PORTIMÃO, Portugal (October 18, 2025) TF Sport & the Corvette Z06 GT3.R co-wrote another new chapter in Corvette Racing history with the program’s first European Le Mans Series championship Saturday with a victory in the season-ending Four Hours of Portimão.
Charlie Eastwood, Rui Andrade and class pole-winner Hiroshi Koizumi teamed for their second LMGT3 victory of the season in the No. 82 Corvette Z06 GT3.R and, in the process, claimed the class Drivers and Teams championships. The added bonus is that the title comes with an automatic invitation to next year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, which could feature a minimum of four Corvettes on the LMGT3 grid.
Orey Fidani and IMSA GTD team AWA running next year under the 13 Motorsports banner claimed a second straight invite to Le Mans at last weekend’s Petit Le Mans for winning a second consecutive Bob Akin Award.
Saturday’s titles for TF Sport are the latest for the Corvette Z06 GT3.R, following a sweep of the GTD PRO championships for Chevy and Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
Corvette Z06 GT3.R team DXDT Racing remains in contention for the Pro-Am title in GT World Challenge America with the Indianapolis Eight Hours ongoing. Johor Motorsports Racing also is alive for the Pro-Am title in GT World Challenge Asia, which closes its season with two street races in Beijing this weekend.
TF Sport also remains alive in the FIA World Endurance Championship’s LMGT3 title fight with Eastwood, Andrade and Tom Van Rompuy third heading into next month’s Eight Hours of Bahrain.
GM RACING PROGRAM MANAGER:
“Congratulations to everyone at TF Sport for making history today with the first ELMS championship for Corvette Racing. Today’s victory for Charlie, Rui and Hiro came under immense pressure with the LMGT3 Drivers and Teams titles in the balance. The whole team executed the race to perfection. Everyone at Corvette Racing, Chevrolet and GM Motorsports is excited about this championship and a fourth invitation to 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans.”
CHARLIE EASTWOOD, NO. 82 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R – LMGT3 RACE AND CHAMPIONSHIP WINNER:
“That was a very stressful stint to say the least. We didn’t seem to have a great pace. We had something we were trying to manage, and with that it was super-difficult. The pace of the McLaren and Wayne (Boyd) has been unbelievable all year. Coming into Turn Five, I could see him behind and then as I came out he was getting closer and closer.
Fortunately, as the sun started to go down, we gained a little bit of grip. But he was right there for the last 10 or 15 laps. My engineer came on the radio saying there were six laps to go, and he was literally right behind me and significantly faster.
“But what a job by these guys (Andrade and Koizumi). If I didn’t have the gap that I had when I got in the car, for sure we don’t win the race. All credit to both of them for putting in their two best stints of the year exactly when we needed it. I’m super-pleased for the first ELMS championship for Corvette and for the first championship for myself with Corvette. We’ve got Bahrain in a couple of weeks when we’re the underdog as we were today. Hopefully we can have a very good month.
“We definitely made that hard work in the last hour. I had to start having to take a lot of risks in traffic because although if we had finished second we might have won, but we didn’t know if other Ferraris were going to let the 50 pass. I was all-out to make sure we got it to the line. What an achievement for the whole team. Rui and Hiro were unbelievable today as was the whole team. I’m going to remember this one for a while.”
RUI ANDRADE, NO. 82 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R – LMGT3 RACE AND CHAMPIONSHIP WINNER:
“I couldn’t have asked for better conditions to get in the car. Already yesterday, Hiro showed the pace he had this whole weekend. Every time he tried to pull away and create a gap, there was a safety car or something. But he gave me the car with a good lead.
Obviously, we were jumped by some cars that were on an offset strategy, so I had to use the new tires the team gave me and make my way through. It was a relatively easy run for me after that. I did have a little issue with the rearview camera, which is stressful because there are a lot of cars coming through all the time. But the team guided me through that really well, and I was able to give Charlie the car in P1.
“It’s becoming a habit of Charlie’s to pull out these amazing wins in the last lap, which end up in me losing my voice! I’m so happy. For sure, it was stressful for Charlie in the car, but for us on the outside watching it unfolds was even more stressful. I never had any doubt that Charlie would do it, and in the end he did it. I couldn’t be happier right now.”
(On winning the LMGT3 title) “This one is special just because as a Silver driver in the GT category now, the level is so high. We’ve had to work so hard since last year. Charlie has been my teammate since the beginning with the Corvette, and we’ve worked really hard to try and get me to improve and be at the level where we are now where we can be fighting for podiums and wins on a regular basis. So that just makes it a little more special with all the work that has gone into it. It’s surreal.”
HIROSHI KOIZUMI, NO. 82 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R – LMGT3 RACE AND CHAMPIONSHIP WINNER:
“The team gave us a great car, and I have the two best drivers as teammates. That’s why I was able to keep the car in first place. So I’m really happy for that. I’m feeling very grateful. I was able to do this because of the team, and my teammates. Congratulations to all of them.”
State troopers say the 62-year-old driver of this black C5 Corvette Z06 and his 15-year-old passenger were not wearing seatbelts when he lost control and the car ran underneath the rear wheels of an 18-wheeler on NC 211 in Moore County.
The two occupants of the C5 suffered broken bones and had to be carried for treatment to the hospital, according to a report on CBS17 News out of Raleigh, Durham, and Fayetteville.
The Corvette suffered major damage to the front end, losing its hood and both front fenders and the door panel on the passenger side. Video from the scene shows the back tires of the trailer bent outward.
Two off-duty Memphis Police Department officers are accused of street drag racing in their Corvettes.
Officers Albert Green, 40, and Raphael Willingham, 37, have been relieved of duty until an investigation is completed into charges they were excessively driving over the speed limit on Winchester Road near Hickory Hill Road. A Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper says he saw the two silver Corvettes speeding and that when the two suspects saw him, they hit their brakes. During a traffic stop, the trooper asked Green why he was drag racing, and he answered that he was not.
Now, the two officers have been suspended until the investigation is completed, and the MPD has issued this statement: “These actions do not reflect the professional standards or expectations of the men and women of the Memphis Police Department.” Green and Willingham were taken into custody Sunday and charged with drag racing. They are out on a $4,000 bond. Green appeared in court Monday morning, and Willingham was due in court Tuesday at 9 a.m.
Ironically, Memphis Police Chief C.J. Davis who was approved by the city council as chief earlier this year after having been moved to an interim tag in 2024 due to record crime in the city had just expressed her frustration and concern over drag racing and reckless driving on city streets to a group of college students.
No. 11 Corvette second in Pro-Am heading to Indy Eight Hours; Chouest Povoledo in two classes
For the second year in a row, DXDT Racing will fight for a championship with its Chevy Corvette Z06 GT3.R in GT World Challenge, America’s final race of the season at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This weekend 10/17 - 19th
The Indianapolis Eight Hours doubles as the series finale and also the last round of SRO’s Intercontinental GT Challenge.
DXDT Racing’s No. 11 Corvette of Matt Bell and Blake McDonald enters the race second in GT World Challenge America Pro-Am Drivers Championship and are well within range of winning the title.
Bell and McDonald will drive at Indianapolis with Alec Udell, who drove this year for DXDT in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s GTD class and was part of the team’s GT World Challenge Pro-class effort last year alongside Tommy Milner.
Bell and McDonald arrive at Indianapolis off a victory in the previous round at Baber Motorsports Park – their fourth Pro-Am win of the season. They are 19 points behind the leading BMW with 50 points going to the winner, 36 to the runner-up and 30 to third place.
Chouest Povoledo Racing also will contest the eight-hour event with three drivers in its No. 50 Z06 GT3.R full-season drivers Ross Chouest and Aaron Povoledo with Corvette Racing factory driver Nicky Catsburg filling out the lineup. This season has been the first for the Chouest Povoledo squad with Corvette.
The team’s best finish is a fourth-place showing at Virginia International Raceway, but Chouest is a two-time winner in GT America this year with the team’s second Corvette.
The Indianapolis Eight Hours is scheduled for 12:20 p.m. ET on Saturday from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course. The full race and Friday’s qualifying and Pole Shootout will stream live on the GT World YouTube channel.
MATT BELL, NO. 11 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R:
“The goal before the season was to get to this point, absolutely. Blake and I had worked together before, and I was well aware of his potential to perform how he has. Blake has matched if not exceeded those expectations. He’s put in some really strong performance this year, and I’ve been impressed with how he’s approached it all. We expected to be in the fight, and we’re in it. It’s nice for that part of the story to have gone well. Now we need to finish it out.”
“Track position is always important here. It’s basically eight one-hour races the way the ruleset works. If we can win all eight of them, then we’ll win the race in the end! Blake has been a big strength for us against the other Bronze drivers. I think every time he’s gotten out of the car, I jumped in at least second, if not in the lead. Then it’ll be up to Alec and me to keep it there against some tough competition. We’ve done it plenty of times this season, and we aim to do it again.”
NICKY CATSBURG, NO. 50 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R:
“I’ve tested already this year with the Chouest Povoledo Racing team. The test and their Corvette felt good. The Pirelli tire was a new tire for me compared to IMSA so let’s see. I’m looking forward to it, and I think it’s going to be good fun. I’m looking forward to working with those guys, get to know them a little better and see how I can help them out. It should be a good time.”
AARON POVOLEDO, NO. 50 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R:
“We’re incredibly excited to welcome Nicky to our team for this weekend at Indianapolis. A huge thanks to our friends at Corvette Racing at GM for making all this happens.”
CORVETTE RACING AT INDIANAPOLIS: By the Numbers
• 1: One manufacturer, one brand and one race program for 26-plus years Chevrolet, Corvette and Corvette Racing
• 2: Events this year at Indianapolis for the Corvette Z06 GT3.R IMSA’s Battle on The Bricks in September and this weekend’s Indianapolis Eight Hours for GT World Challenge America/IGTC
• 3: Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs entered for this week’s events, two in GT World Challenge America and one in GT America
• 14: Wins this year for the Corvette Z06 GT3.R across six different series. Four have come via Matt Bell and Blake McDonald for DXDT Racing in GT World Challenge America’s Pro-Am class: COTA, Sebring, Road America and Barber; and two for Ross Chouest in GT America: Road America and Barber
• 22: Hours of racing left in the Corvette Z06 GT3.R season covering WEC, ELMS, and GT World Challenge America and Asia
• 32: Tracks at which Corvette Racing has won races Baltimore, Charlotte Motor Speedway, COTA, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park/Mosport, Chang International Circuit (Thailand), Daytona, Detroit, Fuji, Houston, Imola, Laguna Seca, Le Mans, Lime Rock, Long Beach, Lusail International Circuit (Qatar), Sepang International Circuit (Malaysia), Miami, Mid-Ohio, Monza, Portimão, Portland, Road America, Road Atlanta, Sebring, Sonoma, St. Petersburg, Texas, Trois Rivieres, Utah, VIR, Washington DC and Watkins Glen
• 39: Number of drivers to win races in Corvette Racing entries since 1999. The latest to join the list was Ross Chouest in GT America at Road America
• 72: Years since Corvette was introduced to the world on Jan. 17, 1953 in New York City. A total of 300 cars were produced that year
• 74: Number of drivers in Corvette Racing entries since 1999. The latest to join the list was Adam Ali for Steller Motorsport in International GT Open at Barcelona
• 152: Victories worldwide for Corvette Racing 118 in IMSA, nine at Le Mans, five in the FIA WEC, 13 in GT World Challenge America, three in GT World Challenge Asia, two in GT America and one in the European Le Mans Series
• 353: Event starts by Corvette Racing since 1999
• 457,466.48: Total number of racing miles completed by Corvette Racing since its inception. To put that in perspective, Corvette Racing is more than halfway to the distance traveled by Apollo 13 the longest manned spaceflight in history: 622,268 miles. That means Corvette Racing has raced to the moon and more than halfway back!
The following tables illustrate how variations in lobe separation angle and cam timing will affect the behavior of the engine in which the camshaft is installed.
15th GT Manufacturers title for Chevrolet; Drivers, Teams championships for Garcia, Sims, Pratt Miller
Chevy & Corvette Racing swept all three GTD PRO titles in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship on Saturday with the conclusion of the 10-hour Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway, Road Atlanta.
Chevrolet claimed the Manufacturers Championship, Antonio Garcia and Alexander Sims claimed the Driver’s Championship in their No. 3 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R, and Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports’ No. 3 squad capped the hat trick with the Teams Championship . A runner-up class finish by the No. 4 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R of Tommy Milner, Nicky Catsburg and Nico Varrone from Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports secured Chevrolet’s 15th GT class title in IMSA competition and first in GTD PRO. Garcia, Sims and Daniel Juncadella added a third-place class finish for good measure.
“The Chevrolet team is thrilled to win the GTD PRO Manufacturers Championship, our 15th IMSA GT-class title overall,” said Scott Bell, Vice President, Chevrolet. “We take great pride in this win, considering the world-class manufacturers we compete against each weekend. I want to recognize and congratulate our Corvette Racing competition and engineering teams, GM Propulsion and our constructor and GTD PRO representative Pratt Miller.”
The GTD PRO Corvettes recorded a combined nine podiums on the season, including a victory at Virginia International Raceway for Garcia and Sims, who finished the year with six top-three results. In addition, Milner and Catsburg finished second in class not only in Petit Le Mans but also at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. The No. 4 also was the quickest Corvette in Friday’s GTD PRO qualifying, earning valuable points for Chevrolet.
Saturday’s results also capped the clean sweep of the GTD PRO championships, as Garcia and Sims won their first Drivers title together. Garcia is now a six-time IMSA champion, all with Corvette Racing and Sims is a two-time champion after taking the GTP Driver's title in 2023 in a Cadillac prototype.
In the Teams Championship, Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports won its 16th title dating back to 2001 and the factory Corvette Racing effort. This is the 13th time that Chevrolet and Corvette Racing swept all three class championships in Manufacturers, Drivers and Teams in the same season.
“Congratulations to Antonio, Alexander, the No. 3 Corvette Z06 GT3.R team and everyone at Pratt Miller Motorsports on securing the GTD PRO Drivers and Teams championships,” said Eric Warren, GM Vice President, Global Motorsports Competition.
“Their consistent performance throughout the season was a key factor in delivering these titles against the best GT competition in the world. Everyone at Chevrolet is proud of Antonio for his sixth championship with Corvette, Alexander’s first with our program and second with GM, and Pratt Miller Motorsports on its 16th Teams Championship in IMSA competition.”
On top of its IMSA success, Corvette Z06 GT3.R teams in GT World Challenge America, European Le Mans Series and FIA World Endurance Championship will race for championships in their respective series in the coming weeks.
This is a 1990 Corvette ZR1 that was stored in a barn for 30 years after the original owner died and had less than 600 miles driven
The new owner Rick is a Corvette enthusiast and hopes to get the ZR1 back on the road. After a fun chat with Rick and Rob Ninkovich (New England Patriots), we focus on deep cleaning the ZR1
The 2024 Chevrolet Corvette just completed federal safety compliance testing—and passed with no test failures. We break down the key results from frontal crash tests, airbag performance, windshield integrity, and fuel system checks in clear, simple language.
You will see what the data says about injury measurements, why low-risk airbag deployments matter even in a 2-seat sports car, and how labels, telltales, and manuals play a real role in safety. We also explain what a 56 km/h frontal crash actually tests, and why the Corvette’s structure and restraint timing are the quiet heroes of this story.
The 2025 Chevrolet Corvette faced a brutal side-pole impact designed to mimic a real-world hit with a tree or utility pole. We break down what the sensors saw, how the airbags timed their deployment, and whether the structure kept the dummy safe.
From chest deflection and head protection to post-crash checks and door operability, this video explains what matters and why it should shape your next performance-car decision.
You will learn how modern restraint logic sequences airbags, what good cabin integrity looks like, and why keeping intrusion low is critical in narrow-object crashes. Expect a plain-English look at dummy metrics, side structure design, and the quiet safety systems that only appear when everything goes wrong.
The progress of Leno’s Law for a while is a disappointing update. The bill, officially known as SB 712, which would have created a 35-year rolling emissions exemption for older cars in California, has been officially killed in committee.
Backed by Jay Leno and Senator Shannon Grove, the common-sense legislation was seen as a beacon of hope for the state’s classic car community, but that hope has now been extinguished.
The original idea behind the bill was simple and reasonable. It proposed that cars 35 years or older should be exempt from California’s notoriously strict smog testing. Proponents argued that these are well-maintained, rarely driven collector cars, and exempting them would have a minimal impact on air quality. This would have been a huge relief for owners of Radwood era cars from the ’80s and ’90s, who often face an expensive and frustrating battle to get their aging, pre-OBD2 emissions systems to pass the biannual test a much stricter requirement than in states like Massachusetts or New York, which exempt cars after 15 and 25 years, respectively.
Unfortunately, the bill was slowly watered down in the legislative process. Fearing a loophole that would allow people to drive old, polluting cars daily, lawmakers first added an amendment requiring the cars to have collector insurance. Then, in a move that gutted the bill’s core purpose, a later amendment completely removed the 35-year rolling rule. The final version would have only exempted cars made before 1981, leaving owners of more modern classics with no relief. This weakened version of SB 712 was already a shadow of its original intent.
Despite the changes and early bipartisan support in the Senate Transportation Committee, the bill met its end in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. The committee refused to bring it to the full Senate for a vote, effectively shutting it down for good.
The failure of SB 712 is a major blow to California’s car collectors, who will now continue to face one of the toughest regulatory environments in the country for keeping their classics on the road.
Fake IDs didn’t fool a California car dealership when three men allegedly conspired to fraudulently purchase a $68,000 Corvette last month.
Police say the scheme began when Raymondo Cox, 48, of Woodland Hills used a fraudulent ID card and stolen Social Security number to apply online with a Thousand Oaks car dealership. When he scheduled an appointment to finalize the purchase of the Corvette on Sept. 23, deputies from the Thousand Oaks Police Station and detectives with the East County Investigations Bureau were ready and waiting.
Authorities say Cox signed paperwork using another person’s ID to try and complete the transaction, but he was taken into custody before the deal could be finalized.
Cox had arrived at the dealership with two other men, 32-year-old Ricky Perez of Winnetka and 41-year-old Vincent Venerable of Lancaster, who police say were also carrying false identification and were co-conspirators with Cox in the attempted theft.
All three men were arrested, with bail set at $200,000. Cox faces multiple felonies – attempted Grand Theft Auto, identity theft, conspiracy, forgery, and attempted vehicle theft. Perez and Venerable face similar charges of conspiracy, forgery, and attempted Grand Theft Auto.
The East County Investigations Bureau reminds residents to remain alert and report suspicious people or vehicles with a call to 911 or the non-emergency line at (805) 654-9511.
A Georgia sheriff is sharing dramatic photos of a burned to the ground C7 Corvette that wrecked during a high-speed chase over the weekend. Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman posted this warning on social media:
“We advise everyone to not drive recklessly at speeds over 100 mph, or you could end up like this formerly beautiful Corvette. The driver and passenger were both arrested, miraculously unharmed. The vehicle could not say the same. Make smarter choices, Muscogee County. Slow down. Save lives.”
The sheriff says the Corvette driver later identified as Clifford George Castillo was driving more than 100 mph at the time of the crash, which occurred in South Columbus at the South Lumpkin Road roundabout. He’s accused of turning off his headlights, even after the chase had been called off by deputies.
A look at the photos makes it hard to believe, but somehow Castillo and his unidentified passenger were able to escape from the burning Corvette without injuries. They fled on foot but were taken into custody.
Castillo faces 20 charges:
Willful obstruction of law enforcement, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, speeding, reckless driving, operating without lights required by law, too fast for conditions, aggressive driving, failure to maintain lane, failure to signal lane change or turn, improper lane change, failure to have license on person, hit-and-run, failure to report striking fixed object, failure to report accident, criminal damage to property second degree, false report of a crime, change of address or name on driver’s license, no proof of insurance, failure to exhibit insurance, and failure to yield right of way to emergency vehicle.
He is being held without bond on all charges, and his case was bound over to Superior Court.
NBC Sports will preview the 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season finale, Motul Petit Le Mans, with a special one-hour show on Sunday, Oct. 5 at 3 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
The network show will air the Sunday before Motul Petit Le Mans, which kicks off live on network NBC at noon ET on Saturday, Oct. 11. Peacock will stream the full race flag-to-flag (in the U.S.) with additional streaming via IMSA.TV and IMSA’s Official YouTube channel (internationally). The top-level, factory-supported production car-based class in American sports car racing has evolved through several names and technical specifications over the last 15 years. But there’s been one constant:
Corvette drivers Antonio Garcia and Alexander Sims will be fighting to win the GTD-Pro championship in this last IMSA race of 2025 season
Since the 45-year-old Spaniard joined Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports in 2009, he has excelled in every iteration of the premier GT category, through half a dozen technical regulation changes and three generations of Corvettes.
Garcia won his first championship in the GT class of the American Le Mans Series in 2013 with co-driver Jan Magnussen, the final year before ALMS and IMSA’s TUDOR United SportsCar Championship merged to create the modern-day IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Teamed with Magnussen from 2014-’19, Garcia won a pair of IMSA Grand Touring Le Mans (GTLM) titles for Corvette Racing in 2017 and ’18 and added two more teamed with Jordan Taylor in 2020 and ’21.
Garcia has collected a total of 31 IMSA race wins along with his quintet of championships, including five wins since the most recent GT category realignment that created the Grand Touring Daytona Pro (GTD PRO) class in 2022. But whether with Taylor in ’22 and ’23 or his current co-driver Alexander Sims, Garcia has never achieved a GTD PRO championship.
That could change October 11 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. Sims and Garcia and the No. 3 Corvette Z06 GT3.R will carry a slim 18-point advantage into the season-concluding Motul Petit Le Mans over Albert Costa, who has shared DragonSpeed’s No. 81 Ferrari 296 GT3 for the majority of the year with Giacomo Altoè and endurance driver Davide Rigon. Mike Rockenfeller and Sebastian Priaulx sit third, 169 points back in the No. 64 Ford Multimatic Motorsports Ford Mustang GT3, with an outside shot.
Given his record, it’s surprising that Garcia has not won a championship to date during the GTD PRO era. What’s even more remarkable is that while Corvette Racing owns eight victories at Motul Petit Le Mans, Garcia has never tasted the champagne in Georgia a measure of how challenging and unpredictable the 10-hour day-into-night endurance classic can be.
Sims and Garcia achieved their only win of the ’25 season at VIRginia International Raceway with an aggressive undercut pit stop strategy from the Corvette by Pratt Miller team that vaulted them to the front of the field. At that point, they led Costa by 53 points, but the fellow-Spaniard cut the margin to 18 by finishing second ahead of the No. 3 Corvette in fourth at the most recent WeatherTech Championship race at Indianapolis.
“The last few races we’ve been always trying to cover different strategies coming from especially the No. 77 (the defending GTD PRO class champion AO Racing Porsche that lies fourth in this year’s standings) or the No. 81 (Costa),” Garcia said. “When people are probably not feeling very competitive or are not in contention at some point, that’s when they roll the dice and they kind of put everybody under the pressure.
“So, I think we really need to be very prepared on that before the races knowing what to do and how to react to people,” he continued. “Maybe there’s something we can do, like we did at VIR, be the first one to really make the move. You play it out from there and still go for the win.”
Garcia noted that fighting for a championship has become more difficult since IMSA aligned its GT classes to the worldwide FIA GT3 specification in 2022, mostly eliminating the performance disparity that existed between GTD class cars and slightly faster GTLM entries. GTD and GTD PRO now also use a standardized Michelin tire, whereas in the GTLM era, manufacturers worked with Michelin to develop tires for their specific car.
Corvette Racing had been a pure factory program since the early 2000s. However, the shift in regulations required Chevrolet and Pratt Miller Motorsports to create the first-ever Corvette GT3.R for customer sales. Ford Racing quickly followed suit with a GT3 version of the Mustang.
“GT1, GT2, GT Le Mans…they were really cool cars to drive, and we had a lot of fun with those cars during those years,” recalled Garcia. “The transition to GT3 was a little bit difficult, or different, because we had a transition year with a bit of a mix until the Z06 GT3.R was able to race. But I don’t see many, many differences, because there is always a superb level of drivers and good teams you’re fighting against.
“This is my 16th year with the team, and the approach has always been the same,” he added. “The Corvette Racing mentality has always been the same and the approach to every single race or championship has been the same regardless of the actual class of car we were running. This is just another year we are very happy and proud that we are in contention.”
Driving for IMSA’s most established and successful GT-class team, the No. 3 Corvette pairing has the championship-tested mettle going into Motul Petit Le Mans over Costa and the DragonSpeed Ferrari, which are in their first full season of GTD PRO competition. Chevrolet leads Ferrari by 46 points in the GTD PRO Manufacturer’s championship.
“The last two years, we came up short, but we are looking forward to showing and use all the knowledge we have to be in this position,” Garcia said. “Let’s see if we have enough of everything pace, race strategy, and I would say a little bit of luck. “Let’s hope everything falls in the right direction, and we can come up with another championship.”
No significant expansion of the customer base for the Corvette Z06 GT3.R is planned for next year, according to Corvette Racing program manager Jess Dane, who said their aim is to keep the car “boutique and bespoke” for its existing privateer squads.
Launched last year, a total of 17 of the Pratt Miller-built cars are in active service around the world in series such as the FIA World Endurance Championship, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, European and Asian Le Mans Series as well as GT World Challenge America, Asia and Europe competition.
Dane stated they’re not expecting an increase in customer base for next year, but rather its existing customers purchasing additional cars for expanded programs.
TF Sport, for instance, recently announced an Asian Le Mans Series program for the 2025-26 season to join its WEC & ELMS campaigns, while U.S.-based customer DXDT Racing expanded to the WeatherTech Championship this year while continuing its GTWC America program. “I’m pleased to say that the majority of our car allocation is actually going to our existing teams,” said Dane. “Our existing teams are really keen to grow their fleet.
“Of the projected car allocation in the near future, we have more cars going to existing teams. We might have one or two cars crop up elsewhere but it will still be small and quite boutique and bespoke. “Nobody’s going to see a massive injection of cars around the world next year.”
Dane wouldn’t be drawn on the total number of cars sold, although she confirmed Pratt Miller has already built the 20-car minimum imposed by the FIA by the second year of the car’s homologation. “I honestly couldn’t be more proud of how all of our customers have done this year,” she added. “We have seven teams around the world now, and every single one has had at least one podium. “We have teams with multiple wins and the feedback from the customers has been really strong.
“What we’ve focused on as we’ve grown this program across the last couple of the years is maintaining a connection with each of those customers and treating it as a partnership as opposed to a customer and manufacturer relationship. “The results are one thing but the feedback and the relationships with the team are separate, but equally the relationships have formed part of that success. “I’m really happy where it’s at the moment.”
Dane said the influx of teams this year, which includes GTWC America and GT America powered by AWS entrant Chouest Povoledo Racing, as well as Steller Motorsport and Johor Motorsports JMR, have been able to collectively add to the database of knowledge with the car. “The transparency that we’ve run across the program has been a big part of that,” she said.
“If one of our customers experiences any kind of issue or has an idea for an improvement, the system, that we run with the level of transparency is that everyone can see that.
“Nothing is hidden; all issues are open and all updates and improvements are rolled out to the fleet as a whole. “Everything is completely equal, and having more cars in more places means that we are constantly making improvements. “The rate of finding things and the rate of improvement is impressive across the board, and I feel that’s had a good impact on our teams as well.”
Florida’s new super speeder law now has big consequences for those drivers with a heavy right foot. Exceeding the speed limit by 50 MPH or more, or are driving at 100 MPH or more is now a criminal offense with those first timers spending up to 30 days in jail.
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office recently shared video to Facebook showing one of their traffic enforcement deputies pulling over the driver of a C8 Corvette Stingray Convertible after he was clocked at 107 MPH on the highway, and the driver’s excuse was BS.
“I have an appointment with my barber.”
The driver, 57-year-old Michael Stanek of Welaka was arrested for dangerous excessive speeding. He was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Center where he was book and then later released on a $150 bond.
A return to the podium, hopefully on the top step, is on the mind TF Sport as the Corvette Z06 GT3.R program heads to Fuji Speedway for the Six Hours of Fuji and the next-to-last round for the FIA World Endurance Championship.
Even better is that each lineup features at least one driver who has won a race at the 2.835-mile, 16-turn Fuji Speedway circuit in the past. That’s even more encouraging considering the pace that the TF Sport Corvettes showed a year ago plus the performance of the Corvette at Fuji earlier this year including a race win and pole position in GT World Challenge Asia competition.
The trio of Daniel Juncadella, Jonny Edgar and Ben Keating are third in the Drivers Championship and 29 points out of the points lead. A season-opening victory at Qatar remains the group’s only podium finish of the season, but the pace of the No. 33 Corvette has been strong the last three races. Experience at Fuji varies between the three teammates. Edgar won’t just make his first start at Fuji he’ll also make his first trip to Japan. Juncadella made his Fuji debut a year ago in a TF Sport Corvette that was running as high as fifth in class before a couple of mechanical issues forced the car’s retirement inside the final hour.
Keating’s past success at Fuji is one that TF Sport hopes will continue for this season. He’s finished on the class podium in each of his three previous race starts, including a win with TF Sport in 2022. His last race at the circuit came two years ago in a Corvette C8.R, and he finished second in the race as part of his GTE Am championship-winning season.
Charlie Eastwood, Rui Andrade and Tom Van Rompuy are back for their second shot at a race win or podium at Fuji in the No. 81 Corvette. Van Rompuy qualified second and led twice in his stint before Andrade continued the strong run at the front.
Eastwood was at wheel late and charging toward a podium or race win when he was hit and spun by a Hypercar with more than hour left. He made up seven spots in that span to fourth at the end. Like Keating, Eastwood has previously won at Fuji with TF Sport but back in 2019. Andrade captured victory in LMP2 in the 2023 race and made his first GT-class start at Fuji last year with TF Sport.
The No. 81 Corvette finished second at Le Mans and third at Sāo Paulo earlier this year, before finishing out of the points last time out at COTA. There’s still positive momentum within the 81 Corvette lineup, as Eastwood and Andrade were part of a third-place class finish at Silverstone in the most recent round of the European Le Mans Series.
The Six Hours of Fuji scheduled for 11 a.m. JST Sunday and 10 p.m. ET Saturday. Full, live television coverage is available on the MotorTrend in the United States. Live-streaming coverage of Free Practice 3, qualifying and the race will be available on the FIA WEC app and the MAX app in the United States.
TF SPORT PRE-EVENT QUOTES
DANI JUNCADELLA, NO. 33 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R:
“We’re coming to the last two rounds of the year so it’s going to be key to score some big points. We’re still in the hunt for the championship. We’re a little on the back foot because we are a few points behind in third. But I believe we will have a good chance in Fuji. It was a very strong weekend last year in terms of pace.
We couldn’t maximize it, unfortunately because of an issue on the first pit stop. I love the track, I love the Japanese fans. They’re always very passionate about racing. Let’s see if we can score some big points to be in the hunt for Bahrain. ” JONNY EDGAR, NO. 33 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R:
“It will be my first time in Fuji and first time in Japan. Last year the pace in the Corvette was pretty strong for the team, so that’s a good sign. I’m looking forward to driving the track for the first time. I’ve done it on a simulator before, and it looks like a pretty cool track. The simulator helps to get a general idea of the flow of a track. Figuring out the bumps, some lines and curbs can take some time. It definitely helped at COTA and after a couple of laps I felt pretty comfortable. Hopefully I can do the same at Fuji as I learn a new track.”
BEN KEATING, NO. 33 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R:
“I always enjoy going to Japan and racing at Fuji. I’ve never finished off the podium there, so I’m excited to go back in the Corvette after a year away and three years after winning there with TF Sport. So this is an event that has been very good to me.
Above all the results and success, what makes this event and trip special are the people of Japan and the fans at the racetrack. It’s an incredibly friendly and respectful atmosphere. I hope we can give the ones that are cheering for the Corvette a good result and gain ground in the championship.”
CHARLIE EASTWOOD, NO. 81 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R:
“Fuji was an excellent track for us last year. The Corvette felt phenomenal. We’ll be back on the medium tire for this one, which I think suits us a little bit better than the hard. We’re looking for a big result. In the last two races, we really need to finish on a high to put a squeeze on the championship side of things and finish as good as we can.”
TOM VAN ROMPUY, NO. 81 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R:
“We had good pace last year, especially in the last sector, and I think our car should be strong in the middle sector as well. The characteristics of the track suits the Corvette. We were in a good place and in contention last year, so I hope we are in the same position as last year to start the race, and I can only hope for a strong result in Fuji.”
A new refrigerant option for R-1234yf, known as R-444A, is now available for automotive professional use. R-444A has been thoroughly vetted for over a decade and is under consideration for first fill by leading vehicle manufacturers worldwide.
As an economical refrigerant option for R-1234yf for after market vehicle service providers, R-444A provides a boost to A/C system cooling performance and is more energy efficient. Why should R-444A be considered over R-1234yf?
There are four primary reasons for this: 1. Performance: R-444A will cool a vehicle up to four minutes faster than R123yf.
2. Energy efficiency: R-444A consumes less energy during a typical driving cycle, offering an advantage to improve a vehicle’s fuel (ICE) or battery (EV) range.
3. Cost: R-1234yf is both more expensive to produce and under patent protection. Both drive prices higher. In contrast, R-444A is made from common and “public domain” refrigerants for **lower relative cost.
4. Reliability: R-444A has no known conditions under which it can polymerize. It has also been fully tested for compatibility with system components and oils.
Amid the evolving landscape of vehicle thermal management systems and of regulatory pressure, it is worth noting that R-444A meets the low GWP100 <150 requirements with a CO2 equivalence of 93. In terms of PFAS (poly-fluoroalkyl substances), R-444A breaks down into substantially less TFA (trifluoroacetic acid) than R-1234yf during decomposition, making it an environmentally safe choice.
What is R-444a?
R-444A combines R-1234ze (83 percent), R-152a (5 percent), and R32 (12 percent) to create an azeotropic blend with a 7K glide. Glide is the difference between the lowest and highest refrigerant component boiling points. R-1234ze is the base contributing to its low GWP, while R-32 packs a performance punch and enhances the capacity that drives its excellent cooling performance.
I have attached below a PDF showing each GM vehicle and its battery rating
New 12V Battery Ratings Chart for the 2026 Model Year
The chart includes SAE cold cranking amperage (CCA), amp hours (AH) and reserve capacity (RC) ratings along with battery type specifications. The 2026 model year chart as well as charts for earlier model years can be easily printed using the browser’s print function.
Entering the correct battery CCA ratings and battery type when using the Midtronics Diagnostic Charger (DCA-8000P) or other approved chargers/testers is critical for proper test results. If the original/factory battery has been replaced, access the current battery label to view the battery type and CCA, as it may not match the OE specifications. Selecting the incorrect battery type or CCA rating when testing may result in battery damage or a “Replace Battery” result on a good battery, leading to a good battery being replaced unnecessarily.
TIP: There are two common types of 12V battery testing battery CCA ratings, EN CCA and SAE CCA. EN is a European standard and SAE is a North American standard. Be sure to use the SAE number when testing 12V batteries.
For more information on replacement batteries, refer to the Electronic Parts Catalog. For more details on proper battery testing, refer to the appropriate Service Information. Go to General Information > General Information > Specifications > 12 Volt Battery Usage for battery specs on 2019 and later model years.
Battery Testing Requirements
Keep in mind the following tips to ensure the proper processes are completed to support battery replacement and successful warranty claim submission.
Validate whether the battery in the vehicle is the OE battery or a replacement battery, and then proceed with warranty handling accordingly. Accurately enter job card and vehicle information using the appropriate battery tester. 6-digit BAC Last 8 or Full VIN (use VIN scan feature if available) Job card number Leading zero(s) must be added to job card numbers if needed in order to achieve the minimum character limit for the tester. Do not enter leading spaces or letters. For job card numbers with a leading prefix, input only the values after the prefix and add leading zero(s) to achieve the minimum character limit of the job card field. Example: If the job card number is 01-2345, the input would be 02345 in the DCBS. Disconnect the battery from the vehicle. On vehicles with two batteries, including stop/start vehicles with auxiliary batteries, each battery must be electrically isolated and charged individually. Select the correct battery information (located on the label of the battery being tested). Battery type (Flooded or AGM) CCA rating Perform the battery test in the correct diagnostic testing setting (Diagnostic Charge, Diagnostic Mode, etc.), connecting directly to the battery posts. Verify that the test result shows a 16-digit Warranty Code (DCA), 15-digit Warranty Code (GR8), or 20-digit Warranty Code (DCBS) prior to warranty battery replacement. Warranty code shown (Fig. 7) from the DCA showing the diagnostic test setting (#1), test result (#2) and warranty code (#3). Attach the printout to the job card.
TIP: The 12-volt lithium-ion battery in the Corvette E-Ray and ZR1X cannot be tested and does not require a warranty code.
For more information on battery testing and warranty replacement requirements, refer to Bulletin #20-NA-132.
It is crunch time for the 4 Chevy Corvette Z06 GT3.R with two long-distances left in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season The six-hour Battle on the Bricks is next up this weekend from Indianapolis Motor Speedway with championship hopes and potential race wins on the minds of the GTD PRO and GTD entries.
Corvettes will be in the thick of multiple season-long championship battles in the fourth of five races in the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup with another long-distance victory on the minds of the quartet of teams. All will attempt to give the Corvette Racing program a first win at the 2.439-mile, 14-turn Indy road course and kiss the yard of bricks in the process.
Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports (GTD PRO)
• No. 3 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Antonio Garcia/Alexander Sims • No. 4 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Tommy Milner/Nicky Catsburg
The long-awaited first win of the season for Antonio Garcia and Alexander Sims at VIR couldn’t have come at a much better time for the GTD PRO championship picture. With the overall victory in the GT-only race, Garcia, Sims and the No. 3 Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports team increased their lead by 53 points in the Drivers and Teams standings with 770 points remaining in the season. The duo finished on the podium for the fifth time this season tied for the most in class but the first time in three races.
That also extended Chevrolet’s lead in the Manufacturer’s Championship to 81 points. It would be the Bowtie’s 15th IMSA Manufacturers Championship and first in GTD PRO. Garcia is seeking to become a six-time IMSA Drivers champion and Sims is hoping for his second but first in GT racing. The pair was third in last year’s race, and Garcia set the fastest GTD PRO race lap.
Tommy Milner and Nicky Catsburg have contributed to the Manufacturer’s points haul this season and are coming off their second podium of the season with a third-place at VIR. Milner raced twice at IMS last year and was third in GT World Challenge America’s Pro class Catsburg, coming off a stunning drive and third-place finish alongside Sims and Scott McLaughlin at the Suzuka 1000K for Corvette team Johor Motorsports Racing.
AWA Racing (GTD)
AWA’s No. 13 Corvette is hoping for a second long-distance victory with three of the four drivers who won the Rolex 24 At Daytona in GTD to start the season. Matt Bell, Orey Fidani and Lars Kern have been excellent in the IMSA endurance races this year as they contended for additional race wins at Sebring and Watkins Glen they were in podium position inside the final three hours at Sebring and the last hour at Watkins Glen.
Fidani and AWA are in the proverbial drivers’ seat in the season-long Bob Akin Award standings heading into Indianapolis. Going to the highest point-scoring Bronze driver in GTD, the prize at the end of the season is a trip to next year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, which Fidani and AWA earned last year. DXDT Racing (GTD)
DXDT Racing’s endurance lineup of Charlie Eastwood, Alec Udell and Salih Yoluc will try and fulfill the potential of the first-year IMSA team at Indianapolis. Like fellow Corvette GTD customer team AWA, the DXDT squad was in contention for race wins at Sebring and Watkins Glen with late-race mechanical issues preventing potential podium finishes.
Udell has been a constant in the DXDT long-distance and sprint programs this year, having teamed with Robert Wickens for the shorter races. The DXDT Corvette qualified second and contended for the victory at The Glen until the race was inside the final 15 minutes.
This will be the first of two races at Indianapolis inside a month for DXDT Racing with the team entering a Pro-Am Corvette in the Indianapolis Eight Hours for GT World Challenge America and the Intercontinental GT Challenge. The Corvette Racing program reached a significant milestone earlier this month with its 150th all-time victory. To date, six different entrants have recorded victories for Corvette Racing across six championships around the world.
Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports leads the victory count with 129, a total that includes the current GT3 era plus its 25 years as the factory team for Corvette Racing. Pratt Miller-run Corvettes have won 117 races in IMSA and 12 in the FIA World Endurance Championship including nine at Le Mans. Additional victories have come from DXDT Racing (14 wins), Johor Motorsports Racing (three wins), TF Sport and Chouest Povoledo Racing (two wins apiece) and AWA (one win).
The Battle on the Bricks from IMS is scheduled for 11:40 a.m. ET on Sunday, Sep 19 - Sep 21 The race will air live on NBC from 3 to 6 p.m. ET with live streaming on Peacock in the United States and IMSA.com outside the U.S. from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET IMSA Radio will provide the audio call at IMSA.com, XM 206 and SiriusXM Online 996.
CORVETTE RACING BY PRATT MILLER MOTORSPORTS PRE-EVENT DRIVER QUOTES
ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R:
“It felt really nice to really break through with how the last year or year-and-a-half has been going. I mean, we were very close to victory many times, but at some points we were kind of lacking that last part of the race we needed to. So to win that race I was so happy that we managed to do that and came up with a win at the last race.
“From now on, definitely the championship is the new target. And also winning at Indianapolis which is one of the few races that I haven’t won either. So I’m looking forward to next weekend and let’s see how we compare to every other manufacturer and how competitive we are.”
ALEXANDER SIMS, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R:
“It would be mega for our championship if we could get another result as we did at VIR. But we have to treat this race as every other race with equal points on offer. We’ll approach it the same way: try and maximize what we can with our Corvette, nail the strategy and minimize mistakes. We didn’t have great pace last year in the dry but we’ll see how it goes this time
. We’ll try and make sure we have a clean solid weekend again. That’s what we’ve tried to do every time so we’ll try and stick to that plan. Hopefully things break our way again this time and we can take a healthy points lead into Petit Le Mans.”
TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R:
“I got to race twice at Indianapolis last year and looking forward to another endurance round this week. We showed good pace in the No. 4 Corvette a year ago. Nicky put it on pole and we looked good early before some contact in the traffic. That’s part of these Endurance Cup races with large fields and slow corners like we see at Indianapolis. This is the only track on the schedule where we haven’t won as a team, so that’s a big goal along with bringing home good points in the Manufacturers Championship.”
NICKY CATSBURG, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R:
“It was my first time racing the Corvette at Indianapolis and the results were quite mixed. We did achieve pole position but had some unlucky breaks in the race and some damage in traffic that cost us a good result. Hopefully our pace is similar but our luck is much better this time around. It was great for both Pratt Miller Corvettes to have strong runs at VIR. Let’s hope we can continue this at Indianapolis.”
AWA PRE-EVENT DRIVER QUOTES
MATT BELL, NO. 13 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R:
“The Indianapolis event in 2024 was one of our strongest performances as a team, so we are aiming to build on that for our return this year. It’s one of the most intense races of the season when you look at the amount of cars on the grid versus size of track itself, so anything can happen! We just need to keep our car free of scratches and out of trouble, while continuing to do the job we’ve been doing all year and we will be in the fight for the win.”
OREY FIDANI, NO. 13 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R:
“We’ve had some good results and strong momentum in the recent sprint races, and I’m looking forward to getting back to the endurance rounds for the last couple of events this season. It’s always special to come back to Indianapolis and we know we can deliver a great outcome here. We’re pushing as hard as we can for that Bob Akin award and it feels like we’re firing on all cylinders at the moment, and IMS is the perfect place to show what we can do as a team.”
LARS KERN, NO. 13 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R:
“I’m really looking forward to being back in our #13 Corvette Z06 GT3.R this weekend. We have had a very competitive package all year long and I truly can’t wait to jump back in. I’m hoping to be able to put in a lot of laps, not only because every lap is enjoyable, but it obviously helps to dial back in. We are leading the Akin standings, so it’s our main goal to extend this lead and go back to France for 2026 again.”
DXDT RACING PRE-EVENT DRIVER QUOTES
CHARLIE EASTWOOD, NO. 36 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R:
“The environment within this team is really nice. They’re going those extra miles to find those small, incremental changes. We’re testing at every track just to try to make sure we are as prepped as possible. They haven’t had the rub of the green, unfortunately. We had a great run at Sebring and Watkins but fell 15 minutes short both times. Even in the sprint events the pace has looked great. For one reason or another in the pits, out of the pits the team hasn’t gotten there yet. They all deserve a lot more for the effort they are putting in. I’m going into Indy confident that we can deliver a good result. I just want to get onto my first IMSA podium, maybe with my first IMSA win and the teams, and my first win in America.”
ALEC UDELL, NO. 36 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R:
“We go into this race one mechanic down and everyone’s heart is with Colten (Rybuck) as he continues to recover from a scary accident in testing recently. At Indy, it’s back to the endurance lineup with Charlie and Salih. All season we’ve had strong performance in the DXDT Corvette. We’re more than ready to capitalize on that and turn it into a result for the team. Most importantly, though, we keep in mind that the safety of everyone on the team and our competitors is paramount. I’m looking forward to welcoming Colten back at the track whenever the time is right.”
SALIH YOLUC, NO. 36 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R:
“It was nice to get some laps in the DXDT Corvette at Road Atlanta. I think it helped me a lot not just for that race but also Indianapolis coming up as well. A six-hour endurance race at this track with this many cars will be very chaotic but also very exciting. The team has been very close to getting its first IMSA podium over the last several races. I hope I get to be part of that this weekend.”
Also :
DXDT Racing program manager Bryan Sellers said the team is aiming to “strengthen and improve” its operations in the IMSA and SRO America paddocks rather than expand next year, with its programs likely to be determined by customer desires.
The David Askew-owned team, which currently runs a single GTD class Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, also competes in the GT World Challenge America powered by AWS with a Pro-Am class Corvette and is currently in the midst of filling out its driver lineups and, by extension, its race programs for 2026.
“We want to continue to try and continue to provide a good environment for customer growth,” Sellers stated “We’re not looking to expand. We’re looking to strengthen and improve where we are currently. “Ideally, we would continue on with a similar-looking program to what we have right now. We have availability on both sides. The budget is always a factor in all the programs.”
While DXDT is targeting a similar program next year, Sellers noted the team is examining the possibility of competing in VP Racing SportsCar Challenge, with GT3 cars having been made eligible for the IMSA-sanctioned support series for the first time this year. “There’s a lot of synergy that comes from running multiple cars in the same series, and for us, that would be a step to be able to run cars [in SRO America] and run cars in IMSA together,” said Sellers. “So we’re hopeful to find some clients in those areas.
“We are looking to come back [to SRO America]. We are looking at VP Challenge and seeing where all those pieces fit, and it’s pretty much driven by what the customer would want. If they want to go to VP Challenge, then that’s what we’ll do.” Sportscar365 understands that a move to VP Racing Challenge would not come at the expense of its current GTD program, which appears set to continue next year, although its driver lineup remains unconfirmed.
“We will stay undoubtedly with Corvette next year,” added Sellers. “It’s been a great relationship and partnership for us. “As this season’s progressed, we’ve really taken a step forward, not just in operating, but in performance. Starting to really unlock some characteristics in the car that have shown some speed for us, especially from mid-season onwards.
“We’re excited about continuing on with them and that relationship.” DXDT “Would Love” To Continue With Wickens; Budgets To Guide Driver Lineups
As previously reported by Sportscar365, Robert Wickens is aiming for a full-season GTD seat with DXDT, a sentiment which was echoed by Sellers, although nothing is confirmed at this stage. Wickens competed in the sprint rounds this year alongside Alec Udell, with Corvette factory driver Tommy Milner driving in the latter’s stead at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.
“I think it’s no secret that we’d love to continue our relationship with Robby and the Bosch and the hand control system,” said Sellers. “It’s been a very unique program for us and for everybody involved, and it’s been extremely rewarding to see all of these things progress. We have a lot of interest in being able to continue on in those environments.
“We do want Robbie to continue on. Our plans would be for him to continue on with us in GTD. We are very unaware of what the partnership of that would be like. It’s budget-dependent. “If you were to ask us what our pie-in-the-sky would look like, it would be we find a way to have partners fund the car, and Robbie is the person in it and with a driver of our choice, but we’re just not there.
“Alec has been a great team member and a great teammate, and we would love nothing more than to find a way for him to work into our plans for next season. If we find ourselves in the position where we have the budget to pick and choose who it is, he is undoubtedly on our list of people.”
Stingray Coupe (1YC07) Stingray Convertible (1YC67)
Z06 Coupe (1YH07) Z06 Convertible (1YH67)
E-Ray Coupe (1YG07) E-Ray Convertible (1YG67)
ZR1 Coupe (1YR07) ZR1 Convertible (1YR67)
ZR1X Coupe (1YS07) ZR1X Convertible (1YS67)
ZR1X Corvette New Features:
ZR1X Coupe (1YS07) and ZR1X Convertible (1YS67) Interior refresh with larger screens and updates to the instrument panel, door trim, console, cup holders, driver mode control and passenger assist handle (G4Z) Roswell Green Metallic exterior color (extra cost) (GKA) Blade Silver Metallic exterior color (H8T) Santorini Blue interior (EMT) Sky Cool/Medium Ash Gray interior with Habanero accents (EJH/EPX) Very Dark Atmosphere interior (HUC/HUB) Ultimate Suede Jet Black interior (HVZ) Asymmetrical Adrenaline Red/Jet Black interior (AUP) Competition Sport driver and GT2 passenger mixed seats (IVE) Infotainment system with Google Built-In,12.7" diagonal center console display, 14" diagonal Driver Information Center, and 6.6" diagonal auxiliary touchscreen (DY0) Carbon Fiber display hood, located above the Driver Information Center display (U5G) 5G vehicle connectivity (K7A) Wireless charging pad for phone and portable devices on 1LT/1LZ (K7B) Two wireless charging pads for phone and portable devices on 2LT/3LT/2LZ/3LZ (CF8) Electrochromic dimming, removable roof panel (DUK) Asymmetrical Edge Red/Carbon Flash Full Length Dual Racing Stripes (CBF) Body-color rockers and splitter (WKR) GT3.R fully rendered premium indoor car cover, LPO (Late availability) (R88) Front illuminated crossed flags emblem, LPO (Late availability) (5ZV) Carbon Flash Metallic-painted three-stanchion high wing spoiler, LPO (Late availability)
Changes:
(QEB) 19" front/20" rear 5-split-spoke Pearl Nickel forged aluminum wheels replaces (Q8P) 5-open-spoke Bright Silver-painted aluminum wheels as the standard wheels on Stingray models (EFR/EFY) Exterior accents on E-Ray models now include rockers (37S/38S/36S) Stitching options are now available on 2LT/2LZ with Jet Black interiors (U2K) SiriusXM is now SiriusXM 360L with a trial subscription (3A9) Tension Blue seat belt color is now Santorini Blue seat belt color (J6B) Blue-painted calipers now available on Z06 and E-Ray models (ZTK) ZTK Track Performance Package now includes (J59) carbon ceramic, 10-piston front, 6-piston rear brakes (Z51) Z51 Performance Package tires RPO code changed to (QUD)
Deletions:
(GMO) Rapid Blue exterior color (GXA) Sea Wolf Gray Tricoat exterior color (HTO) Tension Blue/Twilight Blue Dipped interior (HV2) Artemis interior and (255) Artemis seat belt color (IOK) Chevrolet Infotainment 3 Premium audio system (UE4) Following Distance Indicator (UDV) 12" diagonal color gauge cluster (K4C) Wireless device charging (PCH/PCK/PCI/PCJ) Stingray Accent Packages (C2Q) Body-Color Dual Roof Package (C2M) Carbon Fiber Dual Roof Package (Q8Q) 19" front/20" rear 5-open-spoke Carbon Flash-painted aluminum with machined edge wheels
Both the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R and Callaway Corvette C7 GT3-R have been hit with weight increases ahead of this afternoon’s Suzuka 1000km.
Confirmed in a revised Balance of Performance table released on Sunday morning by SRO Motorsports Group, the factory-built Corvettes have been handed a 20kg increase, while the previous C7 generation Callaway model gets a 10kg increase.
It came after Nicky Catsburg, in the No. 2 Johor Motorsports JMR Corvette, set the outright fastest lap in qualifying, but will start ninth due to the combined three-driver average used to determine the grid.
The Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, meanwhile, has been given a 10kg weight break ahead of the penultimate round of the Intercontinental GT Challenge season, with the Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 able to now run 5kg lighter than its specification at the start of the weekend. Porsche’s Type-992 911 GT3 R has undergone a 5kg weight increase but countered with a 1.5mm larger restrictor that will result in a power increase.
The pole-sitting BMW M4 GT3 EVO has also received a slight power increase at mid-to-high RPM levels, while the Ferrari 296 GT3 receives a minor increase at the low-end but slight decrease at the high-end range.
The Suzuka 1000km gets underway at 12:50 p.m. local time (Saturday, 11:50 p.m. EST) with live coverage on SRO’s GT World YouTube channel.
A viral dash-cam video captures a heart-stopping pursuit as a C5 Corvette squares off against Arkansas State Police. Speeds top 120 mph, traffic is narrowly dodged, and the chase concludes in a dramatic crash that leaves the driver in handcuffs.
On the night of August 22, 2025, at approximately 9:33 p.m., troopers spotted a gray C5 Corvette speeding eastbound on Interstate 630 near Fair Park Boulevard. Radar clocked the Vette at 92 mph in a 60-mph zone. When the officer activated lights and siren, the driver refused to stop and accelerated into a dangerous game of cat and mouse at speeds exceeding 90 mph.
Exiting the freeway, the Corvette darted through tight commercial and residential roads. Dash-cam footage from several cars shows the action:
A cruiser closing in at the three-minute mark; the Corvette blasts through a red light and nearly clips another vehicle Police weaving through intersections, chasing at full throttle Around five minutes in, the Corvette accelerates head-on into oncoming traffic, forcing motorists to swerve out of its path with the trooper right behind.
At roughly six minutes, the Corvette crests a downhill left-hand bend and the rear end breaks loose. The driver slams the brakes; the Vette spins into the median and vaults over a concrete divider in a burst of steam and smoke. It comes to rest close to the sidewalk, where troopers immediately move in to arrest the driver.
Paramedics transported the suspect to Baptist Health Medical Center for evaluation. Upon release, the driver was booked into the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility on multiple charges, including felony fleeing in a vehicle, speeding more than 15 mph over the limit, running a red light, improper window tinting, failing to transfer his driver’s license and vehicle registration to Arkansas, and improper display of license tags.
Not even classic car collector Jay Leno could convince California’s legislative Democrats to give an inch on what a critic called the state’s “regulatory hellscape.” The Assembly Appropriations Committee blocked Republican Sen. Shannon Grove’s Senate Bill 712, informally known as Leno’s Law, from advancing, according to KABC-TV. “SB 712, also known as “Leno’s Law,” offers a practical solution for owners of collector vehicles that have difficulty complying with the state’s smog check law,” according to a fact sheet issued by Grove.
“Leno’s Law is sponsored by renowned car enthusiast and television icon Jay Leno. The bill would exempt, on an ongoing basis, collector cars whose model year is 35 years or older from the state’s smog check law,” the fact sheet said. “The bill would also exempt classic cars from the smog check program upon transfer of a vehicle. These classic cars are infrequently driven, carefully maintained, and make up only a fraction of cars on the road,” the fact sheet said.
“Exempting them from the biennial smog check would strengthen California’s ‘car culture’ by helping preserve these historical treasures,” the fact sheet said. The fact sheet said forcing classic cars to meet current standards “is an overreach by the government.” “It targets a small group of people without providing any significant benefit or detriment to overall air quality in the state. In most other states, vehicles over 25 years old, considered classic cars, are exempt from smog checks,” the fact sheet said.
Writing about the demise of the law in an Op-Ed on Auto Wire, Steven Symes vented that potential passage “was too good to be true in the regulatory hellscape known as California, especially with so many politicians there deciding internal combustion engines are literally killing the planet.” “Everyone knows why this bill was killed: the party that controls California has waged open warfare on any car that burns gasoline. That means your classic ride is public enemy number one,” he wrote.
“We were skeptical this bill would ever be passed into law. After all, California is the same state which has been leading the charge with EV mandates and even talking about banning not only the sale of vehicles with internal combustion engines, but the operation of them on public roads,” he wrote. Symes said it is time for classic car lovers to hit the road.
“What this latest move signals is that if you’re a classic car owner and love the hobby, but you happen to reside in California, now is the time to make your exit,” he wrote. “Just remember, if you’re a gearhead, and you do leave the Golden State, don’t bring the political mess you left along with you. Vote differently if in the past you’ve supported the nonsense which has led to this aggressive push against your beloved hobby,” he wrote.
Multiple cars have been given Balance of Performance breaks ahead of the opening GT World Challenge America powered by AWS race of this weekend at Barber Motorsports Park.
Confirmed by SRO Motorsports Group on Saturday morning, the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R, Ferrari 296 GT3 and McLaren 720S GT3 Evo have all been given 10 kg reductions in minimum weight.
Additionally, the Ferrari has been handed a slight increase in power, at the mid-to-high RPM range, with the Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo handed a similar boost, but at the low-end range.
The changes, the fourth BoP change made since the initial table was released pre-event, come ahead of Saturday afternoon’s 90-minute contest, which is scheduled to get underway at 3 p.m. CST with live coverage on SRO’s GT World YouTube channel, RACER Network and on Twitch.
This bulletin applies to 2020 Chevy Corvette and Blazer vehicles (as well as other models equipped with eBoost.) Performing a brake inspection or any repair that requires the caliper piston to be re-seated may cause DTC C05B0 to falsely set for eBoost applications.
Refer to diagnostic procedures for DTC C05B0 and verify that there are no leaks in any of the brake components before proceeding.
1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Ensure that the brake pads are fully seated to the rotors and that the brake pedal is firm. If the brake pedal is firm and the brake pads are fully seated, continue to Step 3. If the brake pedal is not firm and/or the pads are not fully seated, gradually apply the brake pedal to about 2/3 of its travel distance. Wait 15 seconds and repeat until the brake pedal is form and the pads are fully seated.
What is short-term fuel trim (STFT)? Short-term fuel trim is the short-lived and immediate response of the ECM to the changes in the exhaust gasses. This means that the STFT depends on the ECM response as it receives data from the O2 sensor.
The engine control module STFT ensures the engine maintains a balanced air-fuel ratio. It achieves this by constantly adjusting the duration of the fuel injection during different engine operating conditions, such as transient and warm-up periods.
As the engine is warming up, it operates in open-loop mode, meaning it depends on sensor readings and predefined fuel maps instead of relying on the oxygen sensor alone. As the car engine gets to its average operating temperature, it changes to closed-loop mode, making the STFT more active. At this point, the engine control module collects real-time data from the O2 sensor to adjust the air-fuel ratio, ensuring optimal combustion and less emissions.
The STFT values keep fluctuating as the engine temperature, engine load, the quantity of oxygen in the exhaust, and as other factors affecting the air-fuel ratio changes. As the changes happen, the ECM swiftly adjusts how long the fuel injectors stay open to balance the air-fuel ratio.
What does positive STFT mean?
As explained earlier, short-term fuel trim is expressed in percentages. A positive short-term fuel trim means that the engine control module (ECM) has detected that there’s too little fuel in the exhaust gas, and it is attempting to richen the fuel mixture.
Negative STFT is the opposite of positive short-term fuel trim. This means that when there’s a negative STFT, the car computer has detected too much fuel in the engine and it’s decreasing the amount of fuel that enters the engine to maintain a proper air-fuel mixture ratio. STFT, whether positive or negative, are adjustments made by the car computer to maintain a predefined air-fuel mixture ratio, which is approximately 14.7:1.
Is fuel trim rich or lean?
Fuel trims can be either rich or lean. If the powertrain control module (PCM) or car computer detects lean conditions and is attempting to add more fuel to rich out the fuel mixture, it can be said to be lean. Similarly, if it detects rich conditions (too much fuel and too little air) and is trying to decrease the fuel input, it can be said to be rich.
What causes high STFT levels?
The common causes of STFT B1 high are malfunctioning MAF sensors, faulty oxygen sensors, and faulty fuel injectors. These issues can also cause high long-term fuel trim issues. To address the issue, you have to diagnose and replace defective components.
Faulty fuel injectors
A dirty or malfunctioning fuel injector will not work well. It’ll not be able to deliver the right amount of fuel needed in the engine. As a result, the powertrain control module will compensate by adding more fuel whenever it detects injector issues.
Malfunctioning O2 sensor
The O2 sensor measures the amount of oxygen in the exhaust and tells the powertrain control module to adjust the air-fuel ratio whenever it detects too much or too little air. A malfunctioning O2 sensor can send inconsistent and incorrect signals, causing the PCM to add more fuel than necessary. Invariably resulting in high short-term fuel trims.
Bad MAF sensor
The mass airflow sensor measures the air that enters the engine and tells the powertrain control module to adjust the air-fuel ratio whenever it detects that too much air is entering the engine. A lousy MAF sensor can send inconsistent and incorrect signals, causing the car computer to add more fuel than necessary, resulting in high STFT.
What controls STFT and LTFT?
The LTFT B1 range refers to the percentage of fuel trim over a long period of time for cylinder bank 1. The normal LTFT B1 range should be 0 or numbers near 0 if all components work fine in a normal engine working condition. However, the value can fluctuate since vehicles don’t move at a constant speed. For example, while LTFT B1 normal range at idle could be close to 0, it should return to zero once the vehicle regains steady speeds.
More so, these fluctuations should not be too rampant; if the values fluctuate like a STFT, there is an issue. If the sensors work correctly, the LTFT B2 normal range should also be 0 or near 0.
Wondering what B1 and B2 mean? Here you go. B means bank and represents each cylinder in your engine. With B1 standing for bank 1, that is the number one cylinder bank, B2 stands for bank 2 cylinder. To therefore explain LTFT B1 meaning, it is the long-term fuel trim value on cylinder bank 1. What about the STFT B1 meaning? This indicates the short-term fuel trim value on cylinder bank 1.
What is the Normal STFT B1 range?
I mentioned earlier that the normal STFT B1 range of the ECM is -22% to +25%. But in actual sense, the range of the STFT to monitor is -10% to +25%, equivalent to +5% and +10%. The minus sign shows that the ECM is decreasing the fuel that enters the engine, while the plus sign shows that the ECM is adding more fuel to the engine.
Keep in mind that engine misfires may change the STFT values from +15 to +25. Plus, other parameters like the engine load, speed, and throttle lift-off may affect the values of the fuel trims.
Once the values go beyond STFT b1 normal range on Ford or your respective car model, it is a sign that there’s an issue with the sensors or the engine. Once the car computer detects this issue, it’ll log it as a trouble code. The ECM will log error code P0172 if the engine is running rich and P0171 if the engine is running lean.
Related Queries
What is STFT B1 S1 normal range? STFT B1 S1 is a short term fuel trim for bank 1, sensor 1, which is the upstream oxygen sensor on the catalytic converter. The normal B1S1 voltages are any consistent fluctuation between .1 to .8V. What is STFT B1 S2 normal range? STFT B1 S2 is a short term fuel trim for bank 1, sensor 2, which is the downstream oxygen sensor on the cat con. The normal range for short term fuel trims is 0, fluctuating from -25 to +25.
The default value for B1S2 is 99.2%. This value is for an O2 sensor that doesn’t contribute to the fuel control strategy. The scanner requests the value of the PID from the ECM, and the ECM is required to send something.
Final words
Short-term fuel trim is an essential parameter that ensures a balanced air-fuel mixture for optimal combustion. The STFT B1 represents the readings in engine cylinder bank 1. The only difference between STFT B2 normal range and STFT B1 is that B1 is talking about bank 1, while B2 talks about bank 2. The STFT B1 normal range should fall between -10% to +25% under perfect engine operation. This range allows for swift and minor adjustments in air-fuel ratio variations. If the fuel trim falls outside this range, it shows there are issues with the engine, O2 sensor, or the MAF sensor.
