TF Sport e Corvette conquistam título histórico na ELMS e asseguram convite extra para Le Mans 2026

A TF Sport e a Corvette Racing escreveram, em Portimão, um capítulo que muda estatísticas, mas principalmente reforça narrativa institucional: o Corvette Z06 GT3.R já é um produto esportivo vencedor no endurance internacional. Com a vitória nas Quatro Horas de Portimão, encerramento da temporada 2025 da European Le Mans Series, a TF Sport selou, ao lado dos seus pilotos Charlie Eastwood, Rui Andrade e Hiroshi Koizumi, o campeonato da LMGT3 — e garantiu a progressão lógica que todo programa GT sonha em ter: o convite automático para as 24 Horas de Le Mans 2026. Com o título, a Corvette terá ao menos quatro carros no grid da LMGT3 na próxima edição da clássica francesa.

O carro #82 foi protagonista: Koizumi colocou o Corvette na pole da categoria, Eastwood executou uma prova equilibrada e Andrade conduziu o ritmo tático com maturidade. Foi a segunda vitória da trinca na temporada e, combinada aos pontos acumulados ao longo do ano, tornou impossível qualquer reversão matemática. O desfecho é simbólico para a Corvette Racing: é o primeiro título da ELMS da história do Z06 GT3.R.

A marca norte-americana chegou simultaneamente a outros marcos. Na IMSA, Orey Fidani e a equipe AWA, agora renomeada para 13 Motorsports, garantiram convite consecutivo a Le Mans ao vencerem o Bob Akin Award pelo segundo ano seguido no Petit Le Mans. Em paralelo, a Chevrolet e a Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports também já haviam conquistado os campeonatos GTD PRO do IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship nesta temporada.

E a onda não para: no GT World Challenge America, a DXDT Racing segue viva na disputa do título Pro-Am do campeonato — justamente no fim de semana das 8 Horas de Indianápolis. No GT World Challenge Asia, a Johor Motorsports Racing também está na briga pelo título Pro-Am, com rodada decisiva nas ruas de Pequim.

Jessica Dane, gerente do programa Corvette Racing, sintetizou o momento em Portimão de forma direta: “Parabéns à TF Sport por fazer história com o primeiro campeonato ELMS para a Corvette Racing. A vitória de Charlie, Rui e Hiro veio sob pressão máxima. Toda a operação executou à perfeição.”

E ainda há mais em jogo. A TF Sport também chega viva na luta pelo título da LMGT3 no FIA WEC — Eastwood, Andrade e Tom Van Rompuy ocupam o terceiro lugar na tabela geral antes das Oito Horas do Bahrein no próximo mês. Ou seja, a temporada ainda pode ficar maior. E a Corvette já sabe que, em 2026, Le Mans terá o dobro de amarelo Corvette no grid.

Abre aspas

CHARLIE EASTWOOD, NO. 82 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R – LMGT3 RACE AND CHAMPIONSHIP WINNER: “That was a very stressful stint to say the least. We didn’t seem to have great pace. We had something we were trying to manage, and with that it was super-difficult. The pace of the McLaren and Wayne (Boyd) has been unbelievable all year. Coming into Turn Five, I could see him behind and then as I came out he was getting closer and closer. Fortunately as the sun started to go down we gained a little bit of grip. But he was right there for the last 10 or 15 laps. My engineer came on the radio saying there were six laps to go and he was literally right behind me and significantly faster. 

“But what a job by these guys (Andrade and Koizumi). If I didn’t have the gap that I had when I got in the car, for sure we don’t win the race. All credit to both of them for putting in their two best stints of the year exactly when we needed it. I’m super-pleased for the first ELMS championship for Corvette and for the first championship for myself with Corvette. We’ve got Bahrain in a couple of weeks where we’re the underdog as we were today. Hopefully we can have a very good month.

“We definitely made that hard work in the last hour. I had to start having to take a lot of risks in traffic because although if we had finished second we might have won, but we didn’t know if other Ferraris were going to let the 50 pass. I was all-out to make sure we got it to the line. What an achievement for the whole team. Rui and Hiro were unbelievable today as was the whole team. I’m going to remember this one for a while.” 

RUI ANDRADE, NO. 82 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R – LMGT3 RACE AND CHAMPIONSHIP WINNER: “I couldn’t have asked for better conditions to get in the car. Already yesterday, Hiro showed the pace he had this whole weekend. Every time he tried to pull away and create a gap there was a safety car or something. But he gave me the car with a good lead. Obviously we were jumped by some cars that were on an offset strategy, so I had to use the new tires the team gave me and make my way through. It was a relatively easy run for me after that. I did have a little issue with the rear-view camera, which is stressful because there are a lot of cars coming through all the time. But the team guided me through that really well, and I was able to give Charlie the car in P1.

“It’s becoming a habit of Charlie’s to pull out these amazing wins in the last lap, which end up in me losing my voice! I’m so happy. For sure it was stressful for Charlie in the car but for us on the outside watching it unfold was even more stressful. I never had any doubt that Charlie would do it, and in the end he did it. I couldn’t be happier right now.”

(On winning the LMGT3 title) “This one is special just because as a Silver driver in the GT category now, the level is so high. We’ve had to work so hard since last year. Charlie has been my teammate since the beginning with the Corvette, and we’ve worked really hard to try and get me to improve and be at the level where we are now – where we can be fighting for podiums and wins on a regular basis. So that just makes it a little more special with all the work that has gone into it. It’s surreal.”

HIROSHI KOIZUMI, NO. 82 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R – LMGT3 RACE AND CHAMPIONSHIP WINNER:”The team gave us a great car, and I have the two best drivers as teammates. That’s why I was able to keep the car in first place. So I’m really happy for that. I’m feeling very grateful. I was able to do this because of the team, and my teammates. Congratulations to all of them.”