be part of the new Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports team in the IMSA GTD Pro class, driving at the series’ three longest events: The Rolex 24 at Daytona, Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring, and Motul Petit Le Mans. In these three IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup rounds, Juncadella will share a car with Garcia and Sims, while Bamber will join Milner and Catsburg.
Juncadella, a champion of the Daytona 24 Hours, Spa 24 Hours, and Indianapolis 8 Hour races, will also race full-time in FIA WEC with TF Sport, Corvette Racing’s representative in the new LMGT3 class.
“I’ve been a witness to what it means to be a Corvette driver in the U.S. That means a really big fanbase. That’s pretty exciting, to be honest,” Juncadella said about his move to Corvette after a decade-long association with Mercedes-AMG. “to see the legacy that Corvette Racing has created in the U.S. and to see the amount of awareness about the brand is very exciting. It makes me proud and it feels quite unique to be a Corvette factory driver.”
It will also give Juncadella his first opportunity to compete at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. “I was already in talks with Corvette so I knew it might be one of my possibilities for next year, and that made me be more interested in the race. It will be my first time competing in WEC and in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and I can’t wait to meet everyone in the team and get to work.
“This year was a big year for Hypercar and all the brands coming together with the new regulations. It was an interesting year with a lot of stuff – the Centenary, the last year of GTE… I have to say I was a bit worried that Corvette was winning again because I was like, ‘They are winning so much this year that it’s going to make it difficult for me next year, being so successful.’ But it did make me realize how good of a brand they are, how good of a team they are and how they turned things around. It was very exciting.
“Plus, the new Corvette Z06 GT3.R looks like a proper weapon, I look forward to getting my hands on it!”
Bamber is no stranger to Le Mans, as a two-time overall winner of the race. The Kiwi will remain under contract for Cadillac Racing’s WEC Hypercar programme in 2024, in addition to his new role as a Corvette factory driver in the Michelin Endurance Cup.
“It’s really exciting to be joining Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports for the long races. I’ve been a part of some big rivalries for many years in IMSA racing. But this organization has won so many races and championships… it’s really impressive,” Bamber remarked.
“When I did my first test at Road America, you could see why they’ve been so successful. I’ve driven the Z06 GT3.R and I think the package is really good. These guys have built fantastic GTLM cars over the years, and I don’t see why the Corvette GT3 should be any different. It’s a well-balanced car already just in its infancy, so I think it will be a formidable force not just in IMSA but also as this programme seeks to go all around the world. I think it will be one of the benchmark cars into the future.”
Eastwood joins Corvette after a six-year tenure as an Aston Martin works driver. “This certainly ranks up there for me, joining such a brand like Corvette and an organisation like GM. It’s what so many drivers wish for their whole career,” said Eastwood. “It seems to be an amazing place to be, and you can see that because so many drivers stay for so long.
“I’m really looking forward to that opportunity to learn from the best in the business and push on together to achieve great things for many years to come.”
By joining Corvette Racing, the Irishman will continue his long-standing relationship with Tom Ferrier’s TF Sport – with whom he won the 2020 Le Mans 24 Hours in the GTE Am category – in the FIA WEC next season.
“Obviously, this is a brand-new car with new regulations going to GT3 from GTE, so knowing all the team and the engineers already I feel like it can give us the upper hand in how quickly we can develop a brand-new car. It’s a short timeframe between receiving the car and only a few days of testing before we get to Qatar.
“We need to make sure that we’re making the most out of the time that we have together. Knowing all the personnel and the engineers, I hope that will put us in a really good place going into the first round at Qatar.”
Varrone, Corvette Racing’s young star in the World Endurance Championship this year, was already confirmed as a full-time driver with new Corvette Racing customer team AWA in the GTD class. Varrone and co-driver Anthony Mantella won the LMP3 class together in last year’s Daytona 24 Hours.
“First of all, it’s a big honour to be a factory driver for Corvette. It’s also nice to be back in IMSA next season with everyone at AWA. These are people that I know from this year and doing the endurance races in LMP3,” said Varrone.
“It was a good year. We won Daytona and had great performances throughout the season. It will be a big challenge with the new car, not only for our team but everyone in the entire Corvette programme. But this is also a completely new class for AWA. It will be a challenge but we will be prepared to make the most of it and get some wins with the Corvette Z06 GT3.R and have a great season.”
Images courtesy of Pratt Miller Motorsports, Cadillac, AWA, and TF Sport
