Together with Ben Keating and Nico Varrone, fourth place in the six-hour race was enough for the American squad to claim the final GTE Am title before the arrival of LMGT3 rules for 2023 will render its C8.R ineligible.
Back-to-back victories at Sebring and Portimao, followed up by a second place at Spa and a third win of the season in the double points Le Mans 24 Hours, had put Corvette in a commanding championship position heading to Italy.
Despite missing out on a podium for the first time all season as Porsche took its first win of 2023 courtesy of the #77 Dempsey-Proton Competition team, an eighth place for its closest rival TF Sport means Corvette can no longer be caught. It has a 78-point advantage with a maximum of 67 still achievable.
Catsburg, who has also taken 24-hour race victories at the Nurburgring (outright) and Spa (in pro-am) this season, paid tribute to the contribution of his “outstanding” team-mates and “relaxed” atmosphere in the Pratt & Miller-run team for contributing to its first WEC title.
For bronze-rated Keating it was a second GTE Am title in as many seasons, after he had claimed the crown for TF in 2022, while 22-year-old silver driver Varrone joined Corvette after two seasons in sportscars racing LMP3 and Ferrari GT machinery.
“This year has really been a lot about doing it as a team,” Catsburg said. “And my team-mates also Nico and Ben deserve a big credit.
“I feel that, okay, I am doing a good job, I am comparing to all the other platinums, but they are outstanding in their class.
Source: Autosport