TF Sport team boss Tom Ferrier expects to begin testing the updated Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R Evo in December, with the squad choosing not to participate in this season’s Asian Le Mans Series in order to devote time to fully understanding the revised package.
Chevrolet is the most recent manufacturer to roll out an Evo upgrade for its GT3 challenger, with January’s Rolex 24 at Daytona anticipated as the first competitive appearance for the updated version.
Ferrier anticipates the initial batch of new Evo components arriving in the latter part of November, after which the team will commence testing the revised car.
The Evo kit, which is understood to carry a price tag close to $200,000 per car due to a number of new or replacement parts, will be compulsory for Corvette squads contesting the FIA World Endurance Championship and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
Nevertheless, Corvette Racing program manager Andrea Hildago downplayed the magnitude of the changes, stating that they are focused on improved reliability and ease of serviceability.
“It’s not huge developments, it’s just bits that I think we’ve all learnt that needed to be improved over the last three years,” Ferrier told Sportscar365.
“It’s not going to make it worse, that’s for sure. Pratt Miller has done some good work on it and it will be nice to get our hands on it.
“There’s a new (Goodyear) tire for next year as well so we’ve got a little bit of work to do on that as well.
“We’re not doing Asian Le Mans Series this year because we thought it just gives us a little bit more workshop time and time to test — it should stand us in good stead for the start of the year.”
Ferrier believes now is the right time for the Evo to be introduced as his squad seeks to continue fighting for strong results in both the WEC and European Le Mans Series after developing a successful partnership with Corvette since its switch in 2024.
The team recently sealed back-to-back ELMS LMGT3 titles and leads the WEC drivers’ standings with Jonny Edgar.
Ferrier described the relationship with Chevrolet as “eye-opening” and that he is “really happy” with the decision to partner up with GM.
“We obviously had a really good time with Aston Martin and it was a big decision at the time but, thankfully, it was the right one,” he said.
“Lots of really nice people to meet and working with a lot of really intelligent people.”
TF Set to Take Up Auto-Invite for Expected Four-Car Le Mans Operation
As a result of Charlie Eastwood, Alec Udell and Blake McDonald winning the ELMS class title, TF has again secured an automatic invite for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Ferrier expects there to be four Corvettes on the grid at La Sarthe next year as Orey Fidani has also secured another invite for 13 Autosport having won the Bob Akin Award for his performance in the WeatherTech Championship, and his team is expected to be embedded with TF as usual.
“We will 100 percent take it up, exactly with who or how hasn’t quite been decided yet,” Ferrier said of TF’s auto invite.
The team supported a Johor Motorsports Racing-run Corvette in this year’s French endurance classic.
Away from the ACO-administered WEC and ELMS categories, Ferrier said he does have ambitions of taking the Corvettes to other series in the future.
“There’s races we would of course love to do at some point — like a Bathurst, like a Macau — but at the moment we’re fully focused on ELMS and WEC and Le Mans, and it feels like enough most of the time,” he explained.
“We would like to broaden our horizons a bit but we’re conscious the level has gone up every year in this paddock (WEC) and we don’t want to stretch ourselves because this has still got to be our main focus.”
