“POLE” in GTE Pro By C8.R

[John]

Thanks to Corvette Racing’s Ryan Smith, Performance Communications Manager we have the following great info:

[Quote=RyanSmith]

Garcia Takes GTD PRO Pole! SEBRING, Fla. (March 17, 2023) – In defense of its class victory from a year ago, Antonio Garcia and Corvette Racing will start from pole position in GT Daytona (GTD) PRO for Saturday’s Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. Garcia, in the No. 1 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Chevrolet Corvette C8.R, set a best time of 1:59.315 (112.843 mph) just before a red-flag period ended Friday’s 15-minute qualifying session for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. He and teammates Jordan Taylor and Tommy Milner will look to give the Corvette Racing program its 13th victory in the Florida endurance classic and second in a row. Garcia’s qualifying effort continued a strong pre-race program for Corvette Racing, which posted the fastest GTD PRO times in the final two of Thursday’s three practice sessions around the 3.74-mile, 17-turn circuit. Pre-event work – including significant work in Chevrolet’s Driver in the Loop simulator – helped establish an early baseline with the results validating the virtual efforts.

Garcia, Taylor and Milner finished second in GTD PRO to open the season at the Rolex 24 At Daytona. They have combined for eight class wins in the 12 Hours – nine when adding a sprint-race victory for Milner and then-teammate Oliver Gavin in the 2020 season. The Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring is scheduled for 10:10 a.m. ET on Saturday. The race will air on USA Network from 4:30-10:30 p.m. ET with full streaming coverage on Peacock at 10:05 a.m. ET. IMSA Radio will stream the race at IMSA.com with radio coverage also on SiriusXM 392, SiriusXM Online 992 and 100.9 FM at the circuit.

ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R – GTD PRO POLE-WINNER: “The car felt really good. A good thumbs-up for the team. We were not here for the (IMSA February) test but so far things have been really good through practice. Even warmup just before qualifying felt really, really good so we just went for it and it was enough. Luckily enough I was just across the line before the red flag because I just messed up the previous laps. I’m very happy for Corvette Racing. I’ve had a few pole positions here and I love this race and love this track.” More on pole position: “Things felt really good. I have to say that after Practice One, we were not where we wanted. But from Practice Two onward, everyone seemed to be faster… Tommy, Jordan… so we have a good package, for sure. Last night felt good. We tested in the little warmup before qualifying and the car felt good. I had in the back of my mind that this Corvette was good and I would have a chance be on pole.” His Sebring success: “That is true. In GTLM, I was on pole the last two times and now today. The car really suits this racetrack and I think there is more to come because we love racing here. I’m looking forward to the rest of the race. I wouldn’t mind to race in an hour! So it’s a long wait until we start. There are a lot of things to think about, but obviously the car is good so maybe we should just clean it and put it in the truck!” Outlook for the race from pole: “It’s confidence. We have confidence that we have a good Corvette. We knew from practice last night that the car was good, but we didn’t know where it was for a quick, quick lap but we were up there. Tomorrow is a long one but I’m already looking forward to those last two hours of the race.”

[Foosh]

Good to hear. I suspected they might get some BOP help after being off the pace at Daytona, but I haven't researched that yet. Perhaps someone here has. The Corvettes have traditionally done quite well at Sebring.

There is quite a bit of BOP controversy in GTD this year, particularly with teams trying to run the new Porsche GT3 car this year.

https://racer.com/2023/03/02/imsa-re...-bop-backlash/

[John]

Vidoe thanks to Lanky Turtle of a Sebring practice session:

[z28lt1]

Good to hear. I suspected they might get some BOP help after being off the pace at Daytona, but I haven't researched that yet. Perhaps someone here has. The Corvettes have traditionally done quite well at Sebring.

There is quite a bit of BOP controversy in GTD this year, particularly with teams trying to run the new Porsche GT3 car this year.

https://racer.com/2023/03/02/imsa-re...-bop-backlash/

BoP seems excellent for Sebring.

From my post...uh...elsewhere last week:
-----------------------------------
IMSA Sebring BoP changes out. Lots of changes all around. Looks like McLeran was the base car with all others being target to that pace.
Think Acura probably gets the best deal out of it, but should be better than Daytona for sure.

Acura: -15kg +5L Fuel +Decent amount of boost
Aston: -15kg -3L Fuel - little boost
Bmw: -15kg
Corvette: -15kg
Ferrari: +15kg +5L Fuel + Decent Amount of Boost.
Lamborghini: 2mm bigger restrictor +10L Fuel
Lexus: -15kg
McLeran: No Change
Mercedes: +15kg
Porsche: 5mm bigger retrictors +7L Fuel


Hopefully this gets Porsche close, but rumblings that it might not be enough from the Porsche camp.
Fuels is nutty as the Corvette has 88L of Fuel, Bmw 99L, everyone else 102 or more.

[Meldoon]

First place for Corvette Racing C8R in 1000 miles of Sebring!!!!!!!

[Vette Interested]

They finished a lap ahead of the 2nd place Dempsey-Proton Porsche.

[purple pearl 98]

Good showing. Nice job fellas. Great coordinated effort, Laura.