How Corvette’s 2001 Daytona win launched a new era of Detroit motorsport

Posted by Talbot Payne on January 27, 2026

Daytona Beach, Fla. — Before Cadillac and Red-Bull Ford F1, before Cadillac and Ford hybrid Hypercars, before Ford Mustang GT3 racers — there was the OG Corvette.

Twenty-five years ago, Chevy’s sportscar won the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona for the first time, launching a new era of Motown motorsports that has blossomed into a second Golden Era (after the 1960s) with multiple brands competing across the globe.

Corvette brought an army of five cars to the Rolex 24 this year (two in the GT Pro class, three in GTD) on its anniversary — and nearly won again. After the #3 and #4 Pratt Miller Corvettes dominated the early going in GTP Pro, misfortune struck in the late stages to spoil the party. The #4 Corvette finished fourth in GT Pro while the #13 Corvette finished fourth in GTD class.

Former Corvette Racing team manager Doug Fehan (left) and driver Ron Fellows regale fans with stories of the team's historic 2001 win in the #2 car.

Former Corvette Racing team manager Doug Fehan (left) and driver Ron Fellows regale fans with stories of the team’s historic 2001 win in the #2 car.

Henry Payne, The Detroit News

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