Trackhouse Racing is combining forces with WEC Chevrolet Corvette competitor TF Sport to field a Corvette Z06 GT3.R in the GTD PRO class in the 63rd Rolex 24 at Daytona next month.
Pulling Shane van Gisbergen and Connor Zilisch from Trackhouse’s NASCAR portfolio, the entry also brings IndyCar Series racer Scott McLaughlin and veteran IMSA racer Ben Keating into the effort that will carry No. 91 on the door and run under the name ‘Trackhouse by TF Sport’. It marks the first entry into the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship for Trackhouse, a NASCAR powerhouse that also counts a MotoGP team in its portfolio.
“Participating in the Rolex 24 has been a dream since the inception of Trackhouse Racing,” said Trackhouse owner and founder Justin Marks, whose first professional race as a driver came at Daytona in 2001 and peaked when he went to victory lane in 2009. “We wanted to make sure we could enter with a top-notch partner in Chevrolet and TF Sport as well as a driver lineup that could compete for the victory. We feel like this group we have put together can compete for the trophy.”
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Van Gisbergen’s resume includes Supercars championships in 2016, ’21 and ’22, plus 80 wins and 47 pole positions. He also won the Bathurst 1000 in 2020, ’22 and ’23. Van Gisbergen won his debut NASCAR Cup Series race on the streets of Chicago in 2023 and captured three Xfinity Series victories in his first full season this year.
“This is a dream come true to get to drive alongside Scotty, Connor and Ben,” said van Gisbergen. “I love the 24 Hours of Daytona and it’s awesome to do this with this team. Justin, Chevrolet and TF Sport have done a great job putting this all together.”
Zilisch, whose resume includes Mazda MX-5 Cup and a variety of stock car racing, is already a Daytona winner in the LMP2 class, having taken victory with Era Motorsport in January. He won his debut Xfinity Series race at Watkins Glen International and several ARCA and CARS Tour events.
“I can’t wait for the 24 Hours this year,” Zilisch said. “This will be cool and I really think we can win this race. I love my Rolex and if I can get another one, I might wear one on each wrist. It takes so much to win this race and I think everyone in this group brings something to the table that will help get us to victory lane. I know our Corvette will be fast.”
Like van Gisbergen, McLaughlin is a Supercars veteran, having also won three titles across 2018-’20, including a Bathurst 1000 triumph in 2019, and owns seven victories in the IndyCar Series where he has competed full time since 2021. McLaughlin has two Rolex 24 at Daytona starts, as well as a Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring victory in LMP2 with Tower Motorsports.
“When the opportunity came up from General Motors to run with Ben, Connor and Shane, I jumped at it straight away,” McLaughlin said. “I’ve always wanted to run an endurance race in a Chevrolet Corvette, and I could not imagine a better group to join. I am confident we have a real chance of winning a Rolex with this team. Shane and I have so much history racing against each other, including some time as teammates. He is one of the best racers I’ve ever competed against, so it’ll be great to be on his side again for Daytona. Connor is a young star who’s going to be around for a long time, and Ben has won Le Mans and a world championship in a Corvette. We’re going to have some fun.”
Keating, the owner of 30 car dealerships across Texas, won the Rolex 24 in the GTD class in 2015 as well as the LMP2 championship in 2021 and ’23. He won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2022 with TF Sport and again in 2023 with Corvette. Keating was also the 2022 and ’23 WEC world champion in GTE-Am. He will once again be pulling double duty, simultaneously entered in LMP2 as well.
“I’m really excited for this. I’ve won Le Mans in a Corvette and won a World Championship in a Corvette,” Keating said. “I’m thrilled to be back with TF Sport, a team that I know very well and one where we won a lot of races and a championship together. I’m teaming with some phenomenal Chevrolet drivers in Shane, Scott and Connor, which should be a lot of fun. This will be a big challenge but one that I know we are all looking forward to and are up for.”
The quartet will lean on the ability of the TF Sport team founded by Tom Ferrier and headquartered in England. The team has enjoyed a winning pedigree since 2014, claiming multiple championship titles in the British GT Championship, the GTWC endurance championship and the Michelin Le Mans Cup. TF Sport claimed victory at the Spa 24 Hours in 2019 and two wins at Le Mans 24 Hours in 2020 and 2022. The team was also crowned World Endurance champions in 2022.
“This is a fantastic way to kick off our 2025 racing program with Corvette Racing,” said Ferrier. “This team is a combination of sports car, IndyCar and NASCAR all joining together for a common goal, which is to win the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona. It is such a great event and we cannot wait to get started with this talented team.”
The entry brings the Corvette’s GTD PRO presence to three, adding to Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports’ two entries, and five total, with GTD entries from AWA and DXDT.
“As much as the cars and equipment, motorsport is about relationships. We are happy to deepen ours with Trackhouse Racing, TF Sport and Ben Keating as they combine for this special entry into the Rolex 24 At Daytona,” said Eric Warren, GM executive director – global motorsports competition. “This effort brings a tremendous amount of knowledge and professionalism into the race, especially TF Sport with its FIA WEC experience with the Corvette Z06 GT3.R. Adding a fifth Corvette to the opening race for 2025 is something that will excite our Corvette owners and Corvette Racing fans.”
In 2024, the Corvette Z06 GT3.R won 11 races around the world, claimed 12 pole positions and captured the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD PRO Manufacturers Championship for Chevrolet.”
The team will make its debut in the Roar Before the 24 test weekend on Jan. 17-19 prior to the Rolex 24 at Dayton on Jan. 23-26.