Antonio Garcia and Alexander Sims clinched a GTD Pro triumph for Corvette Racing at the IMSA Chevrolet Detroit Sports Car Classic, finishing 1.935 seconds ahead of Andrea Caldarelli’s Lamborghini Temerario GT3.
Race dynamics and decisive moments
Starting from pole on Detroit’s nine‑turn, 1.645‑mile street circuit, Sims immediately opened a gap in the #3 Corvette Z06 GT3.R, allowing a relatively stress‑free stint before handing the car to Garcia near the one‑hour mark. After the driver swap, Garcia navigated slower traffic and maintained the lead until a caution with 20 minutes remaining.
The subsequent restart sparked a clash when Jack Hawksworth of Vasser Sullivan entered Turn 1 a fraction of a second before the yellow flag, contacting Garcia’s Corvette and damaging his own #14 Lexus RC F GT3. Race officials reverted the positions, restoring Garcia to first, and imposed a drive‑through penalty on Hawksworth for the collision.
Despite the late‑race turbulence, Garcia held onto the front, fending off a pursuing Lamborghini that briefly threatened his margin, while an oil spill at Turn 3 added an extra layer of uncertainty for the leader.
Driver reflections
Garcia, now with 32 IMSA victories, praised the team’s effort, noting the significance of converting a pole position from two years earlier into a win on “Chevrolet land” beneath Detroit’s RenCen tower. He admitted the final laps felt “super‑stressful” as rival cars fought to stay on the lead lap, but emphasized a calculated, risk‑averse approach after the pit stop.
Sims, adding a 16th career win, described his opening stint as “super‑easy,” despite pre‑race nerves about potential mistakes on the tricky circuit. He highlighted the clean laps and sizable lead built before the driver change, which set the stage for the victory.
Implications for the weekend
The win reinforces Corvette Racing’s momentum in the GTD Pro category, while the penalty to Hawksworth underscores the fine line between aggressive overtaking and rule violations on street courses. As the championship progresses, the tight finish suggests that any margin—oil, contact, or strategy—could dictate future podium outcomes.
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