Good afternoon, all.

Press Release:
Corvette Racing will try to race its way through the field Saturday and close the Chevrolet Corvette C7.R era with a GT Le Mans (GTLM) victory 
 

CORVETTE RACING AT PETIT LE MANS: Full Speed Ahead in Final C7.R Race

BRASELTON, Ga. (Oct. 11, 2019) – Corvette Racing will try to race its way through the field Saturday and close the Chevrolet Corvette C7.R era with a GT Le Mans (GTLM) victory in the 10-hour Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.


Antonio Garcia qualified the No. 3 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Chevrolet Corvette C7.R second Friday in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s top production based class Friday. He set a time of 1:15.702 (120.789 mph) in the car that he shares with full-season teammate Jan Magnussen and Mike Rockenfeller. However, the No. 3 Corvette was found to be out of compliance in post-qualifying inspection and will be moved to the back of the GTLM field.


Teammate Oliver Gavin, in the No. 4 Corvette C7.R, set a time of 1:16.048 (120.239 mph) Friday and will start seventh in GTLM. In a display of the competitiveness of GTLM, Gavin was only 0.409 seconds from pole and less than two-tenths from the second row. He will drive with Tommy Milner and Marcel Fässler – the trio having placed second at Road Atlanta in GTLM a year ago.


Saturday’s race will be the 74th and final race for the C7.R under the Corvette Racing banner with the new Corvette C8.R set to make its racing debut in January at the Rolex 24 At Daytona. On Saturday morning, the C8.R will perform two demonstration laps ahead of the 2019 season finale.


Corvette Racing has competed at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta more than any other venue in its history; Saturday will be No. 23. There have been 10 victories in that span including eight in Petit Le Mans. So the long-game approach in the race is something that the program has used to its advantage time and again.


The 10-hour Motul Petit Le Mans is set for 12:05 p.m. ET on Saturday, Oct. 12. It will air live starting at noon ET on NBC, followed by coverage on the NBC Sports App from 3-5:30 p.m. and on NBCSN from 5:30-10:30 p.m. Live audio coverage will be available on IMSA Radio, Sirius 113, XM 202 and SiriusXM Online 972.

 
OLIVER GAVIN, NO. 4 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R – STARTING SEVENTH IN GTLM: "Qualifying was close, very close. Unfortunately we were at the back end of it. We definitely improved the car going into that session. It seemed like everybody else took a decent step forward. I had a pretty good lap going, probably my best lap, and I was probably a little too tentative going into (Turn) Seven and it cost us some time. It would have bumped us up a couple of spots and maybe got us in front of the Porsche. We know it's a long race and where you start here has very little to do with where you finish. So I feel we can improve the car and we will work with that overnight and get ourselves in the best possible spot for the start. It's going to be long, it’s going to be hard, it’s going to be close. I think we have finally gotten ourselves in a good spot with the car and it will be raceable in every condition with every tire. We will be ready to go."
 

ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R – STARTING NINTH IN GTLM: "It was a pretty good lap. We were still able to do a good one even after losing that amount of track time in Practice One. We've been going back and forth setup in Practice Two. At the end of the day that gave us a good indication of something to play with. We put in everything we could to show we have a fast car, and we showed it. We were very close to pole which I didn't expect for sure when we put together the lap. Everybody was super close. I’m happy with how the car behaved and the car we have for the race. Ending up at the back doesn't change our speed. We will have speed tomorrow and that should be a good thing."
 


2019 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship – GTLM Standings (After 10 of 11 Events)
Driver Standings
1. Earl Bamber/Laurens Vanthoor – 304
2. Nick Tandy/Patrick Pilet – 292
3. Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen – 289
4. Dirk Mueller – 283
5. Richard Westbrook/Ryan Briscoe – 281
8. Oliver Gavin – 251
11. Tommy Milner – 203


Team Standings
1. No. 912 Porsche GT Team – 304
2. No. 911 Porsche GT Team – 292
3. No. 3 Corvette Racing – 289
4. No. 66 Ford Chip Ganassi Racing – 283
5. No. 67 Ford Chip Ganassi Racing – 281
8. No. 4 Corvette Racing – 251


Manufacturer Standings
1. Porsche – 332
2. Ford – 313
3. Chevrolet – 302
4. BMW – 297

Thanks, as always, cor123.

I've been watching qualifying, and—though I'm totally in favor of the C8 and (dear lord, have you heard that thing?) the C8.R—I can't help but feel a sense of sadness.

This race will mark the end of a magnificent era that started back in 1999. The engine roar (like a freight train, Ivelis says) won't be the same or that distinctive way the cars actually move through the turns.

Press Release:Team seeking landmark IMSA victory in 2019 finale at Michelin Raceway Road
Atlanta


CORVETTE RACING AT PETIT LE MANS: Hoping to Close on a High Note
Team seeking landmark IMSA victory in 2019 finale at Michelin Raceway Road
Atlanta

• Corvette Racing with 10 victories at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta
• Continued quest for IMSA victory No. 100
• Final race for Corvette C7.R with Corvette Racing
• 2020 Corvette Stingray, Corvette Tour on location in Michelin Raceway Fan
Midway


DETROIT  (Oct. 8, 2019) – Corvette Racing will close the 2019 season – and
the era of the Chevrolet Corvette C7.R – this weekend at a familiar
location. Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta plays host to Corvette Racing and
the rest of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship for the annual
10-hour Petit Le Mans on Saturday.

This will be the 23rd event at Road Atlanta for Corvette Racing – the most
of any track in the team’s 21-year history. The program claims 10 victories
at the circuit including eight at Petit Le Mans. If recent years are any
indication, there is a strong chance that Corvette Racing will contend once
again; it has recorded podium finishes in each of the last four years
including runner-up finishes the last two.

Oliver Gavin, Tommy Milner and Marcel Fässler will look to finish one spot
better than 2018 driving the No. 4 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Chevrolet Corvette C7.R.
That came a year after Antonio Garcia, Jan Magnussen and Mike Rockenfeller
did the same in the No. 3 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Corvette. Both trios are back for
this year’s Petit Le Mans as Corvette Racing seeks its first victory at Road
Atlanta since 2010.

Garcia and Magnussen, two-time and defending GT Le Mans (GTLM) champions,
stand third in this year’s points chase with an outside chance a third
straight title. It would be Corvette Racing’s fourth consecutive GTLM
championship dating back to Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner’s 2016 crown.

Even without title hopes, Corvette Racing still has plenty at stake,
including its 100th triumph in IMSA competition.

Final Race for Corvette C7.R
A victory Saturday also would send out the Corvette C7.R on a high note. As
revealed last week, the team will field [the mid-engine Corvette C8.R in
2020starting with the Rolex 24 At Daytona.

Since its debut in 2014, the C7.R has won 17 races in 73 events across IMSA
and the FIA World Endurance Championship. Its 16 wins in IMSA is the
second-most of any car in the WeatherTech Championship to date. The C7.R
also helped Chevrolet and Corvette Racing claim consecutive GTLM
Manufacturer Championships (2016-17), and Driver and Team Championships
(2016-18). With the C7.R, Corvette Racing scored victories at Le Mans,
Daytona (twice) and Sebring (three times).

The C7.R is based on the road-going Corvette C7 Z06. It made several
advances in technology from the sixth-generation Corvette. For the first
time, the aluminum frame for both road car and racecar were both produced
in-house at the Corvette assembly plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The
addition of direct fuel injection to the Corvette Z06 enabled the technology
to return to a Corvette race car for the first time since the end of the GT1
era in 2009. The Z06 and C7.R also shared aggressive aero strategies with
greater levels of component cooling and downforce.

2020 Corvette Stingray Tour
 – the manufacturer’s first mid-engine production Corvette in its history –
will be the main attraction at the Chevrolet Motorsports Display in Michelin
Raceway Road Atlanta’s Fan Midway. Chevrolet will showcase the fastest, most
powerful entry-level Corvette from Thursday through Friday along with a
state-of-the-art informational display dedicated to the Corvette,

The 2020 Stingray is rated at 490hp with an eight-speed, dual-clutch
transmission. It is powered by the 6.2L Chevrolet small-block V8 LT2 engine
that produces 465 ft-lbs of torque. At Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, the
2020 Stingray Coupe and 2020 Stingray Convertible will be on display.

“It’s incredibly exciting to take the 2020 Corvette Stingray to Michelin
Raceway Road Atlanta,” said Ed Piatek, Corvette chief engineer. “Petit Le
Mans features one of the largest fan followings in all of North American
racing. That includes a huge number of Corvette owners at the Corvette
Corral. We’re excited to show them the next-generation Corvette, as we
support Corvette Racing in its final race of the year.”

The entry-level 2020 Stingray continues that tradition as a no-compromise
value proposition, as it will start under $60,000. It will go into
production at GM’s Bowling Green Assembly later this year.

Chevrolet, Motorsports on Display
In addition to the 2020 Stingray, a number of additional Chevrolet vehicles
will be on-site at the Chevrolet Motorsports Display and Corvette Display
for visitors to view and learn from a team of product specialists. Vehicles
and attractions include:

• Production vehicles such as the 2019 Blazer RS, 2020 Colorado Crewcab Z71,
2020 Silverado 1500 and Silverado 2500 HD LT, and 2020 Camaro 2SS 1LE.
• A Corvette C7.R show car
• Samples of Chevrolet engines, performance parts and accessories available
to fans for purchase from their local Chevrolet dealer
• A variety of Chevrolet and racing related activities for adults and kids
• 2020 Corvette T-shirts for fans who sign up with Chevrolet Motorsports

The Chevrolet Motorsports and Corvette Displays will be open at 8 a.m. on
Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

The 10-hour Motul Petit Le Mans is set for 12:05 p.m. ET on Saturday, Oct.
12. It will air live starting at noon ET on NBC, followed by coverage on the
NBC Sports App from 3-5:30 p.m. and on NBCSN from 5:30-10:30 p.m. Live audio
coverage will be available on IMSA Radio, Sirius 113, XM 202 and SiriusXM
Online 972.


ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R:  “I really want to win Petit
Le Mans. Corvette Racing has always been strong at Michelin Raceway Road
Atlanta in past years but we have just missed out on wins there. It’s been
very, very close. The championship is very unlikely so we can go all-out for
a win. This event is one I like very much because of the track and the
distance. It’s a very fast track and creates a good race. So let’s see how
we can do. If we can’t get the championship, the next best thing is to win
the race.”

JAN MAGNUSSEN, NO. 3 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R : “I’ve made
every start at Petit Le Mans since 1999, so this race has a special meaning
to me. The event is great, the fans are great and the track is great. In
many ways it’s the most demanding race we do. The layout of the track and
the mix of cars makes it really tough to pass and overtake. You have to be
decisive and have a clear understanding of how the car and the tires are
working together during all 10 hours. That’s what makes this race such a
challenge. There’s a lot of risk but also a lot of reward.”

MIKE ROCKENFELLER, NO. 3 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R:  “It was
tough not being at Petit Le Mans last year because I really like the event.
Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta is an awesome track that presents a very big
challenge in any type of car – prototype or GT. It has a big-event feel to
it with a lot of cars and drivers. I’m really looking forward to getting
back in the Corvette again for this race. We were so close at Le Mans and I
feel like a win here would take away some of that sting.”

OLIVER GAVIN, NO. 4 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R:  “It’s been a
trying season in a lot of ways for Tommy and I, but a strong finish at Petit
Le Mans would leave us with a little bit of satisfaction. Michelin Raceway
Road Atlanta presents a unique challenge when you consider the length of the
race, nature of the track and the amount of cars. It’s definitely one of the
biggest races on the IMSA calendar – nearly on the same level as Daytona and
Sebring. This will be my 20th start at Petit Le Mans, and the fan turnout
and support we get from the Corvette community is always fantastic. Closing
out with a solid result would set us on the right course into 2020.”

TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R: “Petit Le Mans
is an incredible event. Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta provides such great
racing and passing opportunities… some places where the prototype guys try
to sneak in at places make it exciting for us and them. In our GT cars, it’s
so fast. There’s so much grip and such a huge challenge. The track is fun by
yourself, but when you add in the full field and 10 hours, it makes for a
great race. It’s one where everyone holds their breath to the checkered
flag. I’m excited. Our Corvettes have always been fast there. Hopefully we
can end the season on a high note.”

MARCEL FÄSSLER, NO. 4 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R:  “I’m happy
to be back with Corvette Racing for Petit Le Mans. This is an incredible
race and another of my favorites in the U.S. The fans at Michelin Raceway
Road Atlanta make it feel like a big event that keeps growing every year.
For us on the No. 4 Corvette, we want to end the season on a high note. The
team has been through a lot this year with some bad misfortune at Le Mans
and in IMSA. But the team is strong and the Corvette is always very good. I’m
looking forward to a great weekend.”



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Facts and figures around IMSA finale at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta


CORVETTE RACING AT PETIT LE MANS: By the Numbers



• 1: As in one team, one manufacturer and one model of car for 20 years:
Corvette Racing, Chevrolet and the Chevrolet Corvette.
• 3: Generations of Corvette Racing entries at Road Atlanta since 1999 –
Corvette C5-R (1999-04) Corvette C6.R (2005-2013) and Corvette C7.R
(2014-current).
• 3: Consecutive GT Le Mans Drivers championships for Corvette Racing –
Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner (2016); Antonio Garcia and Jan Magnussen (2017
and 2018).
• 6: Career victories at Road Atlanta for Oliver Gavin – all with Corvette
Racing. His first came in 2003 (Grand Prix of Atlanta), and five have come
in Petit Le Mans (most among active drivers).
• 8: As in Chevrolet’s small-block V8. More than 100 million units have been
sold worldwide and is the most successful engine in American motorsports.
• 10: Number of Road Atlanta victories for Corvette Racing dating back to
2000 – eight of those at Petit Le Mans.
• 10: Petit Le Mans wins for Chevrolet – eight in GT and two in Prototype.
That ranks third among manufacturers in event history.
• 12: Manufacturer Championships for Chevrolet and Corvette Racing since
2001.
• 16: Number of GT Le Mans wins in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar
Championship for Corvette Racing since the start of 2014.
• 20: Consecutive Petit Le Mans starts for Jan Magnussen, the longest streak
for any driver in race history. Teammate Oliver Gavin has made 19 straight
starts.
• 23: Drivers who have competed for Corvette Racing at Road Atlanta. Of
those, 10 went on to win at Road Atlanta including current drivers Gavin and
Magnussen.
• 24: Tracks at which Corvette Racing has won races – Baltimore, COTA,
Canadian Tire Motorsport Park/Mosport, Daytona, Detroit, Houston, Laguna
Seca, Le Mans, Lime Rock, Long Beach, Miami, Mid-Ohio, Portland, Road
America, Road Atlanta, Sebring, Sonoma, St. Petersburg, Texas, Trois
Rivieres, Utah, VIR, Washington DC and Watkins Glen.
• 28: Number of drivers for Corvette Racing since 1999.
• 107: Victories worldwide for Corvette Racing – 99 in North America and
eight at Le Mans.
• 225: Event starts by Corvette Racing since 1999 following the most recent
race at Laguna Seca.
• 33,822.88: Number of racing miles completed by Corvette Racing in its 21
previous trips to Road Atlanta. That represents 13,539 laps or more than 525
trips around Interstate 285 – Atlanta’s Perimeter.
• 296,935.88: Total number of racing miles completed by Corvette Racing
since its inception. To put that in perspective Apollo 13 – the longest
manned spaceflight in history – covered “just” 248,655 miles.


2019 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship – GTLM Standings (After 10 of 11
Events)
Driver Standings
1. Earl Bamber/Laurens Vanthoor – 304
2. Nick Tandy/Patrick Pilet – 292
3. Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen – 289
4. Dirk Mueller – 283
5. Richard Westbrook/Ryan Briscoe – 281
8. Oliver Gavin – 251
11. Tommy Milner – 203


Team Standings
1. No. 912 Porsche GT Team – 304
2. No. 911 Porsche GT Team – 292
3. No. 3 Corvette Racing – 289
4. No. 66 Ford Chip Ganassi Racing – 283
5. No. 67 Ford Chip Ganassi Racing – 281
8. No. 4 Corvette Racing – 251


Manufacturer Standings
1. Porsche – 332
2. Ford – 313
3. Chevrolet – 302
4. BMW – 297


Corvette Racing at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta
1999
No. 3 Corvette C5-R: Ron Fellows/Chris Kneifel/John Paul Jr. – 5th in GTS
No. 4 Corvette C5-R: Andy Pilgrim/Kelly Collins/Scott Sharp – 4th in GTS


2000
No. 3 Corvette C5-R: Ron Fellows/Chris Kneifel/Justin Bell – 3rd in GTS
(Fellows pole)
No. 4 Corvette C5-R: Andy Pilgrim/Kelly Collins/Franck Freon – 1st in GTS


2001
No. 3 Corvette C5-R: Ron Fellows/Johnny O'Connell/Scott Pruett – 9th in GTS
No. 4 Corvette C5-R: Andy Pilgrim/Kelly Collins/Franck Freon – 1st in GTS
(Pilgrim pole)


2002
No. 3 Corvette C5-R: Ron Fellows/Johnny O'Connell/Oliver Gavin – 1st in GTS
No. 4 Corvette C5-R: Andy Pilgrim/Kelly Collins/Franck Freon – 3rd in GTS
(Pilgrim fastest race lap)


2003*
No. 3 Corvette C5-R: Ron Fellows/Johnny O'Connell – 3rd in GTS
No. 4 Corvette C5-R: Oliver Gavin/Kelly Collins – 1st in GTS


2003
No. 3 Corvette C5-R: Ron Fellows/Johnny O'Connell/Franck Freon – 5th in GTS
No. 4 Corvette C5-R: Oliver Gavin/Kelly Collins/Andy Pilgrim – 3rd in GTS


2004
No. 3 Corvette C5-R: Ron Fellows/Johnny O'Connell/Max Papis – 2nd in GTS
No. 4 Corvette C5-R: Olivier Beretta/Oliver Gavin/Jan Magnussen – 1st in GTS
(Gavin pole, fastest race lap)


2005*
No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Ron Fellows/Johnny O'Connell – 1st in GT1 (O’Connell
pole, fastest race lap)
No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Olivier Beretta/Oliver Gavin – 2nd in GT1

2005
No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Ron Fellows/Johnny O'Connell/Max Papis – 6th in GT1
No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Olivier Beretta/Oliver Gavin/Jan Magnussen – 1st in GT1
(Beretta pole, Gavin fastest race lap)


2006
No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Ron Fellows/Johnny O'Connell/Max Papis – 4th in GT1 (O’Connell
pole)
No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Olivier Beretta/Oliver Gavin/Jan Magnussen – 3rd in GT1
(Gavin fastest race lap)


2007
No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Ron Fellows/Johnny O'Connell/Jan Magnussen – 3rd in GT1
No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Olivier Beretta/Oliver Gavin/Max Papis – 1st in GT1
(Gavin fastest race lap)


2008
No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Ron Fellows/Johnny O'Connell/Jan Magnussen – 1st in GT1
(O’Connell pole, Magnussen fastest race lap)
No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Olivier Beretta/Oliver Gavin/Max Papis – 2nd in GT1


2009
No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Jan Magnussen/Johnny O'Connell/Antonio Garcia – 6th in
GT2
No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Olivier Beretta/Oliver Gavin/Marcel Fässler – 4th in
GT2


2010
No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Olivier Beretta/Johnny O’Connell/Antonio Garcia – 6th
in GT
No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Oliver Gavin/Jan Magnussen/Emmanuel Collard – 1st in GT
(Magnussen fastest race lap)


2011
No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Olivier Beretta/Tommy Milner/Antonio Garcia – 17th in
GT
No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Oliver Gavin/Jan Magnussen/Richard Westbrook – 4th in
GT


2012
No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia/Jordan Taylor – 2nd in GT
No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner/Richard Westbrook – 12th in
GT


2013
No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia/Jordan Taylor – 6th in GT
(Garcia/Magnussen ALMS GT title)
No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner/Richard Westbrook – 10th in
GT


2014
No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia/Ryan Briscoe – 8th in GTLM
No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner/Ryan Briscoe – 4th in GTLM


2015
No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia/Ryan Briscoe – 6th in GTLM
No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner/Ryan Briscoe – 3rd in GTLM


2016
No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia/Mike Rockenfeller – 4th in
GTLM
No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner/Marcel Fässler – 3rd in GTLM
(Gavin/Milner clinch GTLM title)


2017
No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia/Mike Rockenfeller – 2nd in
GTLM (Garcia/Magnussen clinch GTLM title)
No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner/Marcel Fässler – 4th in GTLM


2018
No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia/Mike Rockenfeller – 8th in
GTLM (Garcia/Magnussen clinch GTLM title)
No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner/Marcel Fässler – 2nd in GTLM
* Two-hour, 45 minute races

Happy Birthday, Andy!

Quote:

I think your odds are very good: 2022 or 2023.