First Drive: The Corvette Z06 GT3.R

GT3 cars are not supposed to feel this way.

When I climbed into the Corvette Z06 GT3.R for the first time at the DXDT Racing test day in December, I expected something broadly familiar — the kind of well-sorted GT3 machinery that any professional driver can adapt to within a handful of laps. What I found was a car with a character entirely its own.

The 5.5-litre flat-plane crank V8 that powers the Z06 GT3.R is not a GT3 engine that has been detuned into compliance. It is a purpose-built racing unit that happens to wear a Corvette badge, and the difference in feel compared to a turbocharged GT3 alternative is immediately apparent. The power delivery is linear and aggressive in a way that rewards commitment. You can use the throttle as a tool in a way that turbocharged cars simply don't allow.

The chassis balance on initial acquaintance is neutral with a tendency toward understeer that the engineers at DXDT have worked hard to manage. The setup philosophy they run suits my driving style — I prefer a car that rewards an early apex and a clean exit rather than a machine that rotates aggressively on entry. Getting the rear to work consistently in low-speed corners took adjustment from my TCR habits, where mechanical grip is the primary tool.

The braking package on the Z06 GT3.R is exceptional. The carbon-ceramic setup provides the kind of feedback and consistency over a long stint that makes the difference in endurance racing when brake temperatures vary between the start of a stint and the end.

After three days of testing across two venues, I feel genuinely confident in what DXDT and I have put together. The Z06 GT3.R is going to be a weapon in 2026. I cannot wait to demonstrate that on the IMSA WeatherTech grid.