|
Corvette Racing
|
Corvette Racing Finishes Second and Third in 24 Hours of Le Mans
The twice-around-the-clock race featured a hard-fought battle for the GT1 title between Corvette Racing and Aston Martin Racing. The No. 63 Corvette C6.R and the No. 009 Aston Martin DBR9 were in lockstep from the start, trading the lead and separated by less than a lap in the running order for hour after hour. Rain arrived at the Circuit de la Sarthe before sunrise and returned as the race drew to a close, compelling teams and drivers to develop new strategies and make difficult tire decisions in the rapidly changing conditions. more » 24 Hours of Le Mans GT1 Results: Corvette Racing Holds Second and Third at 18 Hours in Rainy Le MansLe Mans lived up to its reputation as the ultimate challenge in endurance racing when rain arrived at the Circuit de
la Sarthe at 4:10 a.m. A combination of steady showers and persistent drizzle kept the circuit wet and treacherous as
Sunday dawned. 24 Hours of Le Mans GT1 Top Five Standings at 18 Hours: Le Mans Organizers Honor Corvette by Naming "Corvette Curves"The Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans, the home of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, embraces some of the most recognizable names
in motorsports. Road racing enthusiasts around the world revere Tertre Rouge, Mulsanne Corner, Arnage and the
Indianapolis Corner. Now a new name has been added to this honor roll: the Corvette Curves. The Automobile Club de
l'Ouest (ACO), organizer of the world's most famous sports car race, has recognized Corvette's rich racing heritage by
naming the section of the Le Mans circuit between Virage Du Pont and Maison Blanche in honor of America's iconic
performance car. Corvette Racing Second in GT1 at Midpoint of 24 Hours of Le MansAt the halfway point of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the quest for the GT1 title has become a four-car race. The duel
between Corvette Racing and Aston Martin Racing took on the aspects of a chess match as darkness descended on the Le
Mans circuit. The first nine hours of the race were run without a full-course caution, but the first safety car period
began at the 9:10 mark and lasted for 32 minutes. Strategy emerged as the two teams jockeyed for track position and
made calculated pit stops to ensure full fuel tanks when racing resumed. The extended safety car period negated the
fuel mileage advantage that had allowed the No. 63 Corvette C6.R to run 14 laps between stops on several stints versus
13 laps for its rivals. Corvette Racing First and Fourth at Six-Hour Mark in Le MansThe contest between Corvette Racing and Aston Martin Racing for GT1 supremacy at the 24 Hours of Le Mans is
living up to expectations. After six hours of racing, the leading Corvette C6.R and the two works Aston Martin
DBR9s were on the same lap on the 8.48-mile Sarthe circuit. As the cars cycled through their pit stops at the
six-hour mark, Jan Magnussen led in the No. 63 Compuware Corvette C6.R with 91 laps. Max Papis was fourth in the
No. 64 Compuware Corvette C6.R, one lap behind his teammate. Corvette Racing Claims First GT1 Pole for 24 Hours of Le Mans
24 Hours of Le Mans LM GT1 Qualifying Corvette Racing First and Second in Provisional GT1 Qualifying for 24 Hours of Le Mans
The two Corvettes completed a total of 86 laps on the 8.48-mile Circuit de la Sarthe. Qualifying will
continue with a second four-hour session on Thursday evening to set the starting grid for the 76th running of
the world's most revered sports car race. However, rain showers are predicted for tomorrow. Corvette Racing Aims for Sixth GT1 Title in 24 Hours of Le MansCorvette Racing is out for revenge. Competing in the world's greatest sports car race is motivation enough, but the memory of last year's runner-up finish in the GT1 class still rankles. A freak driveshaft failure sidelined the No. 64 Compuware Corvette C6.R at the two-hour mark, while a late-race deluge and an extended safety car period stymied the No. 63 Compuware Corvette C6.R drivers' run for the top step of the podium. But that's now ancient history, and the stage is set for the 76th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 14-15. Five times in the last seven years, Corvette Racing has won its class at Le Mans. To win a sixth GT1 title against
world-class rivals will require a flawless performance by America's premier production sports car racing team. With 10
entries in the GT1 class, the competition for the Le Mans prize is intense: Chevrolet's two-car factory team will face
four Aston Martin DBR9s (including a pair of factory-backed entries), a Saleen S7R, and a Lamborghini Murcielago for
class honors. But Corvette has strength in numbers as well, with Luc Alphand Aventures' two privateer Corvette C6.Rs
also carrying the bow tie banner into battle. Corvette Racing Finds Silver Lining in Rainy Le Mans Test DayCorvette Racing found the silver lining in the dark clouds that soaked the Circuit de la Sarthe in today's test for
the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Intermittent downpours, sporadic showers, and frequent red-flag periods punctuated the day as
the Corvette Racing team tested a range of Michelin tires and evaluated chassis and gearbox setups. With the changeable
weather in the Loire Valley, the knowledge gained today could prove valuable in the upcoming 24-hour endurance race. GT1 Championship Standings (unofficial after four of 11 events) Driver/Points One Lap of Sebring - Riding Shotgun with GMCorvette Racing Confirms 2008 Driver LineupCorvette Racing's roster of championship-winning drivers will return in 2008 to race the Chevrolet factory team's
twin Compuware Corvette C6.R race cars in the 12-race American Le Mans Series and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Johnny
O'Connell and Jan Magnussen will drive the No. 3 Corvette C6.R, joined by Ron Fellows for three endurance races
(Sebring, Le Mans and Petit Le Mans). Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta will drive the No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R,
teamed with Max Papis in long-distance events. Olivier Beretta, Compuware Corvette No. 4 Ron Fellows, Compuware Corvette No. 3 Oliver Gavin, Compuware Corvette No. 4 Jan Magnussen, Compuware Corvette No. 3 Johnny O'Connell, Compuware Corvette No. 3 Max Papis, Compuware Corvette No. 4
2008 Corvette Racing OverviewSince Corvette Racing made its competition debut in 1999, the factory Chevrolet team has emerged as America's premier production sports car racing team. Corvette Racing has won 63 of the 90 races it contested through the 2007 season. The team's list of accomplishments includes 45 1-2 finishes, five class victories in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Petit Le Mans endurance races, five class wins in the Sebring 12-hour enduro, six class titles in the 1,000-mile/10-hour Petit Le Mans, and an overall victory in the Daytona 24-hour race. America's favorite sports car now stands at the pinnacle of international road racing after winning seven consecutive American Le Mans Series GT1 manufacturers and team championships and six straight drivers championships. The Corvette C6.R race program continues Chevrolet's tradition of racing production-based vehicles to improve the breed. It is a commitment that has taken Chevy's two-seater from the runways of Sebring in the '50s to Le Mans in the 21st century. The continuous exchange of information and the constant transfer of technology between the racing and production programs ensure that lessons learned on the track benefit every Corvette on the highway. Corvette Racing has followed the strategy first mapped out by legendary racer/engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov to put Corvette in the racing spotlight. Duntov launched Corvette on a motorsports odyssey that has taken the marque to race tracks around the world. It is a plan that still inspires those who have followed in Duntov's footsteps. "Fifty years ago, Zora Arkus-Duntov, the godfather of Corvette Racing, conceived the Corvette SS race car to put Corvette squarely in the arena of international endurance racing," Chevrolet general manager Ed Peper said at the conclusion of Corvette Racing's championship season in 2007. "As we reflect on Corvette Racing's record of success over the years, it's clear that the Corvette C6.R has realized Zora's dream." "Corvette Racing sets the standard for engineering excellence, preparation and commitment in the American Le Mans Series," Peper said. "The team came prepared to race at every event, and ran with all of the passion and skill that have made Corvette Racing America's premier production sports car racing team. The drivers, mechanics, engineers, support personnel and team managers of Corvette Racing have made everyone at Chevrolet proud." Corvette Racing has also won accolades away from the track. In February 2006, the championship-winning Corvette C6.R race car was named the "North American Car of the Year" over marques such as Audi, Aston Martin and Maserati by dailysportscar.com, a noted online magazine that provides in-depth coverage of sports car and GT series worldwide. In November 2006, Corvette Racing's LS7.R small-block V-8 was honored as the "Global Motorsport Engine of the Year" at the inaugural Professional Motorsport World Expo in Cologne, Germany. The award was voted by an expert panel of 50 key race engine engineers representing the spectrum of motorsports. Continuity is one of the keys to Corvette Racing's long-term success, and the team is retaining its roster of championship-winning drivers in 2008. Johnny O'Connell and Jan Magnussen will drive the No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R in all ALMS events, and they will be joined by Ron Fellows for endurance races. Defending GT1 champions Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta will drive the No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R, teamed with Max Papis in the long-distance events. The Corvette C6.R race car is the most technically advanced sports car ever developed by GM, combining sophisticated chassis, powertrain and aerodynamic technology developed by GM Racing with the advanced engineering of the sixth-generation Corvette and Corvette Z06 production models. The Corvette C6.R has strong links to its showroom counterpart, as required by the ALMS and Le Mans rules that mandate close adherence to production specifications. For example, the same hydroformed steel frame rails used in production Corvette coupes and convertibles provide a strong foundation for the race cars. The race-prepared LS7.R engine shares its architecture with the production 505-horsepower LS7 small-block V-8 that powers the Corvette Z06. "We have a saying that we race around the clock and win around the world," explained Corvette marketing manager Gary Claudio. "The coverage that the Corvette Racing team receives has propelled Corvette and Chevrolet onto the world stage. The people who own Corvettes are very aware of the product, and they understand how racing enhances the cars they drive." For more than 50 years, racing has played a key role in defining Corvette as America's performance icon. Corvette's first class victory at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1956 was the first step onto the world stage that established its reputation as a contender in top-level competition. Now, with seven ALMS manufacturers championships, six drivers championships and five GT1 class victories in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, America's favorite sports car now stands at the pinnacle of international endurance racing. Corvette Racing Fast FactsCorvette Racing is America's premier production sports car racing team. Through 2007, Chevrolet's factory team has won 63 races, seven consecutive American Le Mans Series GT1 manufacturers and team championships, and six straight drivers championships. Corvette Racing has enjoyed international success in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the world's biggest sports car race, with five class victories since 2001. Team: Corvette Racing Owner: General Motors, Detroit, Mich. Race Cars: Corvette C6.R (Corvette 6th generation, Racing) Drivers:
Primary Sponsor: Compuware Associate Sponsors: Mobil1, Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC), XM Satellite Radio, UAW-GM, Genuine Corvette Accessories, Bose, Motorola, PRS Guitars, BBS, Michelin Corvette Racing Record
Corvette Racing 24 Hours of Le Mans Record
Team Highlights
Corvette Racing Firsts
Corvette Racing Notes
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Copyright © 2008 Corvette Racing. All rights reserved. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
For the second consecutive year, Corvette Racing finished second in the GT1 class in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Johnny O'Connell, Jan Magnussen and Ron Fellows completed 344 laps in their No. 63 Compuware Corvette C6.R,
finishing on the lead lap with the winning No. 009 Aston Martin DBR9 of David Brabham, Antonio Garcia, and
Darren Turner. The No. 64 Compuware Corvette C6.R driven by Oliver Gavin, Olivier Beretta and Max Papis finished
third with 341 laps completed.
Corvette Racing won the GT1 pole at the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time as Jan Magnussen set the pace
in tonight's final qualifying session. Magnussen's 3:47.669 lap time in the No. 63 Compuware Corvette C6.R was
the quickest in the GT1 division, while Oliver Gavin qualified the No. 64 Compuware Corvette C6.R third in the
category at 3:48.539.
With the possibility of rain tomorrow, there was a sense of urgency when tonight's first four-hour qualifying
session for the 24 Hours of Le Mans began. When qualifying concluded shortly before midnight, Corvette Racing
was first and second in provisional GT1 qualifying. Jan Magnussen turned the quickest time in the GT1 class at
3:49.406 in the No. 63 Compuware Corvette C6.R, with Oliver Gavin a heartbeat behind at 3:50.766 in the No. 64
Compuware Corvette C6.R.
