Corvette secured its tenth victory at the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans after TF Sport defeated Akkodis ASP Team and Heart of Racing Team in a closely fought LMGT3 contest.
Ben Keating, Nicky Catsburg and Jonny Edgar drove the No. 33 Corvette Z06 LMGT3.R from 17th on the 25-car grid to the top step of the podium. The trio combined bold strategy, consistent speed and mistake-free execution to overcome strong challenges from Lexus and Aston Martin.
The No. 78 Akkodis ASP Lexus finished second after emerging as one of the fastest cars in the class. Meanwhile, the No. 23 Heart of Racing Aston Martin completed the podium.
TF Sport builds victory around Keating at Le Mans
TF Sport entered the race from the lower half of the LMGT3 grid but immediately committed to an unconventional strategy. The British team placed Bronze-rated driver Ben Keating in the Corvette for much of the opening phase. By doing so, TF Sport allowed Keating to complete his mandatory driving time early while keeping Catsburg and Edgar available for the decisive stages.
Keating had missed the opening rounds of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) while recovering from an elbow injury. Nevertheless, the Texan matched higher-graded rivals and kept the No. 33 Corvette within reach of the leaders.
The three-time Le Mans class winner praised the team’s planning and execution after the race.
“It’s really special,” acknowledged Keating, who is now a three-time winner of the prestigious event. “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.”
Catsburg and Edgar take control
After Keating completed his required driving time, Catsburg and Edgar took responsibility for moving the Corvette through the field.
Both drivers delivered clean and rapid stints as the No. 33 car climbed towards the front. They avoided penalties, limited time in the pits and maintained pressure on the leading Lexus and Aston Martin crews.
Eventually, the Corvette reached the head of the order and stayed there until the chequered flag.
Edgar played a particularly important role during the closing phase. He completed five consecutive stints and controlled the class lead as fatigue, traffic and changing track conditions tested every remaining contender.
As a result, TF Sport converted its early strategic gamble into a commanding position when the race entered its final hours.
Lexus mounts a sustained challenge in the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans
The No. 78 Akkodis ASP Lexus RC F LMGT3 provided Corvette’s strongest opposition. Hadrien David and Tom van Rompuy shared the car with Jack Hawksworth, who joined the crew as a replacement driver. Hawksworth immediately established the Lexus as an early contender and helped the team remain close to the front.
David and Hawksworth also recorded the two fastest LMGT3 laps of the race. Their pace underlined the Lexus crew’s ability to challenge for victory throughout the event.
However, TF Sport’s consistency ultimately made the difference. The Corvette crew avoided penalties and major mistakes, while its drivers maintained a strong rhythm through traffic.
Although the Lexus could not dislodge the leader, second place marked the No. 78 crew’s best result in FIA WEC competition.
Heart of Racing secures the final podium place
Heart of Racing Team completed the LMGT3 podium with its No. 23 Aston Martin Vantage. Eduardo ‘Dudu’ Barrichello, Jonny Adam and Gray Newell delivered a measured performance and remained in contention as several rivals encountered setbacks.
The American-registered team had initially entered the race with two potential podium challengers. Its No. 27 Aston Martin started from pole position and ran inside the top three before gearbox trouble forced the crew to retire.
Consequently, the No. 23 car carried the team’s hopes through the closing stages and secured third place behind Corvette and Lexus.
Corvette reaches a Le Mans milestone with 2026 LMGT3 victory
The result gave Corvette its tenth class victory at Le Mans and added another chapter to the manufacturer’s long history at La Sarthe.
TF Sport achieved the milestone by combining three contrasting driver roles. Keating established the foundations, Catsburg moved the car into contention and Edgar completed a demanding final sequence to protect the lead. Moreover, the crew completed the race without penalties or major errors. That discipline proved decisive in a category that featured 25 cars and several manufacturers with genuine winning pace.
Corvette will now carry renewed momentum into the next round of the FIA WEC season, the Rolex 6 Hours of São Paulo from 10 to 12 July.
