# 3 C8.R Corvette grabs 2nd in GTD Pro at the 2023 IMSA Daytona 24-hour race
In the big picture, a remarkable hard fought 2nd place finish got lost in the hype heaped upon high-tech hybrid prototype class race cars going for the overall win in their debut at the Daytona 24-hour race.
Starting well off the pace from eighth on the GTD PRO production class grid, a top finish by the C8.R Corvette was an unexpected surprise and heroic accomplishment in the hands of Antonio Garcia, Jordan Taylor and Tommy Milner.
It is said that Garcia worked closely with Michelin engineers to dial in the tires as track temperatures cooled into the night
The Pratt & Miller pit crew was flawless, made the right calls and recovered from adversity.
Darkness had fallen when Taylor’s left rear tire blew out climbing the high-speed banking of turn 1. Full-track cautions and better fuel mileage helped the # 3 Corvette make up 2 laps lost to repair the brake damage inflicted by the shredded rubber on Taylor’s way back to the pits.
Taylor quipped that holding his bladder during his triple stint was harder than doing an iron man triathlon.
Balance of Performance could turn into a season-long juggling contest. The combined GT field consisted of 25 cars from 8 different marques. Much has been made of the mid-engine C8. It is a mystery why the front-engine AMG Mercedes GT3 and the Lexus RCF GT3 were faster than the Corvette C8.R In GTD PRO. As well as the mid-engine Porsche 911 GT3.R, Ferrari 296 GT3 and Lambo GT3 Evo 02.
The lone # 3 C8.R chassis 005 faces long odds before the GTD PRO class comes to an end.
Looking ahead, Laura Klauser, GM’s racing chief for Corvette and Cadillac unveiled the new “Customer Car”. Since the GM Corvette Racing Team was officially established 25 years ago, outsiders were not welcome, save for a few used cars here and there.
Next year will see four teams eager to race the new C8 GT3.R in the GTD class. Deliveries are scheduled this fall and start testing. The big prize awaits those with talent and deep pockets to fork over $ 735,000.
This change in policy comes none too soon to vie with AMG and Porsche which combined, have sold cars to more than 100 customers across four continents including the # 79 GTD PRO from the USA that won at Daytona with a stellar lineup of drivers.
The biggest crowd ever (70,000 est.) and top brass from Porsche, BMW, Acura and GM (Cadillac) saw the # 60 Acura take the overall win in the IMSA GTP class, a name to revive past days of glory.
The Corvette Corral managed by the Corvette Museum was part of select activities for those who signed up.
Steve Goldin displayed the C3 1976 wide-body Corvette that legend John Greenwood raced at Daytona.
Sebring coming up the weekend of March 16-19 should be another blockbuster event hosting IMSA’s 12 Hour race and kicking off the World Endurance Challenge 1,000 mile race.
Photos and story credit to Kevin Bowman. Additional photo credits to Richard Prince & Joe Martin.
