This year’s race is the first 24 Hours of Le Mans to feature the new LMGT3 class, so none of the cars in the line-up have yet tackled the gruelling circuit. Experience is likely to play a key role and the collaboration between TF Sport and Corvette Racing is promising in that respect. But the team are leaving nothing to chance and every base has been covered in the run-up to the race.

TF Sport recently took the cars to Silverstone to test their aerodynamics settings. In the meantime, the Corvette Racing factory drivers entered in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship explored various setting options for the Z06 GT3.R on the Chevrolet simulator. This weekend’s Le Mans 6-hour-long Test Day is the opportunity to observe the results of their choices.

Tom Van Rompuy, Rui Andrade and Charlie Eastwood take the wheel of the #81 Corvette Z06 LMGT3.R. British driver Charlie Eastwood, winner of LMGTE Am in 2020 with TF Sport: “Le Mans is the big one. It’s a very important race for us, and obviously it’s a big race for everyone. It’s the first time the Z06 GT3.R is going to hit the streets of Le Mans. From that, we have a lot of data to gather on the Test Day. The good thing is that both Rui and Tom have been to Le Mans, and, of course, I’ve been there many times myself. So hopefully as the driver crew we will be strong from the start, which should give us more time to get an understanding of what this car needs. It’s the first time we’ve had a low-downforce track with long straights. The guys at Corvette Racing, Pratt Miller and GM have run a lot of simulations and been in the DiL to get some good baseline setups ready for us, which will play a big part in helping us get up to speed. We just need to be on track for every single minute that the track is green to get as much data as we can. I’m looking forward to it. For the full crew, we need a proper result at Le Mans. We’ve had some misfortune at the last couple of races, so we’re all as determined as ever to make no mistakes and make sure we are there at the end of the 24 Hours.”

His teammate Tom van Rompuy adds: “I am super excited for the biggest race of the season. Le Mans is always a very special race and is the one where you really want to achieve a good result. I’m very proud to be driving the Corvette this year in Le Mans. We prepared ourselves and the car in the best possible way to be able to try to finish on the LM GT3 podium. Let’s hope the luck is on our side for the big one. I can’t wait to feel the Le Mans atmosphere again and to see all the fans with full support to help us finish the race in the best way.”

The #82 is in the hands of Hiroshi Koizumi, Sébastien Baud and Spanish driver Daniel Juncadella, who expresses his enthusiasm: “These are some pretty exciting days coming up. This will be the first time for me at Le Mans and the first time with such a successful brand in Le Mans like Corvette. So that makes it even more exciting – to have my own debut at this race with the winning programme from last year with so much experience. It’s going to be quite special for me to debut at Le Mans. The Test Day will be about learning the track, and the bits and pieces that are there in real life compared to simulations and how the car feels. I’m quite confident that we can have a strong race. Seb is also going to have a big highlight being a Frenchman. Hiro has some experience at Le Mans, so they are a little more prepared than myself, which is good. When it’s me that gets up to speed, it makes me feel confident. We should have a good car and let’s see how it goes. But yes, very exciting weeks are coming ahead.”

While you’re waiting to see the TF Sport Corvettes up close at Scrutineering or in action on Test Day, read our preview of the LMGT3 class.