At this year’s edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R stormed to victory in the LMGT3 class. Porsche previously dominated in 2024 and 2025, but this year, the Corvette triumphed thanks to a bold driver strategy by TF Sport. Autoblog was there to witness the win, which was the tenth for the American manufacturer and saw it hold off a sustained challenge from Akkodis ASP Team (Lexus) and Heart of Racing Team (Aston Martin).
Corvette Wins Despite Starting From 17th
Adam Lynton/Autoblog
Adam Lynton/Autoblog
Adam Lynton/Autoblog
TF Sport started off at the 17th position on the 25-strong grid and had its work cut out if it was to emerge with the win. The team took a chance by using Ben Keating for the early part of the race, its Bronze-rated driver who was making his very first FIA WEC appearance. But Keating held his own against higher-graded rivals, setting the tone for Nicky Catsburg and Jonny Edgar.
Adam Lynton/Autoblog
The Corvette marked Chevy’s first Le Mans class win since 2023 and Keating’s third class triumph since returning after an elbow injury. Entrants from Aston Martin, Porsche, and Lexus all led at some stage before the No. 33 Corvette ended the day in front.
“It’s really special,” said Keating. “We developed a plan for how we were going to execute, and we executed well. We had the perfect race, with no penalties and no mistakes, which is what it takes to do well at Le Mans. Jonny was unbelievable with his five stints at the end – that was maybe the drive of the race. I think this will be career-defining for Jonny Edgar.”
The LMGT3 class featured 25 cars across nine makes this year, including Aston Martin, BMW, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Ford, Lexus, Mercedes-AMG, McLaren, and Porsche. Specifications for vehicles in this class include an output of around 520 horsepower and a weight of about 2,745 pounds.
Porsche’s Reign Comes To An End
Porsche
Porsche and Team Manthey were the victors in the 2024 and 2025 editions of Le Mans in this class, but the combination of Yasser Shahin, Riccardo Prera, and factory driver Richard Lietz could only manage a 13th-placed finish this year. Driving the No. 92 911 GT3 R, the team suffered a major setback in the second hour of the race when the car pulled into the pits with a broken tie-rod. This unforeseen repair set The Bend Manthey Team back by three laps and put them right at the back of the field. They recovered well to get to 13th, but that was the best they could do given the circumstances.
Adam Lynton/Autoblog
The sister car crashed into the barriers on Sunday morning, driven by current DTM champion Ayhancan Guven, who was thankfully uninjured. But it was another blow for Porsche and made a three-peat impossible.
“Defeats are part and parcel of motorsport. After our early retirement at the Nürburgring, Le Mans hurts all the more. Celebrating together is one thing, but weathering such setbacks as a team is more difficult. Drawing strength from moments like these is what makes the difference in the end,” says Nicolas Raeder, Managing Director of Manthey Racing GmbH.
What It Means
Chevrolet
The production Corvette has already proven its mettle at the Nürburgring, where the ZR1X set a record for American production cars before being dethroned by the Mustang GTD earlier in 2026. Now, with the win at Le Mans, the Corvette’s status as a slayer of far more expensive European exotics carries even more weight. The Z06 GT3.R racing car shares roughly 80% of its production content with the Z06 customers can order straight from the factory, evidence of how impressive the Corvette C8’s foundation is. It’s one of the best sports cars in the world, from the base V8 Stingray all the way up to the extreme racing versions that have competed on the most prestigious stages.
About the author
Karl Furlong
Senior Editor, Autoblog