Corvette Factory Drive “More Responsibility” for Varrone

Photo: Richard Prince/Corvette Racing

Corvette factory driver Nico Varrone says his three-race IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup program is “more important” and carries “more responsibility” as he aims to help Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports chase the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTD Pro title.

Varrone will contest the Rolex 24 at Daytona, Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, and Motul Petit Le Mans with the works-supported No. 4 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R this season alongside full-season drivers Tommy Milner and Nicky Catsburg after a partial 2024 IMSA campaign aboard the customer No. 17 AWA Corvette.

“Even if it’s three races, it’s three big ones that everyone wants to win,” Varrone told Sportscar365.

“So it’s more important and more responsibility, but with the lineup we have with Tommy and Nicky and with Pratt Miller to back us, I think we have a great chance of putting the Corvette Z06 [GT3.R] on top and to fight for wins.

“I think for every driver to drive in the factory car in IMSA, plus the Corvette with the fan base they have here in America, is great.

“It feels powerful to be in the yellow Corvette. You’re always in other cars watching it. When you see it on track, it’s like, ‘Wow! Maybe one day [I] will be there,’ so I’m enjoying it a lot.”

Varrone’s Corvette driving duties in the WeatherTech Championship will complement his recently-announced Hypercar class drive with Proton Competition in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

The 24-year-old Argentinian driver helped Corvette Racing to the 2023 WEC GTE-Am title and contested last season’s Rolex 24 and Twelve Hours of Sebring in the GTD class No. 17 AWA Corvette before the program downsized to run only the sister No. 13 entry.

“I’ve been able to do it in WEC in 2023 with Nicky [Catsburg] and Ben Keating,” said Varrone, “but with it now in IMSA, it’s like another game, another step.

“I want to do a good job myself and help the guys to win races and hopefully be in a position to win the championship in Petit for them. It’s the overall [goal], and mostly do a good job and try to win races.”

Varrone feels his previous experience with Corvette and Pratt Miller in the WEC, a partial WeatherTech Championship season last year, and factory testing duties have helped him prepare for his new challenge.

“[It has helped] being able to work with Pratt Miller, with the Corvette factory guys, learn from them, and knowing everyone in the team, and doing a lot of the development on the GT3 last year,” he said.

“Even when I was not driving in IMSA or in WEC, I was doing a lot of testing with them and developing some stuff, so I feel prepared. I can’t wait to get rolling here in Daytona.

“I love IMSA. I love racing here in this series. It’s super fun, and there’s a lot of great drivers, great teams, and great competition.

“Competition is tough, it’s rough, but that’s what racing is all about. I miss that, I enjoy it. I enjoy a lot of tracks here.”