The No. 3 Corvette C8.R showed some muscle in the early hours of the 2023 12 Hours of Sebring, but disaster struck in the latter stages of the race, killing what was otherwise an impressive run for the Corvette Racing team.
Piloted by a joint effort between Antonio Garcia, Jordan Taylor and Tommy Milner, the No. 3 C8.R started the race from the pole position. However, just after an hour was in the books, a caution period was thrown, and the No. 3 Corvette, then driven by Garcia, couldn’t complete its first stop before Pit Road was closed. As a result, the team had to pit again for five seconds of emergency fuel, and then had to pit once more for full service once Pit Road opened.
The race continued without incident for the Corvette Racing team, but while leading, Milner elected to pit to address an issue with the left rear damper, losing a lap in the process. Taylor took control and raced to the yellow flag, which allowed the No. 3 C8.R to regain its lost lap, before Garcia stepped back behind the wheel for the final stint of the race.
That’s when disaster struck. The No. 3 Corvette Racing machine was struck in the rear on a restart, forcing the C8.R out of the lead and plummeting into sixth place. Garcia and the No. 3 C8.R were involved in yet another crash with 17 minutes left on the clock, spinning again, but gaining a spot in the process as the wreck took out a competitor.
Overall, the No. 3 Corvette Racing team finished fifth, but the drivers were left wanting, especially after such a strong showing out of the gate.
#3 Corvette Racing Corvette C8.R, GTLM: Nicky Catsburg, Jordan Taylor, Antonio Garcia
“I’m really disappointed with the finish,” Garcia said after the race, “but it has nothing to do with the team. They did a great job all weekend with the car, our strategy and helping to keep us in the race when things weren’t looking so good.”
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Comments
I was there and I really enjoyed this race, incredible turn out too. It was so cool to be in the Corvette Coral and watch Corvette #3 dominate it’s class for much of the race, and the same said for the two Cadillacs.
WAY TO GO CHEVY!
A little mischief… Upon arrival, I accidentally passed the Corvette Corral entrance (right as you enter the gate) and had to turn around in the Porsche area, in which I heard comments from a bunch of Porsche Owners, you don’t belong in here and such (I am sure all-in fun). So, I looked at me Beautifull wife and asked, Should I?, in which she said go ahead with her cute grin… So, with my Performance Exhaust Equipped C8, I gave the Porsche Tent A REALLY LOUD and BEAUTIFUL BUZZ of a Roaring C8 Power Note… LOL, that was so much fun!, WOW do I love my Vette and my Wife! :0 )
I know what those Porsche Owners were saying… Not only does that Corvette look Great!, It sounds it too! ;0 )
Was your wife watching you type that? Serious question.
Hey Viper,
No, just how I feel about my Wife, and I am sure you feel the same about yours.
Have a Great Day.
How many cars were in the VIPER corral.
Rhymes with “hero”.
As I don’t follow this type of racing, which car actually won? I’m not trying to bust anyone’s ego, just curious.
Matt,
I believe it was one of the two Cadillac GTP Prototypes White/Black Car. I think the Yellow/Black car was taken out with the Acura Prototype just 11 minutes before the finish of the 12 hour race.
Thank you for the reply. It is good to see an American car known as a standard bearer back on the track. I hope that gm doesn’t pull the plug on the racing program.
Racing benefits innovation that will eventually filter down to the mainstream cars.
What a shame. At one point the No. 3 Corvette had nearly a five second lead. Then a caution erased the lead and the rest is history. Overall, a strong performance by the No. 3 Corvette. Just need an incident free race and Corvette Racing would be on the podium.
Pictures are from Daytona 🙁
Wish we still had both a #3 and #4 entry in the IMSA series for exactly this reason. Just too many things can go awry in these endurance races. Best of luck at Long Beach, you’re coming to my hometown!
I concur. Would be nice to have the No. 4. I’m thinking about attending the Long Beach. I’m so close and I’ve never been to one.
It’s worth a trip, Saturday GA ticket the way to go! There are many open GA bleachers on Saturday, you will get multiple viewing angles and get to see the action up close. Turn 1 off main straight and Turn 11 hairpin are worth checking out the viewing angle up close!
Thank you for your insight. I’ve never been to a road race. Only NASCAR oval tracks (Fontana, Phoenix, Bristol, & Darlington).
I’m planning on going to the Nashville race. Then head over to the National Corvette Museum the next day.
I want to know who were the parties that rear ended the Corvette both times causing it to spin out… particularly the last rear ender. Lemans and now Sebring costing Corvette two rightly earned.wins.
GM needs both the #3 and #4 in IMSA + a similar 2 car team in Europe. The single car team is penalized from the start with being only one GM vehicle in the GTD Pro or GTD class. Having 2 or more cars provides a degree of insurance. Not from just being able to finish but from being banged into as much from other cars along with the benefit of a 2 car strategy.
Very frustrated with the IMSA control of the race. Quite a few examples at the 12 hour race whit a caution causing event and the time laps to putting out the caution. It seemed to be lengthy delays between.
Then there is the delay after the yellow to open the pits by class.
Then after the classes have pitted there is the delay for resetting the class fields,
In all, especial in the sprint races and the long races at the end of them, the is quite a time loss of green flag racing.
I would prefer to see gas, tire, and adjustments done only on green stops.
During a yellow allow mechanical “damage” be repaired on the car to bring back to the predamaged conddition.
How about some love for the GTE am #33 Corvette Racing C8 that won the FIA WEC 1000 mile race at Sebring the night before the 12 hour race. Corvette beat the nearest competitor the Dempsey Porsche by 2 Laps! The #3 Corvette was just as strong as the #33 car, but couldn’t overcome the errors and bad luck. I watched both races at Sebring, great experience!