Continental Tire Monterey Grand Prix Powered By Mazda
May 3-4, 2014

Continental Tire Monterey Grand Prix Powered By Mazda - See more at: http://www.imsa.com/races/continental ... #sthash.svviOoyy.dpufThis race format will be different than what we have seen so far. There will be two races, one for Pro and one for AMS.

Qualiyfing - Pro

Saturday, May 3, 2014 TUDOR Championship (GTLM)
www.imsa.com
8:15 PM - 8:30 PM ET,

7:15 PM -7:30 PM CT


Television Broadcast: Pro

Sunday, May 4, 2014
TV Coverage Fox Sports 1

05:30-08:00 PM EDT,

04:30-07:00 PM CT

Online Coverage
IMSA.com (includes live images, in-car cameras and announcers)
http://www.imsa.com/


LIVE TIMING:
http://scoring.imsa.com/sportscar-challenge/

Radio:
SiriusXM 117

PIT NOTES:
https://twitter.com/search?q=IMSA

http://twitter.com/ @CorvetteRacing, @UnitedSportsCar, @IMSA, @IMSAlive, @DISupdates,

TICKET INFO:
http://www.mazdaraceway.com/continental-tire-monterey-grand-prix

Event Schedule:
http://www.imsa.com/sites/default/fil ... S%20and%20SR%20042114.pdf

Spotters Guide:
http://www.spotterguides.com/

Entry List:
http://www.imsa.com/sites/default/fil ... 20Entry%20List%204-21.pdf

Track Map:
http://www.mazdaraceway.com/sites/mai ... eneral_map_no_grids_0.pdf

WEATHER:
http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick. ... e=all&smap=1#.U1ancvldWSo

CORVETTE RACING AT LONG BEACH: First Victory for New Corvette C7.R

Garcia, Magnussen dominate street race; Gavin, Milner take third-place GTLM finish



LONG BEACH, Calif. (April 12, 2014) – Corvette Racing won its first race with the new Chevrolet Corvette C7.R on Saturday at Long Beach as Antonio Garcia and Jan Magnussen dominated in their No. 3 Corvette to take the GT Le Mans class of the Patrón Sports Car Showcase. The duo led all but one lap and took the checkered flag by 5.408 seconds in the third round of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.



Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner placed third in class in their No. 4 Corvette C7.R. It was the fourth time Corvette Racing placed both of its entries on the podium at Long Beach since 2007.



"Congratulations to Jan Magnussen, Antonio Garcia and the No. 3 Corvette C7.R team on scoring the win today here at Long Beach," said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet U.S. Vice President, Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. "It was the first win for the Corvette C7.R and a great day. It started with a great qualifying run by Jan to put the Chevrolet Corvette C7.R on the pole, which was a huge advantage in a short, 100-minute sprint race. Antonio did a great job getting a nice lead; the Corvette Racing team had a great pit stop and Jan took it home for the win. It was also great to see Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner put the No. 4 Corvette C7.R also on the podium. Just a tremendous effort for Corvette Racing.”



Saturday’s victory was the fifth at Long Beach for Corvette Racing. Magnussen qualified on pole position Friday, and Garcia led the entirety of his 41-minute stint – the result of a great start that allowed him to put two slower prototypes between himself and the rest of the class. His lead grew as much as seven seconds before handing off to Magnussen.



The Dane’s biggest advantage was 12 seconds during his stint as he won at Long Beach for the second time; Garcia won his first Long Beach race.



The No. 4 Corvette gained one position from its fourth-place starting spot. Gavin and the two competing cars in front of him were balked by the slow prototype that Garcia managed to get around on the opening lap. Gavin also fought high tire pressures but still had the fastest race lap in class for most of his stint.



After the driver change to Milner, the young American whittled down the gap to second place from three seconds to a half-second halfway through his stint. He ended the race just 0.273 seconds shy of the runner-up spot. Milner also set the fastest GTLM race lap at 1:18.954 (89.733 mph).



The next round of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship takes place at Laguna Seca from May 3-4.



ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

“It’s been a really good race for us. We couldn’t expect more. We saw yesterday that we were very fast. I think 50 percent of the race was done by Jan yesterday in qualifying. Today he stayed away from the walls but yesterday he was really, really close to them! That pole position made a big difference. I knew that the race was all about Turn 1 and the first three laps. I was probably a bit on the high side of being aggressive on the opening laps because I knew the prototypes were struggling to warm their tires. I made it through at Turn 1, and that was mainly it for the race. That risk made the rest of the race a little more relaxing. Taking the first victory for the Corvette C7.R is very big for us. We have been battling really hard from the beginning. All the Corvette Racing and Chevrolet guys have worked really hard throughout the offseason and into this year. A big thanks to them.”



JAN MAGNUSSEN, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

“It was an important victory for the team and the guys who have worked so hard to get the Chevrolet Corvette C7.R ready for the season. The whole time we have had a fast car but didn’t make the most of it. We had some reliability issues at Daytona and Sebring, so it’s really nice that we can have a weekend like this with pole position and a win by leading from start to finish. I couldn’t be happier for Antonio and myself, and for all the guys on the team. They really deserve it. A big thanks to Antonio. He did all the hard work and got a huge lead. That last hour for me was like a holiday for me! I just drove around making sure I didn’t make any mistakes and stay off the wall.”



OLIVER GAVIN, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

“It was a great result for Corvette Racing today. To get both cars on the podium and to get the first win for the Chevrolet Corvette C7.R is fantastic. It was a little frustrating for myself getting caught up behind one of the prototypes and battling with the BMWs. I was also struggling with high tire pressures for some reason. We just missed that all weekend. I don’t know why but maybe we need to look at the systems we have. We kept the car in the race. Tommy got in and did a sterling job and got us right up behind the BMW but I think it was a bit too much to do to get by that car. It seemed that where we were quick, they weren’t so good but then they were fast in some key spots. Tommy did all he could and drove extremely well. But the main thing for both cars is that we got fantastic results for points and the first win for the Corvette C7.R. It’s a fantastic day for Corvette Racing.”



TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

“It was a great day for Corvette Racing. You could really see how strategy plays a part in tire wear and things like that. Great job to Antonio and Jan. They had a great race and got ahead of that one LMP car and could cruise. Our class has always been super-competitive, and it’s fun to see it all play out with pit stops and strategy. It was a great day of racing here at Long Beach.”



DOUG FEHAN, CORVETTE RACING PROGRAM MANAGER

“What a fantastic race for Chevrolet and Corvette Racing today at Long Beach! The team's strategy played out perfectly, and Antonio and Jan had mistake-free stints. Having Tommy Milner and Oliver Gavin join them on the podium makes this a very rewarding day for the Chevrolet Corvette C7.R program. Rest assured, we will work to capitalize on this momentum in our continued push for the first championship in the new TUDOR series.”



******************************************************************************************************



CORVETTE DPs AT LONG BEACH: First Visit Results in Two Podiums

Wayne Taylor Racing places second, Action Express third to lead Corvette DP field



LONG BEACH, Calif. (April 12, 2014) – Corvette Daytona Prototypes took two of the three podium steps Saturday in the Patrón Sports Car Showcase, the third round of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship. Wayne Taylor Racing’s Jordan Taylor and Ricky Taylor placed second in the 100-minute race at the Long Beach street circuit, the first visit to the venue for the Corvette DPs.



Action Express Racing’s Joao Barbosa and Christian Fittipaldi placed third in the No. 5 Corvette Daytona Prototype. Saturday’s result gives Corvette DP teams two of the top three spots in the TUDOR Championship’s Prototype standings for drivers and teams.



"It was great to see the Konica Minolta-sponsored Wayne Taylor Racing team with Jordan and Ricky Taylor finish second,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet’s U.S. Vice President, Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “They had a great run all day. In addition, the Action Express No. 5 Corvette DP with Joao Barbosa and Christian Fittipaldi had a great start to the race, and finished strong on the podium which gives them some additional room in the driver point standings."



Fittipaldi and Barbosa maintained their lead in the driver standings, as did Action Express in the team championship. The Taylors are third in the driving championship with Wayne Taylor Racing third in the team category.



"Even though we didn't win, I am quite happy for the No. 10 Wayne Taylor Racing Corvette DP team for their second-place finish with Ricky and Jordan Taylor doing the driving,” said Jim Lutz, Chevrolet’s Program Manager for Daytona Prototypes. “We also are pleased for the No. 5 Action Express Corvette DP on their third-place finish that keeps Christian Fittipaldi and Joao Barbosa in the driver championship lead. I do think there is a little bit of work needed by the sanctioning body to get parody between a turbo engine and naturally aspirated engine. But we are looking forward to the next round at Laguna Seca."



The next round of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship takes place May 2-4 from Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif.



JORDAN TAYLOR, NO. 10 WAYNE TAYLOR RACING CORVETTE DP

“The only chance we had was in traffic. We knew the No. 60 and the No. 01 had a great straight-line speed and we knew we wouldn’t to be able to pass him if we were in a situation of just car versus car; but if we had traffic in the right spot, we probably had a chance. I kept getting in the wrong spot. So, I was happy to get second. It’s good points for the championship.”



RICKY TAYLOR, NO. 10 WAYNE TAYLOR RACING CORVETTE DP

"It was a good day. Qualifying was a little disappointing. I think we probably moved up the most positions. Jordan did a great job in his stint. It was a great result for Konica Minolta on our car for the first time. It is a start of a great relationship. First of the Corvette DPs. It was a good day. I think we are third in points, this early-on, so we're really close. We have a lot of races to make it up."



CHRISTIAN FITTIPALDI, NO. 5 ACTION EXPRESS RACING CORVETTE DP

“Well, it was definitely a good afternoon. I can’t complain. Obviously we wanted to try our very best to try and win the race, but unfortunately it didn’t happen. Our competitors were really strong and they put together a great race. And we have to capitalize on what we did and get out of here and move on to the next one. We’ll still leading the championship and let’s see what happens in Laguna. Thanks to Action Express and Chevy power.”



JOAO BARBOSA, NO. 5 ACTION EXPRESS RACING CORVETTE DP

"That was a really tough race. Track position was everything here. Unfortunately my tires took a little bit long to come in, and I lost the lead but there was nothing I could do. I tried to make sure it was a safe race. But it was a good race. We will just look forward to the next one. Our Corvette DP was running really well. But we had nothing for the Ford in straight-line speed. They were super fast but it was good racing."

CORVETTE RACING AT LONG BEACH: First Pole Position for Chevrolet Corvette C7.R

Magnussen fastest GTLM qualifier in No. 3 Corvette; Fittipaldi third overall in No. 5 Corvette DP



LONG BEACH, Calif. (April 11, 2014) – Jan Magnussen captured the first pole position for the new Chevrolet Corvette C7.R on Friday with the fastest lap in qualifying for Saturday’s Patrón Sports Car Showcase at the Long Beach street circuit. The Dane made his final lap count – a 1:17.939 (90.902 mph) in the No. 3 Corvette that is in its first season in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.



It is the first pole position for Corvette Racing since the Baltimore street circuit in 2012. Magnussen was 0.152 seconds quicker than the rest of the GT Le Mans class.



Both Corvette C7.Rs qualified on the front two rows Friday. Tommy Milner was fourth-fastest in the No. 4 Corvette at 1:18.489 (90.265 mph).



“Jan Magnussen's pole-winning lap in the new Chevrolet Corvette C7.R is a great start to the Long Beach weekend,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet U.S. Vice President, Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. "Starting position is important in a short, 100-minute race. The team is now focused on race execution and pit strategy. It's great to have so many Corvette owners here in Long Beach and around the country supporting Corvette's racing efforts in the TUDOR United SportsCar championship."



Friday’s pole position was Magnussen’s second at Long Beach. His other came in 2008 in the GT1-spec Corvette C6.R. He also set the fastest race lap in class in 2007 (GT1) and 2011 (GT). Both were in the American Le Mans Series.



“I want to say how happy I am for the team that we got the pole. It’s a new car – the Chevrolet Corvette C7.R. We’ve known all along that it’s a fantastic race car; we just haven’t really been able to prove it yet. In the previous two races, we’ve had a good race car but qualifying has been a little bit tough and reliability hasn’t been 100 percent. Hopefully we have those things behind us and can have a good race from the front row.”



More than any other race this season, the front of the grid is where teams want to be at Long Beach. The 100-minute distance makes this the shortest race on the TUDOR Championship schedule, which makes track position key from the start. It’s a sharp contrast to Corvette Racing’s first two events – the Rolex 24 At Daytona and the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.



Magnussen’s pole is the latest success story for Corvette Racing at Long Beach. The team has four victories at the circuit to its credit including two years ago for Gavin and Milner. A Corvette Racing driver also has set the fastest race lap in class each of the last seven years.



Live television coverage of the Tequila Patrón Sports Car Showcase starts at 6 p.m. ET Saturday on FOX Sports 1.



The TUDOR Championship is the result of a merger between the ALMS and GRAND-AM’s Rolex Sports Car Series. Corvette Racing will compete in 11 races around North America plus the 24 Hours of Le Mans.



Fittipaldi Puts Action Express Corvette DP on Second Row

Christian Fittipaldi led the contingent of Corvette Daytona Prototype drivers in prototype qualifying Friday at Long Beach. The Prototype championship co-leader set the third-fastest time in time trials with a 1:15.571 (93.750 mph). He drives the No. 5 Action Express Racing Corvette DP with Joao Barbosa. Fittipaldi was just 0.246 seconds off pole position.



This is the first race at Long Beach for the Corvette DPs. Ricky Taylor was the next-fastest Corvette DP driver with a fifth-place showing in the No. 10 Wayne Taylor Racing entry at 1:15.743 (93.537 mph). Action Express Racing – winner at the Rolex 24 At Daytona – and Wayne Taylor Racing sit first and second in the Prototype team championship through two rounds.



JAN MAGNUSSEN, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

(His qualifying session) “Qualifying went completely to plan. I went out and found a good gap. I had to back off once to find myself another gap. After that, it was a matter of trying to work every corner and finding a little bit here and there. At one point, we were P3 and I thought ‘I’m 0.8 seconds faster than I have been when we did the qualifying simulation. I don’t know if there is any more to come.’ But I did one more lap and pushed hard. It stuck and I got pole position.”

(History at Long Beach) “The C6.R was a great car. The most important thing is the team, the strategy and our pit stops. It’s one of those races that is just one stop, no doubt about it. These short races can also be a little tricky in terms of what you do with strategy. You can be very aggressive or try to play it safe with a normal strategy. Most of the time we’ve played it safe. Sometimes we’ve lost because of it but we’ve definitely won more because of it.”



TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

It’s awesome to see Jan on pole. It’s always nice for us to get one of those, so congratulations to him. The car was pretty good. It was a little sloppy in places – just my driving. There were some places where I think I could have gone quicker. But it was a good lap. First and fourth is a great place to start the race. Being at the sharp end of the grid is obviously very important and Long Beach. It’s a good start for the race tomorrow.”



DOUG FEHAN, CORVETTE RACING PROGRAM MANAGER

“Congratulations to Jan and the crew of the No. 3 Chevrolet Corvette C7.R on a fantastic qualifying effort. This is a great reward for everyone at Chevrolet, Corvette Racing, Pratt & Miller and GM Powertrain after the hard work they have put in during the early days of this program. Qualifying is extremely important for this race, and it is great to see Jan and Tommy in the front two rows of the most competitive grid in all of GT racing.”



CHRISTIAN FITTIPALDI, NO. 5 ACTION EXPRESS RACING CORVETTE DP

"The top-three were very close. I was on the limit and I did a good qualifying lap. There was not a lot more to come out of our car. I think it's pretty obvious that the Fords have a little bit of an advantage on us. They put it all together in qualifying and they're 1-2. Maybe they were holding back a little in practice, but we weren't holding anything back. We had what we had. The Action Express team gave me a very good car for qualifying and I managed to put together a good lap but we were two-tenths-and-a-half shy for one reason or another. Now tomorrow is the race, and tomorrow is when it really counts!"



Tequila Patrón Sports Car Showcase at Long Beach:

Race: 3:10 p.m., PT Saturday, April 12
Television: 6 p.m. ET (Live on FOX Sports 1)

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Please vote NOW for Corvette Racing and ONCE every 24 hours !! We are falling a bit and need your vote!
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CORVETTE RACING AT LONG BEACH: First Street Fight for Corvette C7.R

Looking to turn potential of new GT race car into victory



DETROIT (April 8, 2014) – After the two longest races on the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship schedule, Corvette Racing moves to the shortest event on its calendar. The team’s two Chevrolet Corvette C7.Rs travel to the West Coast for the Tequila Patrón Sports Car Showcase – part of this weekend’s Grand Prix of Long Beach.



Although the race lasts just 100 minutes, the event typically is one of the most challenging of the season. It’s a sprint through the streets of Long Beach – a 11-turn, 1.968-mile circuit that is playing host to a grand prix weekend for the 40th year.



Corvette Racing has been part of the last seven Long Beach weekends as part of the American Le Mans Series, and the results have been overwhelmingly solid. The team has four victories at the circuit to its credit including two years ago for the duo of Tommy Milner and Oliver Gavin. A Corvette Racing driver also has set the fastest race lap in class each of the last seven years.



It’s no secret then that Corvette Racing drivers and crew look forward to returning. Antonio Garcia and Jan Magnussen – twice a pole-winner at Long Beach – share the No. 3 Corvette C7.R with Gavin and Milner in the No. 4 Corvette.



Redemption is top of mind for America’s premier production-based sports car team. Both Corvette C7.Rs led significant portions of the TUDOR Championship’s first two rounds at Daytona and Sebring but the results don’t reflect the efforts of the drivers and team.



The No. 4 Corvette of Gavin, Milner and Robin Liddell was the dominant car in class at Sebring, having led a majority of the race before a fuel pressure issue took the car out of contention. Likewise, the No. 3 entry of Garcia, Magnussen and Ryan Briscoe (competing in this weekend’s IndyCar race in a Chevy-powered entry) led at Sebring despite an opening-lap collision and a punctured tire.



Such strong performances underscore the potential of the first-year Corvette C7.R platform. Based on the 2015 Corvette Z06 production car, the C7.R’s rigid frame – which gives the car improved cornering ability and stability – and throttle response from its direct-injection engine make it a contender against entries from the likes of BMW, Ferrari, Porsche and SRT.



Live television coverage of the Tequila Patrón Sports Car Showcase starts at 6 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1.



The TUDOR Championship is the result of a merger between the ALMS and GRAND-AM’s Rolex Sports Car Series. Corvette Racing will compete in 11 races around North America plus the 24 Hours of Le Mans.



ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

“I’ve always like racing at Long Beach, and I enjoy all street circuits. It is an unusual event because the race is short. I don’t know how it will play out this year with the new fueling and capacity regulations. This always has been a one-stop race for us and I believe it could be again. That is the key thing about this race – how the strategy plays and how you work around that. The number of yellows can play a role as well. You can be up front and use a normal strategy but find yourself in a bad situation depending on when the yellow falls. The number of factors and variables here are very, very high.”

(Long Beach methodology) “At Long Beach, you need to run at 100 percent but you have no room for error. The walls are very close and traffic will be a factor. That’s part of the game but I think that’s why I like street circuits. I enjoy that pressure.”

(Start to 2014) “It’s true that we haven’t had a trouble-free start to our season but everyone at Corvette Racing has been analyzing and working on it. I hope Long Beach is a turnaround for us and our season. The Corvette C7.R has shown at both races that it has speed and can run up front.”



JAN MAGNUSSEN, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

“Long Beach is a fantastic venue. There is always an incredible show going on during the weekend. The grip level on the track is very good. The Corvette has always been very strong; we’ve not always been super successful but we always have had a shot to win. I’m looking forward to a trouble-free weekend and hopefully we can get back on plan in terms of the championship.”

(Navigating Long Beach) “There is not a lot of runoff. There are some places that have a safety or escape road you can use. But most other places it is just concrete so you have to drive with a bit of a safety margin. But because of the length of the race, you also have to get things done. In certain situations you might be a little more aggressive than normal but you must also bear in mind that there is a bigger risk here than anywhere else.”

(Race expectations) “For us, it’s the first time with the C7.R at Long Beach. There may be a little bit of a learning curve but I think we have a really good handle on it. We should be in good shape right away. The car has been good. We’ve had bad luck at the first two races and we’re due for a good result. We have been up front in both races. Hopefully those things are part of the past and we can concentrate on getting some wins and podiums to get back on track for the championship.”



OLIVER GAVIN, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

“I do like Long Beach and the circuit. The new Corvette C7.R should be strong there, and I know the guys at Corvette Racing have been working on the setup for this weekend. Because we have so little track time, you have to make sure you come off the truck fast. In previous years, we’ve done that very well.”

(Keys to success) “A street circuit can make a little difference to a driver but at the same time you have to say to that you can only drive around in the car you’re given. Sometimes little tweaks and little things in just the right spots can make the difference in having a car on the front row and winning or losing the race. Pace is very, very important there because it’s a short race. You need to qualify well and on top of everything. That’s one of the things Corvette Racing has been good at for so long. We’re hoping for that again this year.”

(Strategy focus): “It’s most probably the one race where it’s all focused on your one pit stop if everything goes well. You have to get it right. You don’t get any second chances because there is no window for a second stop to make up any time or turn your strategy around. Once you do your stop, you’re done and you’re committed. As a driver, you’re mindful that the in-lap and the out-lap are vitally important. There are so many things you have to weigh. In terms of the work level that the driver actually does driving the car is quite short, but it’s very focus. You know that any slip-up is going to make a huge difference on the outcome of your race.”



TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

“This weekend is equally important as the first two races at Daytona and Sebring but it’s fun for different reasons. It is so short and goes through downtown Long Beach. It’s definitely a whole different mindset. We have such limited practice time. We go there with a new Chevrolet Corvette C7.R unsure of how the car will be on a tight track like Long Beach. I don’t think it will pose any problems for us. Obviously a new car shows us some new things with how it reacts to setup changes and stuff like that. So far, the new Corvette C7.R has been as good if not better in every area of performance compared to the C6.R. I don’t forsee it being an issue for us, but there are always new things to learn.”

(Corvette strengths) “In years past, it seems like what has helped us at Long Beach has been our braking performance. With the Corvette C7.R, one area where we have improved is putting power down. Those are two pretty crucial parts of having a fast car at Long Beach. So if the power-down is improved like it was at Daytona and Sebring then I think we’ll be pretty good shape for Long Beach.”

(A two-class race) “I’m definitely excited to see what the race will be like with just us and the prototypes. The other classes provide for great racing and the fans like to see that. But after some of the issues the series faced at the first couple of races with some long caution periods, hopefully with two professional categories and drivers racing together that we don’t have too many accidents and put on a good show for the fans.”



DOUG FEHAN, CORVETTE RACING PROGRAM MANAGER

“After two long-distance races to open our season, we head to Long Beach for close-quarters racing on the streets of southern California. We have clearly shown that the pace of the Chevrolet Corvette C7.R is promising; unfortunately, the results so far do not do reflect our performance or efforts. There is no better place to break through than Long Beach. The Grand Prix is one of racing's premier events and provides an incredible atmosphere for sports car racing with huge crowds throughout the weekend. We're fully prepared to give all the Chevrolet and Corvette fans in southern California our fifth victory at Long Beach!”



Corvette Racing History at Long Beach

Year
Class
Drivers
Result
Car
Notes

2007
GT1
Magnussen/O'Connell
2nd
Corvette C6.R
Magnussen fastest race lap

Beretta/Gavin
1st
Corvette C6.R
Gavin pole

2008
GT1
Magnussen/O'Connell
1st
Corvette C6.R
Magnussen pole

Beretta/Gavin
2nd
Corvette C6.R
Gavin fastest race lap

2009
GT1
Magnussen/O'Connell
2nd
Corvette C6.R

Beretta/Gavin
1st
Corvette C6.R
Beretta pole, fastest race lap

2010
GT
O'Connell/Magnussen
2nd
Corvette C6.R

Beretta/Gavin
9th
Corvette C6.R
Gavin fastest race lap

2011
GT
Beretta/Milner
5th
Corvette C6.R

Gavin/Magnussen
2nd
Corvette C6.R
Magnussen fastest race lap

2012
GT
Garcia/Magnussen
4th
Corvette C6.R

Gavin/Milner
1st
Corvette C6.R
Gavin fastest race lap

2013
GT
Garcia/Magnussen
5th
Corvette C6.R

Gavin/Milner
4th
Corvette C6.R
Gavin fastest race lap




TUDOR Championship – GTLM Standings

Driver Standings
Team Standings
Manufacturer Standings

1. Bill Auberlen/Joey Hand/Andy Priaulx – 64

2. Richard Lietz/Patrick Pilet/Nick Tandy – 59

3. Jorg Bergmeister/Michael Christensen/Patrick Long – 59

4. Rob Bell/Jonathan Bomarito/Kuno Wittmer - 59

5. Dominik Farnbacher/Marc Goossens/Ryan Hunter-Reay – 56
7. Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner/Robin Liddell – 53

9. Ryan Briscoe/Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen – 46
1. No. 55 BMW Team RLL – 64

2. No. 911 Porsche North America – 59

3. No. 912 Porsche North America - 59

4. No. 93 SRT Motorsports – 59

5. No. 91 SRT Motorsports – 56

7. No. 4 Corvette Racing – 53

9. No. 3 Corvette Racing - 46
1. Porsche – 70

2. BMW – 62

3. SRT – 62

4. Chevrolet – 54

5. Ferrari – 54




Tequila Patrón Sports Car Showcase at Long Beach (all times PT)

· TUDOR Championship Practice 1: 7:40 a.m., Friday, April 11

· TUDOR Championship Practice 2: 5:05 p.m., Friday, April 11

· GTLM Qualifying: 5:45 p.m., Friday, April 11

· Tequila Patrón Sports Car Showcase: 3:10 p.m., Saturday, April 12



Long Beach: Watch It!

Saturday, April 12

· 6 p.m. ET (FOX Sports 1)

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Corvette Racing Earns High Honor From RACER Magazine

Named Team of the Year for 2013 in Spring edition

DETROIT (April 7, 2014) – While preparing to hit its stride for the 2014 TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, Corvette Racing has picked up a significant honor from RACER. The renowned publication named Corvette Racing its 2013 Team of the Year in worldwide motorsport as part of its Spring edition. An editorial panel selected America’s leading production-based sports car team for the honor after it won the 2013 American Le Mans Series’ GT championship.

In capturing its 10th ALMS title, Corvette Racing won five times – half the races on the ALMS calendar. Antonio Garcia and Jan Magnussen in the No. 3 Chevrolet Corvette C6.R took three victories and the GT drivers’ championship, while Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner won twice in the No. 4 Corvette.

The 2013 season was the final for the C6.R, which gave way to the new Corvette C7.R at the Rolex 24 At Daytona. In it’s run of four-plus years, the C6.R won 11 ALMS races including nine during the last two seasons despite being at the end of its development life.

“This recognition is appreciated by everyone on the Corvette Racing, Pratt & Miller and Powertrain team,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet U.S. Vice President, Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “It underscores the strong teamwork, preparation and strategy Corvette Racing displayed during its 2013 championship run. The team is looking forward to the rest of this season competing with the Corvette C7.R.”

Corvette Racing’s next event is the Tequila Patrón Sports Car Showcase from the streets of Long Beach, Calif., on Saturday, April 12. Live television coverage will be available on FOX Sports 1 starting at 6 p.m. ET.

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Corvette C7.R Ready For Long Beach Podium-IMSA.COM

The new Chevrolet Corvette C7.R showed flashes of brilliance along with a few teething issues when it first raced in the Rolex 24 At Daytona and the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh From Florida, the two longest races on the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship schedule.

Now, is Corvette Racing ready for a visit to the podium in its next event, the Tequila Patrón Sports Car Showcase on the streets of Long Beach, Calif., on Saturday, April 12?

Two bright yellow Corvette C7.Rs are entered in the GT Le Mans (GTLM) class in the 100-minute race, the No. 3 for Jan Magnussen and Antonio Garcia and the No. 4 for Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner.

"We’re unsure of how the car will be on a tight track like that, but I don’t think it will pose any problems for us,” Milner said. “So far, the new Corvette C7.R has been as good if not better in every area of performance compared to the C6.R.”

Last year, the Corvettes just missed the podium at Long Beach, with the No. 4 finishing fourth – one position ahead of the No. 3. The team is a four-time winner at the event, most recently with Gavin and Milner in 2012. The team also has posted the fastest race lap in its class each year since 2007.

“In years past, it seems like what has helped us at Long Beach has been our braking performance,” Milner said. “With the Corvette C7.R, we have improved putting power down. Those are two pretty crucial parts of having a fast car at Long Beach. So if the power-down is improved like it was at Daytona and Sebring then I think we’ll be pretty good shape for Long Beach.”

The two Corvettes each led the GTLM division at both Daytona and Sebring, but various maladies – including a transmission bearing, cooling problems and fuel pressure issues – put both cars out of contention in the second half of both races.

"Leading races is one thing, winning is quite another,” said Doug Fehan, Corvette Racing program manager. “The new Chevrolet Corvette C7.R has clearly demonstrated that it has all the qualities necessary to compete at a level our fans have come to expect. Now we need to close the loop and start bringing home a few trophies.

“Rest assured, the team is working through the teething issues we have experienced, not to mention we are in possession of one of the most impressive racing tools in IMSA history ... the all-powerful Corvette fan base. Put all that together and we believe we are fully prepared for that top step of the podium.”

CORVETTE RACING AT SEBRING: Disappointing End in Florida Classic

After leading during the day, sixth and eighth for Corvette C7.Rs



SEBRING, Fla. (March 15, 2014) – Corvette Racing’s two Chevrolet Corvette C7.Rs each led in class at Sebring International Raceway on Saturday but ultimately ended the 62nd Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida on disappointing notes.



The No. 4 Corvette C7.R of Oliver Gavin, Tommy Milner and Robin Liddell finished sixth in GT Le Mans for the second round of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship. The car led in class for significant portions throughout the race before two late spins and an engine issue with 30 minutes remaining put a halt to the car’s charge.



Up until that point, it was smooth sailing for the No. 4 Corvette. Gavin set the class’ fastest race lap (1:59.521).



The No. 3 Corvette C7.R of Antonio Garcia, Jan Magnussen and Ryan Briscoe had an up-and-down day with the “down” part coming into play again with four hours to go. The trio eventually finished eighth in class after suffering an opening-lap collision and fuel pressure problems that ultimately resulted in the replacement of the Corvette’s fuel pump just past the eight-hour mark.



The No. 3 Corvette also lost a lap early with front bodywork damage it sustained on the opening lap when Garcia was hit by a competitor from behind and shoved into a BMW ahead of him on the opening lap. But timely yellows and strategy calls put the Spaniard into the lead just past the halfway point.



The next round of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship takes place on the Long Beach (Calif.) street circuit from April 11-12.



ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

"It is a shame. It went from a disaster to really enjoying the fight back. The car was running really good. The team did a really good job just to get it back after we crashed on the first lap, and the car was behaving really good. Good strategies, and step-by-step we were going up. It was going perfect. Then again, everything went south. It’s definitely something we need to take care of for sure. We can take this as learning and try to fix every single thing because we have the speed, we have best team and we have a really good car. "



JAN MAGNUSSEN, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

"It's been up and down all day. It didn't start so well. Antonio got hit from behind on the first lap and smacked into somebody else. There was quite a bit of damage to the front - the fenders and we had to change the whole nose. We went a lap down but got that back and into the lead of the race. Then we had the unfortunate issue with the fuel pump and spent time trying to fix it. The car was pretty good. We could drive as fast as anyone out there. It was a shame about the little things. But the Corvette Racing guys were great. We all are massively disappointed."



RYAN BRISCOE, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

“The engine started running worse off the corners like it wasn’t running clean. It started to get worse and worse and worse as we went on. In the end it was the fuel pump. At least we were able to go until we got a full-course caution so that helped us out a little bit. Unfortunately we were three laps down. It was just so good to have the lead and run 1-2. We were the quickest cars on the track, for sure. It’s just a real shame.”



OLIVER GAVIN, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

"It's very frustrating that we had that problem and issue at the end. Up to that point we were looking very strong. I got in the car toward the end to do the last couple of stints. I had a couple of issues inside the cockpit with lights that we moved around after night practice. And we're still finding our way a little bit with this new car. I got a bit hot coming into Turn 17 and had a bit of a spin. We caught back up to the Viper and Porsche. As I was right there with them, we started to have this problem with the engine and it started to miss a bit. I was pushing harder and harder to try and keep up. I pushed a little too hard coming out of Turn 5 and looped it off there. It was pretty clear we had a problem after that. It was a case of managing the situation until the finish. But I think the guys did an absolute fantastic job with the car this weekend. For 11 hours we had one of the quickest cars and best cars. We were in a position to fight with anyone and seemed like we were the class of the field."



TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

“It’s a bummer. It’s unfortunate, for sure. It was kind of like Daytona, unfortunately. The car was good for 95 percent of the race. That last five percent now has been a little bit of a problem. But it’s a new car. I’m excited about how quick we’ve been… and good teamwork. The No. 3 car guys had a problem early on and they were able to fight back from that. We had our own little issues throughout the race. I kept fighting and got back up front there toward the end. It was just unlucky.”



ROBIN LIDDELL, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

“It was disappointing obviously. Tommy (Milner) and Olly (Gavin) did the lion’s share of the work, by far. And it would have been their win really, and the team’s win if we’d gotten to that point. But obviously it’s disappointing. We came pretty close at Daytona and then again here. But ultimately we’ve got to be reasonably happy with the performance of the car and obviously the team. But it’s always hard when you get close to the end in a race like this, looking like you’re going to get results, and then you start running into difficulties. But essentially it’s just new car blues. Having these two races as the first two of the season makes it incredibly tough. I think the car has shown itself to be not just a contender, but a race-winning car. It’s been a great experience. I’m happy to have the opportunity to drive for Corvette. On that side, it’s good.”



DOUG FEHAN, CORVETTE RACING PROGRAM MANAGER

“The Sebring 12 Hours typically is one of the most challenging and unpredictable auto races in the world. Today was no different. Similar to the first race of the year at Daytona, the Chevrolet Corvette C7.R showed its tremendous potential with both cars leading significant portions of the race – including the No. 3 after facing adversity on the opening lap. At Corvette Racing, we don’t give up and that was on full display again. We’re encouraged with the performance of both Corvette C7.Rs and are eager to get back to racing at Long Beach.”

CORVETTE RACING AT SEBRING: Drive for Ninth Win in 12 Hours

New Chevrolet Corvette C7.Rs to take on racing’s most demanding venue



DETROIT (March 11, 2014) – Corvette Racing and its new Corvette C7.R race cars are about to undergo the ultimate challenge in road racing. The Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring is America’s oldest sports car race, and the 62nd running of the Florida classic is set for this weekend. It’s also an event that is rich with Chevrolet and Corvette history.



You could say that Sebring is the spiritual birthplace of the modern-day Corvette Racing program. A Corvette raced for the first time in its history at the 1956 Sebring 12 Hours and placed ninth overall. Almost 60 years later, Corvette Racing will go for its ninth class win at Sebring since 2002 – this time with the brand new Corvette C7.R. The production-based racer is Chevrolet’s entry in the GT Le Mans (GTLM) class of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.



"Sebring is one of the toughest race tracks in the world," said Mark Kent, Chevrolet's Director of Racing. "Corvette Racing's success in the 12 Hours is a testament to the preparation and work ethic of the team at Chevrolet Racing, Pratt & Miller and GM Powertrain. Winning Sebring once is an incredible accomplishment, and doing so eight times is nothing short of remarkable. We are confident the new Corvette C7.R - with its improved handling, stability and efficiency - can help add to that record at Sebring."



Sebring is the second round of the inaugural TUDOR Championship. As at the season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona, each of the Corvettes will have three drivers each. Antonio Garcia and Jan Magnussen – last year’s American Le Mans Series GT champions – will team with IndyCar star Ryan Briscoe in the No. 3 Corvette C7.R. Defending Sebring class winners Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner will share the No. 4 entry with Robin Liddell.



Gavin, Milner and Richard Westbrook overcame early electrical issues and came from two laps down to win last year’s race in their Corvette C6.R. Ahead of this year’s race, Corvette Racing has tested the C7.R at Sebring on multiple occasions, and for good reason.



Sebring International Raceway pounds race cars like no other race track in the world. The facility sits on the site of Fort Hendricks - a World War II airbase that was used as a training ground for American B-17 bombers. Part of the circuit – most notably Turn 16 through the exit of Turn 1 - uses the old concrete runway and taxiway, which makes up some of the roughest sections of racing surface anywhere in the world. It’s part of what makes Sebring physically the toughest venue in endurance racing.



The new aluminum frame – 40 percent stiffer than the C6.R – should be a huge benefit over the bumps at Sebring. The direct-injected engine offers better fuel economy, a critical element in long-distance endurance racing. The advanced aerodynamics on the C7.R compliments both the stability and efficiency factors.



Television coverage of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring will be available live on FOX Sports 1 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET with the remainder of the race airing live on IMSA.com. FOX Sports 1 also will air a three-hour recap at 8:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, March 16.



Corvette Racing will compete in 11 TUDOR Championship races around North America plus the 24 Hours of Le Mans.



Corvette Racing For the Fans at Sebring:

Fans can check out a number of new Chevrolet vehicles throughout the weekend in the Corvette Racing display in the midway area at Sebring International Raceway.
Production vehicles on-hand include the Corvette Stingray - the 2014 North American Car of the Year - along with the Silverado Crew, the Sonic Hatchback and the Impala.
Fans will also be able to check out the 2015 Corvette Z06 and its racing counterpart, the Corvette C7.R. They exemplify the strongest link between Corvettes built for the road and track, sharing core engineering and design components including chassis architecture, engine technologies and aerodynamics.
The high-performance Camaro Z/28 and the Chevy SS also will be on display. The 2014 Z/28 was the basis for the brand new Z/28.R, which will participate in its second race at Sebring on Friday.
Fans can see a sample of engines, parts and accessories available for purchase from Chevrolet at their local Chevrolet dealer.
Other activities at the Corvette Racing Display include a variety of interactive games for adults and kids.
Fans who sign up with Corvette Racing will receive a special commemorative t-shirt.
The Corvette Racing display opens 10 a.m. on Thursday and 8 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.


TUDOR Championship – GTLM Standings

Driver Standings
Team Standings
Manufacturer Standings

1. Richard Lietz/Patrick Pilet/Nick Tandy – 36

2. Joey Hand/Maxime Martin/Andy Priaulx – 33

3. Dominik Farnbacher/Marc Goossens/Ryan Hunter-Reay – 31

4. John Edwards/Dirk Muller/Graham Rahal/Dirk Werner - 29

5. Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner/Robin Liddell – 27

10. Ryan Briscoe/Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen – 22
1. No. 911 Porsche North America – 36

2. No. 55 BMW Team RLL – 33

3. No. 91 SRT Motorsports – 31

4. No. 56 BMW Team RLL – 29

5. No. 4 Corvette Racing – 27

10. No. 3 Corvette Racing - 22
1. Porsche – 35

2. BMW – 32

3. SRT – 30

4. Chevrolet – 28

5. SRT – 26




Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring (all times ET)

TUDOR Championship Practice 1: 9:55 a.m., Thursday, March 13
TUDOR Championship Practice 2: 4:05 p.m., Thursday, March 13
TUDOR Championship Practice 3: 8 p.m., Thursday, March 13
TUDOR Championship Practice 4: 9:55 a.m., Friday, March 14
GTLM Qualifying: 4:30 p.m., Friday, March 14
TUDOR Championship Warmup: 8 a.m., Saturday, March 15
Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring: 10:15 a.m., Saturday, March 15

Sebring: Watch It!

Saturday, March 15

10 a.m.-1 p.m. ET (FOX Sports 1)
1-10:30 p.m. ET (IMSA.com)
Sunday, March 16

8:30 a.m. (FOX Sports 1-Highlights)


ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

(On recent IMSA test at Sebring): “It’s always good to be on track, especially after what happened at Daytona. We spent time learning more things and anticipating any problems that may pop up. We would have liked to have more time on track, but in the end we came out with a good amount of mileage on both cars and a lot of data to analyze in order to have a very good car and maximize what we have at the moment. We still need to develop the car a little bit more but when we get to Sebring, I feel we will have 100 percent of what we need to be successful.”

(Sebring challenges): “Sebring, although it is half of a 24-hour race, is very hard on everything – equipment, the drivers and everyone on the team. Fortunately we have a lot of background on this race. It’s not like Daytona where we were anticipating what would happen in that race. Here, we need to translate everything we know from the C6.R into this new car. From that respect, things should be a little easier but Sebring is always different and a few surprises may be in store with a new car.”



JAN MAGNUSSEN, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

(Race outlook): “I know the team made some good improvements on the car. I don’t know if we are exactly on pace compared to the Porsche, which I think is probably the fastest car. But I think we are a step closer than we have been. It’s still very early days. If we keep developing the car, we will be very close. I’m a positive guy and always have high hopes. Sebring, being a long-distance race, is about speed but it’s also about other stuff. And at Corvette Racing, we do all the other stuff really well.”

(First Sebring experience): “My first experience at Sebring in sports cars was in the original Panoz GT1 car. It was a bit of an eye-opener coming from Europe and smooth tracks to come to Sebring. It was quite shocking actually. But I’ve come to love the place. It’s really a fantastic event. I only got to do an hour in 1999, and soon after that we DNF’d with a tire blowout and a big crash. It took me a long time to have any success at Sebring, and it was only when I joined Corvette that I started having a shot at winning and finally winning it in 2006.”

(Sebring challenges): “There is going to be a lot of traffic, more than we’ve had in a long time. It will be incredibly challenging, even more than Daytona. But the event itself, it’s the same things you deal with every year – making sure the car makes it to the end, stay out of trouble and go as fast as you can without risking too much.”



RYAN BRISCOE, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

(Testing and outlook): “It was a good opportunity to do a lot of miles at Sebring. We worked on the balance of the car and mileage. At the end, I was happy with how things went. Sebring is quite different than anywhere we will race. It’s a lot harder on equipment and is a lot more physical to drive. There are a lot of bumps and a lot of very challenging high-speed corners. It’s one of my favorite tracks to drive. It’s an old-school track and that’s why I love it.

“The cool thing with Sebring is that half the track is rather smooth and the other half is on the old airport section with all the bumps. That is the great challenge of the track in setting the car up and adapting your driving style to go quick all the way around. The track does change from corner to corner.”

(Working at night): “The biggest thing that stood out to me in my first Sebring is how dark it gets toward the end of the race. I don’t know what time it starts to get dark but the last two hours or so is pitch-black! That’s the big difference from Daytona, where the whole track is very well-lit. At Sebring, there are no track lights. The only light you get is from your headlights or the campers on the side of the track. You get some hardcore fans there like at Turn 10. When it’s dinner time, you can smell the barbecues going and you really get a sense of the atmosphere. I love doing the Sebring 12 Hours and can’t wait to do it in a Corvette. There are a lot of intense Corvette fans who come to the race. It’ll be great getting to meet them in the campsites!”



OLIVER GAVIN, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

(History at Sebring): “Certainly Sebring feels like a home event for us. We’ve competed in the Sebring 12 Hours for the last 15 years. I’ve had many great experiences there and worked through many different scenarios – from leading the race comfortably to chasing the race throughout like we did last year. We came away with winning it by a couple of seconds over the Ferrari. Tommy finishing the race was super-exciting and was a real grandstand finish. It’s certainly one I’ll never forget.”

(Change in the air): “Sebring will have a very different dynamic to it this year because the lead class is different now in the TUDOR Championship. The lead prototype class is slower than the prototype cars that ran with us the last several years. Consequently, the cars coming up to lap us and pass us will happen less frequently. There still will be that need of being mindful and watching the faster cars coming up behind us. Our Collision Avoidance System is going to be useful for that. But the race will have a different feel for it in the way you react to those faster cars, what they can do and the pace they will run. Everyone will have to have a reset on that to find out where the prototypes are quicker than us. At Daytona, we were as fast as anyone on the infield section of the track. I don’t believe that will be the case at Sebring though. The prototypes that were a little lacking in the infield will be able to get more performance from the extra downforce they have and aerodynamic benefits. It will be a race, as it always is, of being sensible, fast and having a very good strategy. It takes a great team and having a strong, reliable car.”



TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

(Testing and outlook): “On the whole, the test was good for the team. My first experience with the C7.R was at Sebring in December so it was good to go back and build on what we learned there and at Daytona. It was good to have our competition there to see how we stack up. It’s always helpful to have that good indicator to see how you’re doing compared to them. It looks like the Porsche is awfully quick and they’ll be tough come race time. But we learned quite a bit over those two days. When we put it all together it’ll get us closer to the Porsche.”

(Looking back to last year): “That was definitely a great memory – chasing down the Ferrari for multiple hours and then having it culminate at the end over the last couple stints. It was definitely a moment that will stand out in my mind and in my career. It gives me that little bit of extra confidence going into this year. As times goes on, you get a better handle on race tracks, and when you have a race like that, in some ways you feel kind of invincible and things go right. You trust the car, and it’s easier once you’ve had an experience like that to get back in that mindset. Hopefully we don’t have to go a couple laps down and chase down the leaders again like we did last year. We hope we’re in the hunt there for the whole race and able to contend the entire race… and not just the last two hours! But it was a fun moment. I wouldn’t mind having to go through that same process again if it means another win!”



ROBIN LIDDELL, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

(Testing and outlook): “The test went really well. Obviously we got a lot of track time and running in both cars. We learned a lot and it was a good test from a team point of view. I thought it was very productive and we’re in a good spot heading into the race.

“Sebring is a technically unique challenge, as we all know. It’s not a race I’ve done a lot of times. I’ve only done it three or four times, so I know the event well but I’m not as intimate with it as I am with Daytona. It’s track where you need to get comfortable on to build a rhythm. Most people can’t just go out there and nail it straight away. Even those that are going quick and going well take a little bit of a settling in period. It’s just because of the uniqueness of it and all the little variables that go into Sebring.”

(Keys to success):“It’s a track that is quite easy to over drive. To me, the main key is getting your braking right. If you can do that, everything else pretty much falls in line. If you get your braking ever-so slightly wrong… most of the corners are short-radius. You have Turn 3, Turn 7, Turn 10, Turn 13 – most of them are exit-critical corners. If you get the entry a little wrong because you made a slight mistake under braking, you’re going to cost yourself at least a half-second. And with 17 corners, it’s very easy to lose a couple seconds even if you only make a couple errors. For me, it’s not one or two specific keys. You need to have a good, comfortable car with good high-speed balance for Turn 1 where the track is bumpiest. Then you need to have good braking and good traction for the slow, 90-degree corners where you need to get out of there effectively.”



DOUG FEHAN, CORVETTE RACING PROGRAM MANAGER

“Simply put, there’s no race in the world quite like the Sebring 12 Hours! The length of race is daunting on its own. Add to that the most unique racing surface we encounter and you have a physical and mental challenge not found anywhere in motorsport. Both car and driver are subjected to an incredible pounding for 12 relentless hours. History tells us that success at Sebring is based heavily on survival and that is why it has become one of the world's most iconic race events and a great proving ground for the 24 Hours of Le Mans."



Corvette Racing History at Sebring

Year
Class
Drivers
Result
Car
Notes

1999
GTS
Fellows/Kneifel/Paul Jr.
4th
Corvette C5-R
Fellows pole

Pilgrim/Sharp/Heinricy
7th
Corvette C5-R
Pilgrim fastest race lap

2000
GTS
Fellows/Kneifel/Bell
6th
Corvette C5-R
Fellows pole

Pilgrim/Collins/Freon
5th
Corvette C5-R

2001
GTS
Fellows/O'Connell/Kneifel
3rd
Corvette C5-R

Pilgrim/Collins/Freon
2nd
Corvette C5-R

2002
GTS
Fellows/O'Connell/Gavin
1st
Corvette C5-R
Fellows pole

Pilgrim/Collins/Freon
4th
Corvette C5-R

2003
GTS
Fellows/O'Connell/Freon
1st
Corvette C5-R

Gavin/Collins/Pilgrim
3rd
Corvette C5-R
Gavin pole

2004
GTS
Fellows/O'Connell/Papis
1st
Corvette C5-R
Fellows pole

Beretta/Gavin/Magnussen
6th
Corvette C5-R
Gavin fastest race lap

2005
GT1
Fellows/O'Connell/Papis
2nd
Corvette C6.R

Beretta/Gavin/Magnussen
3rd
Corvette C6.R

2006
GT1
Fellows/O'Connell/Papis
4th
Corvette C6.R

Beretta/Gavin/Magnussen
1st
Corvette C6.R

2007
GT1
Fellows/O'Connell/Magnussen
1st
Corvette C6.R
Magnussen pole, fastest race lap

Beretta/Gavin/Papis
2nd
Corvette C6.R

2008
GT1
Fellows/O'Connell/Magnussen
1st
Corvette C6.R

Beretta/Gavin/Papis
2nd
Corvette C6.R
Gavin fastest race lap

2009
GT1
Magnussen/O'Connell/Garcia
1st
Corvette C6.R

Beretta/Gavin/Fassler
2nd
Corvette C6.R
Gavin pole, fastest race lap

2010
GT2
Magnussen/O'Connell/Garcia
8th
Corvette C6.R

Beretta/Gavin/Collard
9th
Corvette C6.R

2011
GT
Beretta/Milner/Garcia
3rd
Corvette C6.R

Gavin/Magnussen/Westbrook
4th
Corvette C6.R

2012
GT
Magnussen/Garcia/Taylor
2nd
Corvette C6.R
Magnussen pole

Gavin/Milner/Westbrook
3rd
Corvette C6.R

2013
GT
Magnussen/Garcia/Taylor
11th
Corvette C6.R

Gavin/Milner/Westbrook
1st
Corvette C6.R

CORVETTE DPs AT SEBRING: First Time at the 12 Hours

Historic Florida circuit follows dominant showing at Rolex 24



DETROIT (March 11, 2014) – There’s a first time for everything, the old saying goes. It’s with that in mind that Corvette Daytona Prototype teams head this week to Sebring International Raceway for the second round of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship. The Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring is America’s oldest sports car race but this year marks the first time DP cars race at the historic circuit.



The inaugural season of the TUDOR Championship couldn’t have started much better for the contingent of Corvette DP teams. Action Express Racing’s No. 5 entry led a sweep of the top four positions at the Rolex 24 At Daytona to start the year. Joao Barbosa, Christian Fittipaldi and Sebastien Bourdais look to earn a double in Florida with a victory at Sebring. The competition is tough though with 18 cars in the TUDOR Championship’s Prototype class – including four other Corvette Daytona Prototypes.



Wayne Taylor Racing finished second at the Rolex 24 and stands to contend again at Sebring. Action Express’ No. 9 entry followed with Spirit of Daytona’s Corvette DP in fourth. Throw in Marsh Racing’s No. 31 entry – only the team’s second race with its Corvette DP – and you have a group capable of challenging throughout 12 hours on the rough-and-tumble Florida circuit… and giving Chevrolet its first overall Sebring victory since 1965.



“There aren’t many racing venues in the world that are as demanding on the cars, drivers and teams as Sebring,” said Mark Kent, Chevrolet’s Director of Racing. “It is a circuit full of history and Chevrolet looks forward to returning to this amazing track. Taking the top four finishing positions at the season opening Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona race was a monumental moment for Chevrolet and our Corvette Daytona Prototype program. We hope to build upon that success as the season continues with the 12 hour race at Sebring.”



The No. 5 Action Express entry set the quickest time of a two-day open test at Sebring in late February with a 1:52.480 (119.701 mph). Spirit of Daytona’s No. 90 Corvette DP was third.



There may not be two race circuits in North America that are as different as Daytona and Sebring. The former is a combination of high-banked oval and infield road course with smooth surfacing all the way around. That is in short supply around Sebring, which sits on the site of a World War II airbase – Hendricks Field. American B-17s trained there, and now the sound of thousands of horsepower fill the air around Sebring each March. Part of the circuit uses the old concrete runway, which makes up some of the roughest sections of racing surface anywhere in the world. It’s part of what makes Sebring physically the toughest venue in endurance racing.



"There are many unknowns ahead of this race for our Corvette Daytona Prototypes in their 2014 configurations," said Jim Lutz, Chevrolet’s Program Manager for Corvette Daytona Prototypes. "Even that will change with the recent IMSA adjustment of performance - revisions to our downforce package and air restrictor. Our knowledge base for Sebring is limited to the two IMSA test days in February, so there is little to no prior experience of running these cars around the toughest circuit on our schedule. Our competitors running P2 machinery have an advantage in that those cars have run in the 12 Hours numerous times before.



"This race is half as long as Daytona but in many ways it’s twice as difficult on both the teams and equipment," he added. "Reliability will be key, as will getting through and around traffic with nearly 70 cars over an erratic and bumpy surface.”



Camaro Z/28.R Set to Make Sebring Debut

Chevrolet’s newest version of the Camaro also makes its Sebring debut this week. The Z/28.R made its first race start in January at Daytona International Speedway and has undergone additional testing and development since.



Both Stevenson Motorsports and CKS Autosport are fielding the new Camaro Z/28.R in the car’s debut season. For Stevenson, Robin Liddell and Andrew Davis drive the No. 6 Camaro with Andy Lally and Matt Bell in the No. 9. In the CKS camp, Eric Curran and Lawson Aschenbach partner in the No. 01 with Ashley McCalmont and Bob Michaelian sharing in the No. 00.



A GS-class victory at Sebring would be historic on a number of levels. In addition to the first win for the Z/28.R, it would be the first at Sebring for the Camaro brand since 1990 in the IMSA Firehawk Series. In fact, the Firehawk championship was the first street-stock series to race at Sebring in 1985 – a six-hour race won by a Camaro.



“The Daytona weekend was a beneficial one,” said Lisa Talarico, Chevrolet’s Program Manager for the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge. “The time between then and now has been equally important with continuing development. Sebring is a difficult challenge on its own. We are confident, along with our partner teams, that the Camaro Z/28.R program will continue showing progress and competitive results.”



2014 Corvette DP Lineup – TUDOR Championship – Sebring

Car No.
Team
Drivers
Owner

5
Action Express Racing
Joao Barbosa/Christian Fittipaldi/Sebastien Bourdais
Bob Johnson

9
Action Express Racing
Brian Frisselle/Burt Frisselle/Jon Fogarty
Bob Johnson

10
Wayne Taylor Racing
Jordan Taylor/Ricky Taylor/Max Angelelli
Wayne Taylor

31
Marsh Racing
Eric Curran/Boris Said/Guy Cosmo
Ted Marsh

90
Spirit of Daytona
Richard Westbrook/Michael Valiante/Mike Rockenfeller
Troy Flis




TUDOR Championship – Prototype Standings

Driver Standings
Team Standings
Engine Manufacturer Standings

1. Joao Barbosa/Sebastien Bourdais/Christian Fittipaldi – 36

2. Max Angelelli/Jordan Taylor/Ricky Taylor/Wayne Taylor – 33

3. Brian Frisselle/Burt Frisselle/Fabien Giroix/John Martin – 31

4. Mike Rockenfeller/Michael Valiante/Richard Westbrook - 29

5. Alex Brundle/Klaus Graf/Lucas Luhr – 27

10. Eric Curran/Max Papis/Boris Said/Bradley Smith – 22

18. Memo Gidley/Alex Gurney – 14

20. Jon Fogarty/Darren Law – 1
1. No. 5 Action Express Racing – 36

2. No. 10 Wayne Taylor Racing – 33

3. No. 9 Action Express Racing – 31

4. No. 90 Spirit of Daytona – 29

5. No. 6 Muscle Milk Pickett Racing – 27

10. Marsh Racing - 22
1. Chevrolet – 35

2. Nissan – 32

3. Honda – 30

4. Ford – 28

5. Mazda – 26




Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring (all times ET)

· TUDOR Championship Practice 1: 9:55 a.m., Thursday, March 13

· TUDOR Championship Practice 2: 4:05 p.m., Thursday, March 13

· TUDOR Championship Practice 3: 8 p.m., Thursday, March 13

· TUDOR Championship Practice 4: 9:55 a.m., Friday, March 14

· GTLM Qualifying: 4:30 p.m., Friday, March 14

· TUDOR Championship Warmup: 8 a.m., Saturday, March 15

· Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring: 10:15 a.m., Saturday, March 15



Sebring: Watch It!

Saturday, March 15

· 10 a.m.-1 p.m. ET (FOX Sports 1)

· 1-10:30 p.m. ET (IMSA.com)

Sunday, March 16

· 8:30 a.m. (FOX Sports 1-Highlights)



2014 Camaro Z/28.R Lineup – Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge – Sebring

Car No.
Team
Drivers
Owner

00
CKS Autosport
Ashley McCalmont/Bob Michaelian
Kirk Spencer

01
CKS Autosport
Eric Curran/Lawson Aschenbach
Kirk Spencer

6
Stevenson Motorsports
Robin Liddell/Andrew Davis
John Stevenson

9
Stevenson Motorsports
Andy Lally/Matt Bell
John Stevenson




Continental Tire Sports Car Championship – GS Standings

Driver Standings
Team Standings
Manufacturer Standings

1. Shelby Blackstock/Ashley Freiberg – 35

2. John Edwards/Trent Hindman – 32

3. Tom Kimber-Smith/Michael Marsal – 30

4. Kaz Grala/Hugh Plumb - 28

5. James Davison/Joel Janco – 26

11. Lawson Aschenbach/Eric Curran – 20

23. Matt Bell/Andy Lally – 8

24. Andrew Davis/Robin Liddell – 7

25. Ashley McCalmont – 6

32. Bob Michaelian - 0
1. No. 48 Fall-Line Motorsports – 35

2. No. 46 Fall-Line Motorsports – 32

3. No. 97 Turner Motorsports – 30

4. No. 3 Rum Bum Racing– 28

5. No. 9 TRG-AMR North America – 26

11. No. 01 CKS Autorsport – 20

23. No. 9 Stevenson Motorsports – 8

24. No. 6 Stevenson Motorsports – 7

25. No. 00 CKS Autosport – 6
1. BMW – 36

2. Porsche – 32

3. Ford – 30

4. Chevrolet – 28

5. Nissan – 26




Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge at Sebring (all times ET)

· CTSCC Practice 1: 11:20 a.m., Wednesday, March 12

· CTSCC Practice 2: 5:20 p.m., Wednesday, March 12

· GS Qualifying: 1:20 p.m., Thursday, March 13

· Race: 1 p.m., Friday, March 14


Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge at Daytona: Watch It!

Friday, March 14

· 1 p.m. ET (IMSA.com)

Wednesday, March 19

· 1 p.m. ET (Fox Sports 1)

Sunday, March 23

· 7:30 p.m. ET (Fox Sports 2)

62nd Annual 12 Hours of Sebring
March 12-15, 2014

Television Broadcast:

Saturday, March 15
TV Coverage
10:00 AM-01:00 PM EST on FOX Sports 1......yep, only 3 hours TV coverage

Online Coverage
01:00 PM EST IMSA.com (includes live images, in-car cameras and announcers)
http://www.imsa.com/

LIVE TIMING:
http://scoring.imsa.com/sportscar-challenge/

Radio:
SiriusXM 90, 117

PIT NOTES:
http://www.imsa.com/races/62nd-annual ... ring-fueled-fresh-florida

http://twitter.com/ @CorvetteRacing, @UnitedSportsCar, @IMSA, @IMSAlive, @DISupdates, @Rolex24Hours

TICKET INFO: (note Corral sold out)
http://www.sebringraceway.com/sebring ... -tickets/category?path=34

Event Schedule:
http://store.alms.com/sites/default/f ... le%20Sebring%20011714.pdf

Spotters Guide:
http://www.spotterguides.com/

Entry List:
http://www.imsa.com/sites/default/fil ... ring%20Entry%20List_0.pdf

Track Map:

http://www.sebringraceway.com/fan-info/track-map

WEATHER:
http://www.weather.com/weather/today/USFL0451:1

Hotels:
http://www.visithighlandscounty.com/destinations/?cat=10

Corvette Corral:
https://scontent-b-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hp ... 31077013_1363700901_n.jpg

CORVETTE RACING AT LE MANS: Entries Confirmed

Corvette C7.Rs head to Europe for debut in annual French endurance classic



DETROIT (Feb. 14, 2014) – The most demanding auto race in the world again will have a distinctive American flavor with the returns of Corvette Racing to the 24 Hours of Le Mans. For its 15th consecutive appearance in the French classic, Corvette Racing will be armed with the Chevrolet Corvette C7.R. Two of the new GT challengers were accepted to race at Le Mans in the GTE Pro class.



The goal of the two Corvette C7.Rs, numbered 73 and 74 for Le Mans, is to give Chevrolet and Corvette Racing an eighth class victory in the 24 Hours since 2001.



"It is always an honor to earn an invitation to race at Le Mans," said Mark Kent, Chevrolet's Director of Racing. "It is one of the most important races in the world for Chevrolet and is the ultimate proving ground for the technology that goes into our production line. The Corvette C7.R and 2015 Corvette Z06 are perfect examples of that automotive evolution and are the benefactors of Corvette Racing's previous success at Le Mans."



Antonio Garcia, Jan Magnussen and Jordan Taylor will drive the No. 73 Corvette with Oliver Gavin, Tommy Milner and Richard Westbrook in the No. 74 C7.R. The pairings mirror Corvette Racing’s lineup the last two years at Le Mans. Garcia, Magnussen, Gavin and Milner all have won the race in a Corvette.



Hopes are high for the return to Le Mans with the Corvette C7.R. The car’s aluminum frame – the same as on the 2015 Corvette Z06 – provides an increased level of stability and control compared to the Corvette C6.R. The C7.R’s engine features direct injection for greater fuel economy and throttle response – key at a race as lengthy as Le Mans. The car’s aero package is the most aggressive found on a racing Corvette.



Corvette Racing first came to Le Mans in 2000 and has returned each year with a two-car effort. The first class victory came in 2001 with the Corvette C5-R GT1 entry of Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell and Franck Freon. Corvette Racing won again the next year and ran off three straight victories from 2004-06. The team’s GT1 era ended in 2009 with a sixth victory and another in 2011 in GTE Pro.



"Competing at Le Mans year after year is special," said Doug Fehan, Corvette Racing Program Manager. "It's always fantastic to see the European Corvette fans who are always incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about Corvette Racing. We're all thrilled to race the Corvette C7.R there for the first time and are optimistic to return to the top of the podium for the eighth time."



Prior to Le Mans, Corvette Racing will contest three races in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship. The next round of the TUDOR Championship is the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring on Saturday, March 15 at Sebring International Raceway.



EDITORS: High-resolution images of Corvette Racing are available on the Team Chevy media site for editorial use only.



Corvette Racing 24 Hours of Le Mans Record

Year
Finish
Class
Car
Drivers

2000
3rd
GTS
Corvette C5-R
Pilgrim/Collins/Freon


4th
GTS
Corvette C5-R
Fellows/Kneifel/Bell

2001
1st
GTS
Corvette C5-R
Fellows/O’Connell/Pruett


2nd
GTS
Corvette C5-R
Pilgrim/Collins/Freon

2002
1st
GTS
Corvette C5-R
Fellows/O’Connell/Gavin


2nd
GTS
Corvette C5-R
Pilgrim/Collins/Freon

2003
2nd
GTS
Corvette C5-R
Gavin/Collins/Pilgrim


3rd
GTS
Corvette C5-R
Fellows/O’Connell/Freon

2004
1st
GTS
Corvette C5-R
Gavin/Beretta/Magnussen


2nd
GTS
Corvette C5-R
Fellows/O’Connell/Papis

2005
1st
GT1
Corvette C6.R
Beretta/Gavin/Magnussen


2nd
GT1
Corvette C6.R
Fellows/O’Connell/Papis

2006
1st
GT1
Corvette C6.R
Beretta/Gavin/Magnussen


7th
GT1
Corvette C6.R
Fellows/O’Connell/Papis

2007
2nd
GT1
Corvette C6.R
Fellows/O’Connell/Magnussen


14th
GT1
Corvette C6.R
Beretta/Gavin/Papis

2008
2nd
GT1
Corvette C6.R
Fellows/O’Connell/Magnussen


3rd
GT1
Corvette C6.R
Beretta/Gavin/Papis

2009
1st
GT1
Corvette C6.R
O'Connell/Magnussen/Garcia


4th
GT1
Corvette C6.R
Gavin/Beretta/Fassler

2010
10th (DNF)
GT2
Corvette C6.R
Gavin/Beretta/Collard


12th (DNF)
GT2
Corvette C6.R
O'Connell/Magnussen/Garcia

2011
1st
GTE Pro
Corvette C6.R
Beretta/Milner/Garcia


14th (DNF)
GTE Pro
Corvette C6.R
Gavin/Magnussen/Westbrook

2012
5th
GTE Pro
Corvette C6.R
Garcia/Magnussen/Taylor


6th
GTE Pro
Corvette C6.R
Gavin/Milner/Westbrook

2013
4th
GTE Pro
Corvette C6.R
Garcia/Magnussen/Taylor


7th
GTE Pro
Corvette C6.R
Gavin/Milner/Westbrook

Totals
7 wins
14 starts

From Dave Tatman on retiring:



Yes, you read that subject line correctly! *big grin*

After 34 years with General Motors, I have decided to retire from GM, effective the first of March. I have been considering a move of this magnitude for a while, and I felt that after the incredibly successful launch of the iconic new C7 Corvette Stingray, this seemed like a good time. Kinda like retiring after a Super Bowl Championship, you know? LOL!

GM has been a terrific and important part of my life for a long time; however, Barbie and I are keenly aware that God has other plans for us. I certainly don't think that I am done working, but time will tell how my skills and experiences will play into the next chapter of my life. I see this as the opportunity to make the change that had been on our minds and hearts for some time.

Barbie and I certainly plan to continue our involvement in the great community of Bowling Green, and heaven knows there are plenty of chores around our horse farm to keep me busy until the next adventure comes along! I look forward to continuing my relationship with the National Corvette Museum, the BGA Corvette Club, and the Corvette community in whatever ways I can be of service.

Please feel free to share this news with others. I am grateful for our friendship and I look forward to the many adventures yet to come!

Circle City Corvettes, Inc. is having it's annual Corvette Beach Caravan, May 15-17, 2014. There will be a Corvette caravan from Dothan, AL. to Panama City Beach, FL., and we are going to party!

Meet the special guests such as the C7 Stingray, Kirk Bennion, Exterior Design Manager, Corvette Plant Engineers Steve Grilli & Eric Millette, and the NCM, and attend their seminars. Enter the Car Show, Golf tournament or just relax on the beach. We will have door prizes, parties, Car Show, and a live Corvette Memorabilia auction to benefit the National Corvette Museum. Come join us for some fun and excitement at the beach! For information contact John Hickman at 334-347-5908 or jehickman@roadrunner.com Check out the website for more information on agenda and hotels: http://www.circlecitycorvettes.com/beach/beach.html

CORVETTE RACING AT DAYTONA: Promising Showing in C7.R Debut

New Chevrolet GT race cars display competitive balance in 2014 opener



DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 26, 2014) – In its return to the Rolex 24 At Daytona, Corvette Racing experienced the highs and lows of the twice-around-the-clock endurance classic. In their competitive debut, both of the team’s Chevrolet Corvette C7.Rs led the opening round of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship. The new racing Corvette showed promise with impressive speed and economy ahead of its full-season campaign in North America’s new sports car racing championship.



The No. 4 Corvette C7.R of Oliver Gavin, Tommy Milner and Robin Liddell led the Corvette Racing effort placed a disappointing fifth in the GT Le Mans class following a problem with the car’s gearbox with less than three hours to go. Milner, running second at the time, was chasing the eventual race-winning car when the Corvette’s gearbox temperature rose dramatically. Milner went directly to the garage where the team diagnosed the problem as a transmission bearing failure. The Corvette Racing crew switched out the gearbox in 30 minutes and sent Milner back to the race.



Antonio Garcia, Jan Magnussen and Ryan Briscoe each had impressive drives to take the No. 3 Corvette C7.R from the rear of the grid at the start to the class lead at the six-and-a-half hour mark. The balance and stability of the Corvette was evident in the track’s infield section and allowed all three drivers to cut through slower traffic. Unfortunately the engine began to overheat during Garcia’s stint near the halfway mark. He handed over to Briscoe, who was called first to the pits then to the garage on more than one occasion to try and solve the cooling problem – a task that ultimately proved unsuccessful.



“This is an example of how difficult the Rolex 24 can be,” said Mark Kent, Chevrolet’s Director of Racing. “On one hand, we are very encouraged with the initial showing of the new Chevrolet Corvette C7.R. The promise the car displayed was evident on both the No. 3 and No. 4 side. Unfortunately these things happen in a race as long and grueling as this one. Hats off to the efforts by everyone at Corvette Racing and Team Chevy for their efforts. We will examine these issues, find the root causes and resolve them prior to the next race at Sebring.”



The next round of the TUDOR Championship is the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring on Saturday, March 15



EDITORS: High-resolution images of Corvette Racing are available on the Team Chevy media site for editorial use only.



ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

"I had quite a good couple of stints. Luckily both the yellows came two-thirds or three-quarters into each of the stints so it wasn’t easy to make decisions on pit strategies and tires. We just did fuel on the first one and chose just right-side tires and fuel on the second one. I got out again with no problem. The Porsche had four tires so he had an advantage. In the end, I was having some issues with some sudden oversteering. I thought there was oil on the track but it was me that was leaking water from the engine so I spun on my own water. It got worse and worse and we decided to stop to check everything.”



JAN MAGNUSSEN, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

"This definitely wasn't the result everyone was looking for. All in all, the car was quite fast. We weren't the fastest car out there but a podium was definitely in the cards. I feel really sorry for all the guys who worked so hard to get us here. We will come back to Sebring stronger. For me the opening stint was about me staying out of trouble and trying to make up as much of the ground as possible. I really thought I would get by all the GT Daytona cars and then have a big gap up to the GTLM cars but it wasn't that big when I finally came through. I thought I needed a safety car to bunch everyone up but we were right there at the end of my first double-stint. After that, we all had a good couple of stints to get into the lead. It all went downhill from there, unfortunately. It's a new car with a ton of potential. We are just scratching the surface. It already is a great car. We just need to iron out the bugs."



RYAN BRISCOE, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

"I was having a great time driving the Corvette C7.R The car was really good to drive. It was the best-handling car as far as I could see. We were really good and really strong, and we were definitely contenders until we started having some overheating issues. It was a real honor to be part of Corvette Racing for the first time. I'm looking forward to more."



OLIVER GAVIN, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

“It was great to finally race the Corvette C7.R. I really enjoyed my stints in the car and racing against the competition in our class. It was building up to a really grandstanding finish between us, the Porsche and the BMW. Unfortunately both Corvette Racing and the fans were robbed of that due to our transmission problem. But that is the nature of endurance racing. The C7.R is a brand new race car, and for it to go 22.5 hours with a major problem is a real testament to the team, Chevrolet and Pratt & Miler. Kudos to the Corvette Racing team for working as hard as they did to get the gearbox changed; it was a massive effort by everyone involved. So while the result is frustrating, I can’t thank everyone enough for all they gave this weekend.”



TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

"I got warnings on the dash coming out of NASCAR Turn 4 that the gearbox was hot. Then it got real hot real fast. As I worked down the gears at Turn 1, it was very rough-sounding at the back of the car and was getting worse. The car was running OK. I could still go very quick. I did about half a lap. But when I got to Turn 6, there was a lot of smoke out of the back of the car so I pulled down to the inside."



ROBIN LIDDELL, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

“Your expectations change in a race like this depending on how you’re doing. When you’re in a position suddenly with three hours to go and the potential to win it, suddenly your expectations ramp right up. Then when something happens, you feel like you’ve been robbed. But stepping back from that, overall we had a pretty good showing with a brand new car. It was a particularly hard race with the lack of class disparity between the speeds of the classes. In the end, the car performed very well. It’s clearly a contender. Once the season gets under way and everything settles down, it will all start to come together. I’m really happy to be part of this team and be part of this first race.”



DOUG FEHAN, CORVETTE RACING PROGRAM MANAGER

“Our return to the Rolex 24 At Daytona proved once again that Corvette Racing never gives up. It was a phenomenal effort by the drivers and crews of both the No. 3 and No. 4 Corvette C7.Rs to get both cars to the front under difficult circumstances. The potential of the C7.R package is clear. As we witnessed today, Daytona gives so much but can just as easily take it away. The results maybe not be what we wanted but, the excitement we generated today will be carried right over to Sebring!"

CORVETTE RACING AT DAYTONA: Mixed Bag in First Qualifying for Corvette C7.R

Gavin fourth in GTLM order; electrical issue sidelines No. 3 Corvette



DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 23, 2014) – Corvette Racing’s first qualifying session with the Chevrolet Corvette C7.R proved to be a bit of a mixed bag at Daytona International Speedway. Oliver Gavin qualified the No. 4 Corvette C7.R fourth in the GT Le Mans class for the 52nd Rolex 24 At Daytona – the opening round of the new TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.



The Briton turned a best lap of 1:44.729 (122.373 mph) in the Corvette C7.R he will share with Tommy Milner and Robin Liddell for the twice-around-the-clock endurance classic. Gavin was only 0.223 seconds off Marc Goossen’s pole-winning pace with the top five cars within 0.240 seconds.



“It’s very good,” Gavin said. “We’re there and only a couple tenths of pole. I’m pretty happy with that. We’re obviously right at the beginning of the development curve of this car so that’s pretty awesome. We know we have a lot more to come.”



Fortunes were not as good in the No. 3 camp. With Jan Magnussen set to qualify the car, his Corvette developed an electrical and throttle issue that sidelined the Dane’s qualifying run. It was doubly disappointing after Antonio Garcia, Magnussen’s teammate along with Ryan Briscoe, set the class’s fastest time in the morning practice.



This year’s Rolex 24 is Corvette Racing’s return to Daytona after winning the race overall in 2001 with a Corvette C5-R. The event also served as the team’s debut race in 1999. The new Corvette C7.R carries on the strong heritage of racing Corvettes – including the C6.R that swept the American Le Mans Series’ GT championships in 2012 and 2013 – with a stronger and lighter aluminum frame that matches the one available in the 2015 Corvette Z06 production car.



The C7.R also has a direct-injected V8 engine and the most aggressive aero package developed for a racing Corvette.



Television coverage of the Rolex 24 At Daytona will be available on the FOX family of channels, starting with the FOX network’s two-hour broadcast at 2 p.m. The race also will air on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2, along with overnight streaming video at imsa.com.



The TUDOR Championship is the result of a merger between the ALMS and GRAND-AM’s Rolex Sports Car Series. Corvette Racing will compete in 11 races around North America plus the 24 Hours of Le Mans.



EDITORS: High-resolution images of Corvette Racing are available on the Team Chevy media site for editorial use only.



JAN MAGNUSSEN, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

“Obviously starting down the order like this changes things a little. It’s still a long, long race but it’s a shame that we didn’t get to have a proper qualifying session and place ourselves on the grid where we deserve to be. I’m not sure of the problem but it was big enough that we couldn’t qualify. We will attack the race from where we start and see what that gets us. It’s not the end of all things, but it’s not optimal either. We can come back from this, I’m sure. We will have to work a little bit harder.”



OLIVER GAVIN, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

“I was pretty fortunate that I managed to get a tow from Patrick Long (in a Porsche) on my fastest lap which gave us a tenth of a second. Our car was very strong in the infield section and felt very good. The Michelin tires worked pretty well in the conditions. It was great to get out there and get the first qualifying session done. Where we qualify today has very little impact on how the race will go Saturday and Sunday. Unfortunately we didn’t get that first session due to an electrical problem. Had we gotten that session, could we have gotten a bit closer? Most probably. But it comes down again to a new car and getting everything dialed in. We found that particular problem and it won’t happen again. But it’s interesting times. I’m pleased to be as close as we are.”



DOUG FEHAN, CORVETTE RACING PROGRAM MANAGER

"It was a great day for Chevrolet and Corvette Racing as the Chevrolet Corvette C7.R continued to show tremendous competitive potential - evidenced by Oliver Gavin’s very respectable qualifying time in the No. 4 car. With the top five cars within 0.240 seconds, it shows just how close this GT Le Mans class continues to be. Unfortunately, we did have an electrical issue on the No. 3 Corvette, and it was unable to qualify despite having run very strong in the morning and afternoon practice sessions. Rest assured, the Corvette Racing team will diagnose the issue, learn from it and be ready to go for what promises to be a thrilling race.”



Rolex 24 At Daytona (all times ET)

· Practice 4: 11:30 a.m., Friday, Jan. 24

· Race: 2:10 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 25



Rolex 24: Watch It!

Saturday, Jan. 25

· 2-4 p.m. ET (FOX)

· 4-9 p.m. ET (FOX Sports 2)

Overnight (Jan. 25-26)

· 9 p.m.-7 a.m. ET (IMSA.com)

Sunday, Jan. 26

· 7 a.m.-3 p.m. (FOX Sports 1)



Corvette Racing History at Daytona

Year
Class
Drivers
Result
Car
Notes

1999
GT2
Fellows/Kneifel/Paul Jr.
3rd
Corvette C5-R

Pilgrim/Collins/Sharp
12th
Corvette C5-R

2000
GTS
Fellows/Kneifel/Bell
2nd
Corvette C5-R

Pilgrim/Collins/Freon
10th
Corvette C5-R

2001
GTS
Fellows/O’Connell/Kneifel/Freon
1st
Corvette C5-R
Overall win

Collins/Pilgrim/Earnhardt/Earnhardt Jr.
2nd
Corvette C5-R

CORVETTE RACING AT DAYTONA: Back to Where It All Started

New Chevrolet Corvette C7.Rs to race for first time in TUDOR Championship opener



DETROIT (Jan. 21, 2014) – Fifteen years ago, Corvette Racing stepped onto the world’s sports car stage for the first time. Thirteen years ago, it scored a stunning overall victory in the Rolex 24 At Daytona. Now with 90 victories around the world – seven at the 24 Hours of Le Mans – and 10 American Le Mans Series titles, America’s premier production-based sports car team is back at Daytona with a brand new car to contend for a brand new championship.



The 52nd running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona will see the competitive debut of the new Chevrolet Corvette C7.R in the new TUDOR United SportsCar Championship. After several months in black-and-white camouflage, Daytona is the first time the two Corvettes will run in the familiar Corvette Racing velocity yellow. Both cars tested at Daytona as part of the Roar Before the 24 earlier in the month. Oliver Gavin in the No. 4 car was the second-fastest driver in the GT Le Mans class, followed closely by Jan Magnussen in the No. 3 Corvette.



Magnussen and Antonio Garcia won the American Le Mans Series’ GT driver’s championship in 2013 with three victories. Gavin and Tommy Milner placed third in the final year of the ALMS before it merged with the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series to create the TUDOR Championship. At Daytona, Ryan Briscoe will join Garcia and Magnussen while Robin Liddell partners with Gavin and Milner.



“Corvette sets the standard for Chevrolet regarding technical transfer between racing and production,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet Vice President, Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “The learnings from the race track have helped us design and engineer the new Corvette Z06 for the street and the new C7.R for the track. We are excited to debut the Corvette C7.R at the Rolex 24 At Daytona and race it all season long in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship’s GTLM class.



“In the 2001 24 Hours at Daytona, the #2 Corvette C5-R won its class and the overall race with drivers Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell, Chris Kneifel and Franck Freon,” Campbell added. “That history makes returning to the 2014 24 Hours at Daytona with the new Corvette C7.R in the GTLM class extra special. In addition, it will be great to have Corvette DP teams competing for the third consecutive year at Daytona in the Prototype class. We can’t wait to see the Corvette owners and supporters at the track.”



In 1999, Corvette Racing made its debut at Daytona with a pair of Corvette C5-Rs. The team placed second overall a year later and won the event in 2001. Times – and technology – have changed since then. The C7.R shares an unprecedented level of attributes with the Z06 – most notably chassis structure, direct injection on the engine front and aerodynamics.



Both the C7.R and Z06 share the same production-based aluminum frame, both of which are built at Corvette’s assembly plant in Bowling Green, Ky. The chassis is 40 percent stronger than on the outgoing Corvette C6.R, which results in better handling and stability at high speeds.

Direct injection also returns to a racing Corvette for the first time since the GT1 era that ended in 2009. There are two main gains to be expected. One is better throttle control and response from the engine under power. The other is a gain in fuel efficiency – up to a 3 percent improvement on the C6.R. Those savings have the potential to add up in a race as long as the Rolex 24.



From an aerodynamic standpoint, the package on the C7.R is the most aggressive in the Corvette Racing era. Some of the features carried over from the C6.R to the 2014 Corvette Stingray production car including forward-tilted radiator, functional hood and front-quarter panel vents, and rear transmission and differential cooling intakes. From there, engineers improved the aero details on the C7.R and Z06 with similar front splitters, rocker panels, and front- and rear-brake cooling ducts.



All those factors and other improvements from the C6.R give Corvette Racing an excellent chance to get the C7.R era started on the right foot… err, wheel.



"This is a great start for a new era of Corvette Racing," said Mark Kent, Director of Racing for Chevrolet. "The Corvette C7.R represents new levels of technology in a number of areas that improve on the championship-winning legacy of the C6.R. It has been fascinating watching the development of the car over the last few months and we all are excited to finally see it in competition."



Television coverage of the Rolex 24 At Daytona will be available on the FOX family of channels, starting with the FOX network’s two-hour broadcast at 2 p.m. The race also will air on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2, along with overnight streaming video at imsa.com.



The TUDOR Championship is the result of a merger between the ALMS and GRAND-AM’s Rolex Sports Car Series. Corvette Racing will compete in 11 races around North America plus the 24 Hours of Le Mans.



· Fans at Daytona can check out a number of new Chevy vehicles throughout the weekend at the Chevrolet Display located in the infield at Daytona International Speedway. Production vehicles on-hand include the Cruze, Malibu, Camaro, Traverse, Silverado Crew and Corvette Stingray convertible.


Spectators also can see a Corvette C7.R showcar and the 2015 Corvette Z06. The display opens at 9 a.m. Friday, and 8 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.



EDITORS: High-resolution images of Corvette Racing are available on the Team Chevy media site for editorial use only.



Rolex 24 At Daytona (all times ET)

· Practice 1: 9:30 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 23

· Corvette C7.R Technical Briefing: 12:15 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 23 (Track Meeting Room)

· Practice 2: 1:15 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 23

· GTLM Qualifying: 4:05 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 23

· Practice 3: 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 23

· Practice 4: 11:30 a.m., Friday, Jan. 24

· Race: 2:10 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 25



Rolex 24: Watch It!

Saturday, Jan. 25

· 2-4 p.m. ET (FOX)

· 4-9 p.m. ET (FOX Sports 2)

Overnight, Jan. 25-26

· 9 p.m.-7 a.m. ET (IMSA.com)

Sunday, Jan. 26

· 7 a.m.-3 p.m. (FOX Sports 1)



ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

“The Daytona test is always very important because the race week is very short. Everything needs to be very sorted from the test days. We got to know a little bit more about it and know what we might need for the race. The important thing is that we came out of the test knowing what we need and what we can expect for the test. We have a clear idea of what we need to compete during the race. So far things look very good and I think we are headed in the right direction for the race. With the schedule and amount of time on the track, the car you unload for the race is pretty much what you will end up racing. There is no time to change a lot at that point.”

On traffic: “Out of the test, we know the car handled very well to allow us to go around other cars. Now the question mark is how fast the GT Daytona cars will be on the straights. With the amount of GTD cars there are – and knowing they were faster than us on the straights – it will be extremely challenging because not only of the differences in the cars but also because the differences in drivers in those cars. That puts you in a situation where you really need to dive into the braking zone and brake later compared to when you normally would. That is my biggest concern.”


JAN MAGNUSSEN, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

“We had a really productive test. We went through a lot of stuff in the new car and a lot of stuff we needed to try out and get direction on. All three drivers in the car felt very comfortable. We need to get to race week – through qualifying really – to know exactly where we stack up against everyone. But the feeling is that we have a fast car and one that we can use to fight with the rest of the field. We won’t know for sure until everyone lets go.”

Importance of handling: “For sure in the race when we are coming up on slower traffic or being passed by prototypes, having a comfortable car that you can pick and choose your lines without getting yourself into trouble is very important for such a long race. It felt like at the test that there was room to maneuver our car. There is only one fast line but you can get outside of that a little bit without being in big trouble. Let’s face it… in the race we will be driving off-line all the time!”



RYAN BRISCOE, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

“I was really happy with how the test went and my comfort level in the car. We all seemed to click right away, and that’s what you want. You have to work together and have happy compromises. But to be honest, it didn’t feel like there was a lot of compromise because things went so well.”

Where to make gains: “It’s hard to know how well we stack up against the rest in terms of infield performance. But you need to have a car that’s good in there with all the different classes. We’re actually the slowest ones on the straights just because of how the rules are set. So all the passing has to be done through the infield and through the brake zones. You have to be confident to make those moves and do them safely. Throughout the test I felt like we have a car that gave us a lot of confidence to do just that. One of the main things will be keeping an eye on the temperatures and how long we can take the tires – whether we double-stint them or not. But we have different compounds of tires from Michelin and have those to play with as the temperatures change. That will be one of the most important things to watch for performance.”



OLIVER GAVIN, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

“I’m quietly confident that we have ourselves in a pretty good spot. We have to temper that with the fact that this is the Daytona 24 Hours. Experience tells you that when you enter a race with a brand new car, it’s a bit of a voyage of discovery. Regardless of how much testing you’ve done, things are going to come up or there will be conditions that you can only simulate in the race. The team is quietly confident but this track can be very mechanically hard on the car. “

On the track: “Daytona is a lot of braking and accelerating and going up and down the gearbox. When you look at the circuit layout, it really is a lot of high-speed, flat-out work with some heavy braking and slow corners mixed in. Tire temperature will be at a premium, especially if it’s cooler like on the test days. The long straights won’t help that at all. It’s going to be a big, big challenge. But that’s one of the great things about motor racing and the Daytona 24 Hours. It’s a mighty challenge, and the guys at Corvette Racing are ready to face it head-on.”



TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

“Going into the Daytona test, I was optimistic that the car would be competitive, reliable and not have many issues. I was a little surprised at the relative pace compared to our competitors. Time will tell there but it’s in the race where it matters. The new Corvette was quick, consistent and good drive. We made little tweaks between the test at Sebring and Daytona with driver comfort issues and some setup directions. While we don’t have any data of running the C6.R, the step up to the C7.R is pretty significant in my eyes. It’s a more refined car and one that’s easier to drive right at the edge. Everyone came away from the Roar pretty happy and excited for the race.”

Daytona factors: “Daytona certainly is a special race. You prepare for it differently than a shorter race because it’s one of the biggest events in the U.S. I’ve done the Rolex 24 the last two years but this time it’s totally different. It’s a new car in a new series with plenty of other differences. The traffic will be a major part of the race for a lot of people. It won’t be all outright speed but how you’re able to navigate traffic compared to your competitors. The drivability factor of car plays into our hands and makes us feel a lot more comfortable. Because it’s a 24-hour race, you’re not going to make any wild moves. But if you have confidence in your car, you can put it in places where you normally wouldn’t if you didn’t have that confidence.”



ROBIN LIDDELL, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

“I came away from Daytona a lot more comfortable and confident. I felt like I knew the car better and could play with it on the edge, which I hadn’t been able to do at Sebring (in December) because of the comfort factor. We won’t really know where we are pace-wise until we get in the race. But I think everyone is quietly confident that the car has good pace and that it was reasonably comfortable to drive in the sense of it not being too much on the ragged edge. I think the car should be a good one for 24 hours in terms of it being reasonably benign and good on the infield but also good at the Bus Stop and not on a knife-edge everywhere.”

Key to success: “What you need for a 24-hour race is a drivable car. If you have one that’s comfortable, it means you can drive off line to go around people and maintain traction off the corner, brake on a dirty line and move offline to change direction. The more on the edge a car is, the greater the likelihood a driver can and will make a mistake. You need a car that minimizes that possibility but is still reasonably quick. I think we’re in a good spot in that regard.”



DOUG FEHAN, CORVETTE RACING PROGRAM MANAGER

“It’s great to be heading back to Daytona. Our overall victory in the 2001 race was certainly one of our greatest achievements, and returning brings back some inspiring memories. But I can assure you that the focus of everyone at Corvette Racing is on the here and now. On its own, the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona is a tremendous challenge... add to that the introduction of the brand new C7.R Corvette race car and you have the makings for yet another storybook finish at America's most iconic raceway. After an offseason of comprehensive testing, I can assure you the Corvette engineers, crew and drivers are all ready to rock the Rolex!"



Corvette Racing History at Daytona

Year
Class
Drivers
Result
Car
Notes

1999
GT2
Fellows/Kneifel/Paul Jr.
3rd
Corvette C5-R

Pilgrim/Collins/Sharp
12th
Corvette C5-R

2000
GTS
Fellows/Kneifel/Bell
2nd
Corvette C5-R

Pilgrim/Collins/Freon
10th
Corvette C5-R

2001
GTS
Fellows/O’Connell/Kneifel/Freon
1st
Corvette C5-R
Overall win

Collins/Pilgrim/Earnhardt/Earnhardt Jr.
2nd
Corvette C5-R




Connect with Corvette Racing and Team Chevy on social media. Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TeamChevy, follow us on Twitter @CorvetteRacing and @TeamChevy, and add +TeamChevy into your Google+ circles.


About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than 4.5 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature spirited performance, expressive design, and high quality. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

The race will be streaming live on IMSA.com under the multimedia tab and IMSA TV, And you will be able to listen to the MRN radio broadcast live as well. At least IMSA is letting the all of us in the US watch it online unlike ALMS. The question is whether the IMSA website can handle us all. But I agree, I wish it was shown on TV 24 hours. My couch is much softer than my hard computer chair.

Video links didn't work. Here are the right ones:

Chevrolet Corvette C7.R - Build and Development - YouTube

http://www.youtube.com:80/watch?v=B_4pYm7ZMG4


Corvette Racing's Doug Fehan on the Introduction of the C7.R at NAIAS - YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6-qbHZbwVE

Rolex 24 at Daytona
January 24-26, 2014


Television Broadcast:

Saturday, Jan. 25
2-4 p.m. EST on FOX
4-9 p.m. EST on FOX Sports 2

Overnight (Jan. 25-26)
9 p.m. – 7 a.m. EST on IMSA.com (includes live images, in-car cameras and announcers)

Sunday, Jan. 26
7 a.m. – 3 p.m. EST on FOX Sports 1


LIVE TIMING: IMSA feed:
http://scoring.imsa.com/sportscar-challenge/

LIVE TIMING: ALMS STYLE:
http://www.livescoring.us/scoring.php

Radio:
SiriusXM 90, 117

PIT NOTES:
http://www.imsa.com/races/rolex-24-daytona

http://twitter.com/ @CorvetteRacing, @UnitedSportsCar, @IMSA, @IMSAlive, @DISupdates, @Rolex24Hours

Team & Driver Twitter accounts:
http://media.racer.com/documents/60/_rolex24_cheatsheet_14835.pdf

TICKET INFO:
Call Gina at 877-306-7223 Make sure you order the Corvette Corral parking corral ticket

Event Schedule:
http://www.imsa.com/sites/default/fil ... na%20Fan%20Schedule_1.pdf

Spotters Guide:
http://www.spotterguides.com/

Printable Spotters guide:
http://www.imsa.com/sites/default/fil ... A%20Viewing%20Guide_0.pdf

Entry List:
http://www.imsa.com/sites/default/fil ... Entry%20List%201-17_2.pdf

Track Map:

http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/Track-Info/Maps.aspx

WEATHER:
http://www.myweather2.com/Motor-Racin ... ternational-Speedway.aspx

Hotels:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g34 ... Beach_Florida-Hotels.html

Videos:
VIDEO: C7.R Build & Development
VIDEO: Doug Fehan on the Introduction of the C7.R

CORVETTE RACING AT DAYTONA: Final Dress Rehearsal for Rolex 24

Solid start for new Chevrolet Corvette C7.Rs in Roar Before the 24



DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan 5, 2014) – Corvette Racing moved a step closer toward its return to the Rolex 24 At Daytona over the weekend with a successful three-day test at Daytona International Speedway. Oliver Gavin in the No. 4 Chevrolet Corvette C7.R set the weekend’s second-best time for the GT Le Mans class during the Roar Before the 24 with a 1:45.743 (121.200 mph). It’s the annual test that serves as the last tune-up before the opening round of the new TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.



Gavin partners with full-season teammate Tommy Milner and Robin Liddell in the No. 4 Corvette for the Rolex 24. Jan Magnussen was third-fastest in the class with a 1:45.792 (121.143 mph) in the No. 3 Chevrolet Corvette he shares with Antonio Garcia and Ryan Briscoe. Both Corvettes set their fastest times in Friday’s opening session.



The three days in Daytona Beach were focused on constant development and establishing a baseline setup on the Corvette C7.Rs, which will make their competition debuts for the twice-around-the-clock race on Jan. 25-26. The Corvette Racing crew progressed through a comprehensive list of settings and adjustments on the high banks at Daytona.



Sunday’s two sessions were the final ones before Corvette Racing and its two new-for-2014 Corvette C7.Rs return for the 52nd running of the Rolex 24. The event is an important part of Corvette Racing history for multiple reasons. In the team’s last appearance at Daytona, Corvette Racing won the 2001 race overall with a Corvette C5-R. The Rolex 24 also was the site of Corvette Racing’s debut on Jan. 31, 1999. Since that first event, the team has competed in 150 other events around the globe with 90 victories worldwide, 10 team and manufacturer championships in the ALMS and seven victories at the Le Mans 24 Hours.



The TUDOR Championship is the result of a merger between the ALMS and GRAND-AM’s Rolex Sports Car Series. Corvette Racing will compete in 11 races around North America plus the 24 Hours of Le Mans.



EDITORS: High-resolution images of Corvette Racing are available on the Team Chevy media site for editorial use only.



ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

“So far we have been running our development program and learning everything we can on the car. Being here and racing here for the first time in many years, we don’t have any backup data on how the C6.R performed here. It is brand new for us, but everything has gone very well. Being a new car, we don’t know if we will lack any information or experience here. The way the car has run, it’s obvious everything is evolution from the C6.R and it’s progressing well. Part of our focus was getting Ryan comfortable, and we wanted to help him with any questions he had. At end of the day, he is a professional driver and has fit in very well.”


JAN MAGNUSSEN, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

““For us it this was an important weekend. It has been a productive couple days. This was the first time we got a chance to see how we stack up against the rest of our competition. But the main program has been to continue the development of the car. Come race time, hopefully we will be where we need to be. It’s still early days but everyone will be very close during the race – as it has always been in GT racing. We’ve run through several of our development packages with the new car and gotten Ryan up to speed with the team and the car. It’s all gone well. It’s very exciting what’s going on with the merger of the two series. I think everything looks great with a really cool field of cars. It’s different for me this time as it is the beginning of a championship. Usually all the other years I’ve been here, I’ve been a third driver. Now there is more on the line than trying to win the Rolex 24. For sure this is the start of a long, hard championship.”



RYAN BRISCOE, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

“The car was a lot of fun to drive. I would say it exceeded expectations on grip level, handling and overall performance. The team worked great, and it was a fantastic experience. I got plenty of miles in the car and came away feeling very comfortable. I did my first run Friday, and that was a great chance to get a good impression. The next time I got in, I felt like my lap times were becoming competitive. I was able to start feeling balance changes. We actually went through quite a bit of setup work over the three days. For me, the good thing was getting out there and being used to the car with traffic, in different temperatures and a couple different tire compounds from Michelins. It was really good getting a feel for the car in the all the situations we will face in the race. I feel like I checked all the boxes.”



OLIVER GAVIN, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

“This has been a pretty good test. It was a little unusual in that the conditions were very cold for the first two days. That was a little bit of a challenge trying to get the car right. We’ve managed to get it comfortable and nice to drive. Every driver has been through in the car and got to a good level of comfort. We are still looking to improve it in areas, but I think we have our base setup for here. Let’s see what the weather does for that week at the end of the month. You’re never really too sure how that’s going to turn out. Today, it was a good 10-15 degrees warmer than anything we saw the first two days.”



TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

“I think we are in good shape for the race. Throughout all of the testing that we’ve done so far, the car has been reliable. The same was the case here. It was quick and it was reliable. We had no real mechanical issues that – on the surface – that we should be worried about come race time. All in all, it was a great three days for us. This was a great test for us.”



ROBIN LIDDELL, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

“It’s been a very productive test. Having done this event enough times, you get a sense for how these type things go. We’re working toward our own agenda and making sure the car is comfortable and consistent for a 24-hour race. With additional classes, it’s the Daytona 24 Hours of old. It’s important for all of us to keep focus on the bigger picture. This team has huge amounts of experience and fantastic results and achievements in the past. They know how to win races. The car feels very good, well-balanced in the infield, good under braking. At this point, I think we are very happy with things. It was a little frustrating with the number of red-flag periods and traffic, it’s quite helpful in terms of getting accustomed to how things will go during the race.”



DOUG FEHAN, CORVETTE RACING PROGRAM MANAGER

“Coming into the Roar, Corvette Racing had a very comprehensive test program in place. The constant change in weather conditions was a challenge, as was dealing with the number of on-track incidents. However that is the nature of endurance racing. We are satisfied with the work that the team accomplished and feel like we are on solid ground for the race in three weeks."



Corvette Racing History at Daytona

Year
Class
Drivers
Result
Car
Notes

1999
GT2
Fellows/Kneifel/Paul Jr.
3rd
Corvette C5-R

Pilgrim/Collins/Sharp
12th
Corvette C5-R

2000
GTS
Fellows/Kneifel/Bell
2nd
Corvette C5-R

Pilgrim/Collins/Freon
10th
Corvette C5-R

2001
GTS
Fellows/O’Connell/Kneifel/Freon
1st
Corvette C5-R
Overall win

Collins/Pilgrim/Earnhardt/Earnhardt Jr.
2nd
Corvette C5-R




*************************************

CORVETTE DPs AT DAYTONA: Fittipaldi Sets Prototype Pace in Roar Testing

No. 5 Action Express Corvette DP leads Chevrolet contingent in testing for Rolex 24



DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 5, 2014) – The final on-track preparations for Chevrolet’s Corvette Daytona Prototype teams are complete ahead of the opening round of the inaugural TUDOR United SportsCar Championship. Christian Fittipaldi in Action Express Racing’s No. 5 Corvette DP set the fastest time for the three-day Roar Before the 24 at Daytona International Speedway – the annual test that serves a dress rehearsal for the Rolex 24 At Daytona.



Fittipaldi’s best time of 1:38.630 (129.940 mph) came in the Roar’s opening session Friday morning. The Brazilian led a contingent of Corvette DPs that held five of the six fastest speeds during the three days.



"We applied everything that we learned in the sessions we had prior to today – once in November and twice in the beginning of December," said Fittipaldi, who drove with full-season teammate Joao Barbosa and Sebastien Bourdais. "The car felt pretty good. I think that the track conditions were a little bit strange (with the changing weather). We need to make the best of it because when it comes down to race time, maybe we are going to have exactly the same stuff out there. I have raced here before where we have had even colder weather. So we pretty much need to be prepared for all kinds of stuff out there."



Richard Westbrook was second-quickest on the weekend in the No. 90 Spirit of Daytona Corvette DP with a 1:38.989 (129.549 mph) lap. He drives with full-season teammate Michael Valiante and Mike Rockenfeller.



"It has been a very productive three days at Daytona for the Corvette Daytona Prototype teams in preparation for the Rolex 24 Hour race, said Jim Lutz, Chevrolet TUDOR Championship Daytona Prototype Program Manager. "All of the teams had the opportunity to work with the latest technical regulations IMSA has put in place thus far for the class. Every driver for each of the teams was able to get ample seat time throughout the three-day test.


"Additionally, the varying weather conditions have allowed the teams to work on setup for the numerous scenarios that can occur during the race. We know we will have to adjust to the final set of regulations prior to the race, but our Chevrolet teams made great progress during the weekend, and we feel like we have the reliability and preparation necessary for the race."



Chevrolet enters this year’s Rolex 24 off two consecutive DP engine manufacturer titles in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series. The championship merged with the American Le Mans Series to create the TUDOR Championship, which features DPs as part of the top-level prototype class.



As the season continues following the Rolex 24 Hours the Corvette DP teams – Action Express, Spirit of Daytona, 2013 DP team champion Wayne Taylor Racing, GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing and Marsh Racing – will lead Chevrolet’s fight for additional victories and championships. Chevrolet ended Rolex Series competition with 20 Daytona Prototype victories – 16 by Corvette DPs since it debuted in 2011 – and nine in GT. The Bowtie brand also captured DP engine manufacturer championships in both 2012 and 2013, plus the 2011 GT title.



EDITORS: High-resolution images of Corvette Racing are available on the Team Chevy media site for editorial use only.



RICHARD WESTBROOK, NO. 90 SPIRIT OF DAYTONA CORVETTE DP

HOW DO YOU FEEL THE THREE DAYS OF TESTING HAVE GONE? "We have turned up with a really good car, and the team is working just great. I just have to really thank all the boys on the team. The new staff as well. Everything seems to be clicking into place. We've just kept our head down, fine-tuned and the results seem to be coming toward us. We have a really nice, comfortable car to drive that seems to be quick. Just really nice working with the two Michaels - Mike (Rockenfeller) and Michael (Valiante). There is a great atmosphere in the team. Looking forward to the 24 (Hours)."


IS IT GOOD FOR THE TEAM WHEN YOU TEST IN SUCH VARYING TEMPERATURES AND WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR THE RACE? "What was very encouraging is normally in our car, we're not very good in the heat. The hotter it gets, the worse we get. The car felt really good when it got hot. That is really encouraging."


JORDAN TAYLOR, NO. 10 WAYNE TAYLOR RACING CORVETTE DP

TALK ABOUT THE PROGRESS MADE WITH THE CAR HERE DURING THE THREE-DAY ROAR: "This is our first test really with all the updates. We did a test in December with half of the updates for the car, so now these three days we've really spent a lot of time getting to know what the car is going to be like this year. For the drivers, there is a little bit to get used to – mainly with braking. But for the engineers and the crew, they had a lot more to do just to understand the car; how it works and how to prepare for a 24-hour race. I think we did learn a lot. All the drivers are now comfortable in the cars. I think the crew has a much better understanding of what it is going to do for 24 hours and I think it makes us a lot more excited now that we know what to expect going into the 24 Hour."


MENTALLY WHAT DO YOU DO BETWEEN NOW AND WHEN YOU JUMP IN THE CAR FOR THE FIRST PRACTICE OF THE RACE WEEKEND? "We have data to go over. I think the biggest thing is mentally preparing for the long race. Obviously physical training. We have a lot of data to go over for drivers to get to know: maybe I am losing a little bit here; maybe I'm a little bit better there. On-board cameras to study. I always like to watch the previous year's race so every time I am around the TV, I'll turn it on to watch it and learn interesting passing places that you wouldn't really think of – where people are usually going off; where they are making passes in traffic. You can learn a lot from historical races."


RICKY TAYLOR, NO. 10 WAYNE TAYLOR RACING CORVETTE DP

TALK ABOUT THE CHANGING WEATHER DURING THE TEST AND HOW THAT HELPS PREPARING THE CAR FOR POSSIBILITIES DURING THE RACE: "It has helped the drivers I think. The team focuses on mostly the weather conditions that are going to be related to the race conditions. But the drivers through the 24 Hour go from daytime when it is normally warm, to nighttime and it is freezing cold, then to daytime when it warms up again. No matter what the car is setup to do, we have to be able to deal with all the conditions. We got a bit of everything this weekend, so if we have a car setup for the cold, we know what that is going to be like in the cold and then to the hot. And vice versa; if we have a car setup for the hot, we know what it is going to be like in the cold. So we know how to drive a good car and a bad car."


THERE ARE FOUR DRIVERS, ALL WITH DIFFERENT STYLES, PREFERENCES ETC. HOW HARD IS IT AND WHAT COMPROMISES DO YOU HAVE TO MAKE AS A DRIVER TO GET A CAR THAT WORKS FOR EVERYBODY? "There has been a little bit of compromise here and there – a little bit of differences in what we all want. But I don't think there has been much sacrifice. I think we still are improving the car more and more. We haven't taken any steps backward to suit a driver particularly. We are moving down a good road, and making the car a better race car."

CORVETTE RACING AT DAYTONA: The Start of a New Era

Corvette C7.R to make public debut at ‘Roar Before the 24’ ahead of TUDOR Championship



DETROIT (Dec. 31, 2013) – A new beginning for Corvette Racing is on the horizon with a new car set to debut in a new season for a new championship. The Roar Before the 24 at Daytona International Speedway will be the site of first public laps for the Chevrolet Corvette C7.R. The Jan. 3-5 test is a dress rehearsal for the 52nd Rolex 24 At Daytona – the first race for the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.



The two Corvettes will compete in the TUDOR Championship’s GT Le Mans class for the full season. After winning back-to-back driver’s, team and manufacturer’s titles in the American Le Mans Series’ GT category with the venerable Corvette C6.R, the C7.R has big shoes – errr, tires – to fill. The C6.R won 55 races around the world: four at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and 51 in the American Le Mans Series.



"It will be fantastic to finally see the Chevrolet Corvette C7.R on the track alongside our competition in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship," said Mark Kent, Director of Chevrolet Racing. "This should be another season of the extremely competitive GT racing that we have become accustomed to seeing. The C7.R is the result of a massive amount of teamwork between our Corvette design team at Chevrolet, Pratt & Miller Engineering and GM's Powertrain group. We hope their collective efforts will provide Corvette Racing a successful debut season with the C7.R."



The faces behind the wheel remain largely intact from a year ago. Antonio Garcia and Jan Magnussen – ALMS GT champions with three victories in 2013 – will team again in the No. 3 Chevrolet Corvette. Tommy Milner and Oliver Gavin – the 2012 ALMS GT champions – are back together in the No. 4 car winning twice last season. For both the Rolex 24 and Sebring 12 Hours, Ryan Briscoe will join the No. 3 lineup with Robin Liddell in the No. 4 Corvette.



With the full unveil of the Corvette C7.R set for Jan. 13 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the two race cars will run in camouflage livery for the three-day test. Aside from private testing of the C7.R earlier this year, the Roar will mark Corvette Racing’s first time at Daytona International Speedway since the team won overall at the 2001 Rolex 24. Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell, Franck Freon and Chris Kneifel drove the victorious Corvette C5-R.



The Rolex 24 also was the site of Corvette Racing’s debut on Jan. 31, 1999. Since that first race, the team has competed in 150 other events around the globe with 90 victories worldwide, 10 team and manufacturer championships in the ALMS and seven victories at the Le Mans 24 Hours.



The TUDOR Championship is the result of a merger between the ALMS and GRAND-AM’s Rolex Sports Car Series. Corvette Racing will compete in 11 races around North America plus the 24 Hours of Le Mans.



EDITORS: High-resolution images of Corvette Racing are available on the Team Chevy media site for editorial use only.



ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

“It’s definitely a step forward and in the right direction on everything we were probably lacking from last year. We still need to get used to knowing how the car behaves. It’s definitely an important time now to learn every single aspect of the car. Now it’s time to really try different things on our side – driving style and everything else to see if we need to change or adapt a few things to be more efficient in this car. The good thing is that we have been able to improve the whole package. It feels more or less like driving the C6.R but one step above on every single thing. Now we may be in the same spots as the C6 but have to improve on other points. Now we need to improve so we can be better in every area. The transition has been very good. Whatever we were working on and were limited on with the C6, we’ve been able to produce a new car that will launch us forward.”

(Participating at the Roar) “It’s important to know where everyone stands. In the end, these are all different cars and they behave differently. We need to know where we are strong and where we are lacking against the competition. The Roar will be the first step for us to learn where we are and where we stand after a short offseason. The Daytona 24 Hours will be the real test to know where everyone stands.”



JAN MAGNUSSEN, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

“This is an evolution and next step for Corvette Racing. Everything has been improved on the car. So far we’ve really felt a lot of the improvements – on the engine side, in the chassis and aerodynamics. It’s a good step forward. The old car was really suffering at the end. We won some races but it wasn’t for being the fastest car. To go into a 24-hour race as the first for the car will be a difficult situation for us. But I’m very confident that if anyone can do it, we can.”

(What’s new) “It’s all the small things that have been improved… and there are a lot of small things! We’ve all driven the car now and everyone has the same sort of feedback: that it’s a little bit easier to drive, it has less movement and you can feel the stiffer chassis. We are still early with the new direct injection engine but are making progress there also. We haven’t really hit on something where we think, ‘Eh, this isn’t going to work.’ Everything is going in the right direction. We will see what the competition has for us when we get to Daytona. But at the very least, we will go there with a better car than we had last year.”



RYAN BRISCOE, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

“I haven’t driven the car yet so I’m really looking forward to getting in there and getting a feel for what it will be like. The car is extremely advanced. From talking to the other drivers, it sounds like they have made gains from last year’s car to the new C7.R. I really want to get out there and get comfortable in the car. I’ve got two amazing teammates in Antonio and Jan. I want to do my part – be smooth, consistent and fast when I need to be. Hopefully I can be the guy they need me to be to win these long races.”

(Providing input) “I fully expect there to be a lot of discussion on things like setup direction and things that the team may not be used to with the old car. We will have to be prepared to adjust and make changes – maybe more than would have typically been done last year. Having said that, having input from someone like myself from the outside and not necessarily based on last year’s car could be helpful. It sounds like everyone has been pretty excited so far with the first on-track sessions. We hope it keeps going smoothly and we get plenty of track time with it.”



OLIVER GAVIN, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

“As a team, 2013 was a very successful season. Corvette Racing and Chevrolet won every championship we possibly could. Now the focus has completely shifted to 2014 and the Corvette C7.R. It is something the team has had a focus on for most of the last year. The first time I sat in the car at Pratt & Miller was seven months ago, and it's been exciting to have to gone through the process - from a base chassis and the car being built up to finally seeing it testing on the race track. I've been involved with that pretty much every step of the way. It's been great to be a part of that and see the beginning of another fantastic season in the world of Corvette Racing."

(2014 outlook) "This certainly looks to be one of the most exciting years of racing I can remember. We all are looking forward to getting on track and seeing where we stack up to our competition. Developing the new Corvette C7.R has been a fantastic experience although we really are still in the early days. The results have been encouraging as the car is an upgrade in many key area and will be important given what we will face this year in the TUDOR Championship and at Le Mans.”



TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

“The first impressions have been really good. I felt really comfortable right away with the car. Initially it was very well connected and well-balanced. It gave me a lot of confidence. Right away, that was a nice feeling. You can tell it’s a Corvette. It still feels similar in some ways (to the C6.R) but you can tell it’s the next generation of car. It does certain things better than the last generation.”

(Team continuity) “Having the same fundamental people that helped build the C6.R GT car and now have done the C7.R is evident. In my first test, I did an hour-and-a-half in the car with zero issues and that allowed me to get used to things. I didn’t have to think about new teammates, a new engineer… that has been typical for me in my racing career. I’d be with a team for two or three years and go elsewhere for other opportunities. I can definitely see the differences that (continuity) brings and that helps me get up to speed with the program quicker. I was ready to start making changes to the car to help the balance after 10 laps. That’s a testament to the team at Corvette Racing and Pratt & Miller for building a car that is much better in many areas.”



ROBIN LIDDELL, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

“We’re all looking very much forward to the first two endurance races. Daytona is a track that I know very well. I’ve raced there every year for the last 10 years plus have done loads of testing. We have all the sum parts. I don’t feel any kind of undue pressure to do well. We have all the tools we need to do it. The team has been very good in helping me to integrate myself in and acclimate myself to the car. All the pieces are there to do a fantastic job and achieve great results.”

(His initial test) “Testing the car for the first time was quite challenging. With the car being new and not being rubbed on very hard, it was a great test and shakedown. At the end of the day, there is a little bit of work on balance and handling. The good news is that the things I was feeling and were sort of finding a little tricky were some of the same things that Olly and Tommy were seeing. So we have a little bit of work to do but that’s to be expected because the car is completely new.”



DOUG FEHAN, CORVETTE RACING PROGRAM MANAGER

"The 2014 season is one of the most highly anticipated moments in the storied history of Corvette Racing. Building and testing a new car in such a compressed time frame has been a monumental task. But challenge is what fuels the efforts from the groups at Chevrolet, Pratt & Miller and GM Powertrain. As Jan. 25 approaches, the Corvette C7.R stands ready to write yet another chapter in Chevrolet racing history. Debuting the C7.R in Daytona is fitting as it comes precisely 15 years after Corvette Racing’s debut at the Rolex 24. We are truly excited to return and start the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship in spectacular fashion."



Roar Before the 24 (all times ET)

Friday, Jan. 3

· TUDOR Championship, Practice 1: 10:15 a.m.-noon

· TUDOR Championship, Practice 2: 2:45-5:15 p.m.



Saturday, Jan. 4

· TUDOR Championship, Practice 3: 9-10:45 a.m.

· TUDOR Championship, Practice 4: 1-2:30 p.m.

· TUDOR Championship, Practice 5: 4-5 p.m.

· TUDOR Championship, Practice 6: 6:30-8 p.m.



Sunday, Jan. 5

· TUDOR Championship, Practice 7: 10:15 a.m.-noon

· TUDOR Championship, Practice 8: 2:30-3:30 p.m.



Corvette Racing History at Daytona

Year
Class
Drivers
Result
Car
Notes

1999
GT2
Fellows/Kneifel/Paul Jr.
3rd
Corvette C5-R

Pilgrim/Collins/Sharp
12th
Corvette C5-R

2000
GTS
Fellows/Kneifel/Bell
2nd
Corvette C5-R

Pilgrim/Collins/Freon
10th
Corvette C5-R

2001
GTS
Fellows/O’Connell/Kneifel/Freon
1st
Corvette C5-R
Overall win

Collins/Pilgrim/Earnhardt/Earnhardt Jr.
2nd
Corvette C5-R



CORVETTE DPs AT DAYTONA: ’Roar’ Out of the Gates for 2014

Start of TUDOR Championship sees strong contingent of Corvette Daytona Prototypes prep for Rolex 24



DETROIT (Dec. 31, 2013) – Chevrolet is ready for a landmark season of sports car racing in North America with a strong complement of Corvette Daytona Prototypes that will compete in the inaugural year of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship. Six Corvette DPs are set to compete this season at some of the continent’s top road courses starting with the 52nd Rolex 24 At Daytona on Jan. 25-26.



Prior to that however, Corvette DP teams will take part in the annual Roar Before the 24 three-day test at Daytona International Speedway from Jan. 3-5.



The sports car landscape has changed significantly since Wayne Taylor Racing’s Jordan Taylor and Max Angelelli won in September at Lime Rock Park to clinch the Rolex Series’ DP driver’s championship. The Rolex Series and American Le Mans Series officially merged with DPs in the new top-level prototype class. In order to balance the cars in the prototype category, the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) has made a number of technical adjustments to Daytona Prototype cars including new aerodynamics and brake systems, and additional horsepower from 2013.



“This is one of the most highly anticipated and exciting starts to a season of sports car racing in many years,” said Mark Kent, Director of Chevrolet Racing. “We are looking forward to another year of close racing in the prototype class as our strong lineup of teams compete to defend Chevrolet's Manufacturers Championship.”



Six Daytona Prototype entries from five teams will take to Daytona International Speedway for this week’s three-day test: Wayne Taylor Racing, Action Express Racing (with two Corvette DPs), GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing and newcomer Marsh Racing – stepping up from running a GT Corvette to the Corvette DP.



Those efforts will lead Chevrolet’s fight for additional victories and championships in the top level of North American sports car racing. Chevrolet ended Rolex Series competition with 20 Daytona Prototype victories – 16 by Corvette DPs since it debuted in 2011 – and nine in GT. The Bowtie brand also captured DP engine manufacturer championships in both 2012 and 2013, plus the 2011 GT title.



“There are been a huge amount of work and cooperation between our teams, IMSA and our technical partners in advance of this season,” said Jim Lutz, Chevrolet TUDOR Championship Daytona Prototype Program Manager. “Headed into the Roar Before the 24, we feel like our DP teams are good positions to make their final preparations for the start of the season. As always, Daytona International Speedway presents a significant challenge given the track’s banking and high speeds. Given the new technical regulations and adjustments for 2014, reliability will take on added importance. That will be a key focal point for this year’s Roar.”

There were no images in the media email. Sorry.

Corvette Racing Debuts C7.R, Expands Endurance Lineup for 2014

Taylor, Westbrook rejoin team at Le Mans; Liddell, Briscoe in for Daytona and Sebring



DETROIT (Dec. 19, 2013) – Corvette Racing is continuing its history of strong driver lineups with an impressive roster for the 2014 endurance racing season. The team will field eight drivers across 12 races around the globe in the new Chevrolet Corvette C7.R that will compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the inaugural season of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship in the United States.



The cornerstones of this year’s program are the four full-season drivers that are unchanged from a year ago. Antonio Garcia and Jan Magnussen – last year’s GT champions in the American Le Mans Series – are back together after leading the category with three victories. Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner – third in the ALMS GT championship in 2013 with two wins after taking the class title in 2012 – will drive the other Corvette.



The endurance roster for 2014 sees a mix of familiar faces and newcomers to the Corvette Racing program. Robin Liddell and Ryan Briscoe join Corvette Racing for the season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring as part of the GT Le Mans category. At the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June, Jordan Taylor and Richard Westbrook return for the team in the GTE Pro class.



“The 2014 season will be thrilling for Corvette Racing enthusiasts with the debut of the new Corvette C7.R,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet U.S. Vice President, Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “The C7.R will debut with a roster of drivers who bring high levels of experience and a team-first mentality that can help Corvette Racing succeed in the world’s most challenging endurance events.”



Briscoe will partner with Garcia and Magnussen in the No. 3 Corvette C7.R for his first taste of GT-spec racing. The Aussie is a star in both prototype sports cars and open-wheel formulas. Last week, he was named as a full-time driver for Chip Ganassi Racing in the IndyCar Series. In addition to seven IndyCar victories, Briscoe won nine times in ALMS prototype competition for such prestigious operations such as Penske Racing and Level 5 Motorsports. His first time in the C7.R will be at the Roar Before the 24 on Jan. 3-5.



Liddell is no stranger to the Chevrolet ranks. He drove for Stevenson Motorsports in a Camaro GT.R as part of the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series the past six seasons. He won 18 times with a highest finish of second three times in the Rolex Series GT championship. In the ALMS, Liddell won seven times driving both prototype and GT cars.



While full-season duties in the TUDOR Championship’s prototype class precludes them from competing for Corvette Racing in the U.S., the familiarity of Taylor and Westbrook with the program at Le Mans is a boost for a team seeking its eighth class win there since 2001. Westbrook will race for fourth time at Le Mans with Corvette Racing and Taylor his third.



“We feel this roster will be extremely competitive,” said Mark Kent, Director of Chevrolet Racing. “This is a program that embraces continuity and teamwork in all areas. It is a key to success in motorsports – evidenced by the roster of drivers who will compete at Le Mans against the most challenging competition in endurance racing. We also welcome championship talents Ryan Briscoe and Robin Liddell to the Corvette Racing program for the opening two races of an exciting new chapter in sports car racing.”



The TUDOR United Sports Car Championship begins with the 52nd Rolex 24 At Daytona from Jan. 25-26 at Daytona International Speedway. All six of the drivers for the TUDOR Championship will participate in the Roar Before the 24 test days from Jan. 3-5. It will mark the first public showing of the Corvette C7.R race cars. Live timing and scoring will be available at imsa.com.



EDITORS: High-resolution images of Corvette Racing are available on the Team Chevy media site for editorial use only.



RYAN BRISCOE, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R (Daytona & Sebring)

“It’s an honor to get the opportunity to run Daytona and Sebring with Corvette Racing. I’ve often been pitted alongside the Corvette team (in the ALMS), and I’ve long idolized them. It’s an amazing group of guys that run two amazing cars. I was always a little envious of the guys driving them, and now I get a shot to. So I’m really excited about it. I know Jan and Antonio really well. I should be able to slot into the team pretty well. The closest thing I’ve raced to the Corvette is the V8 Supercars in Australia. The Corvettes will be a much higher performance car as far as cornering. Honestly, having raced around the Corvettes before, they aren’t far off the pace of the prototypes I raced in the P2 class the last couple years. They are really quick and have great tires. They look like they brake really well. But this is really my first time racing in the GT-spec class. The competition is going to be unbelievably strong, as it always is in GT. But I’m really looking forward to getting a feel for the new C7.R on the track. It’s a beautiful looking car. Hopefully it’s as strong as it looks.”



ROBIN LIDDELL, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R (Daytona & Sebring)

"I’m delighted to join the team. It’s a fantastic opportunity for me – the best I’ve had in my career. To be asked to drive this car for Chevrolet and with Pratt & Miller involved… I couldn’t ask for anything more. The new C7.R is a great car, and a real head-turner too. We’re all very much looking forward to the first two races of the year at Daytona and Sebring. All the pieces are there to do a fantastic job and achieve great results. I’m also thankful to Mark Kent, Doug Fehan and Gary Pratt for their faith in giving me the chance to represent the Corvette brand. If you’re in any kind of GM or Chevrolet road-racing situation, getting the chance to drive the Corvette is the Holy Grail moment. I fully recognize and appreciate the opportunity."



JORDAN TAYLOR, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R (Le Mans)

“I’m honored and grateful to be part of the Corvette Racing program at Le Mans once again. For a sports car driver, Le Mans is the biggest race in the world. It will be terrific going back with Corvette Racing alongside my teammates Antonio and Jan. Le Mans is a very unique and challenging event where you gain massive amounts of experience each time you're there. Last year we packed a full year's worth of racing into one 24-hour event with changing conditions throughout. I'm looking forward to going back with that knowledge in 2014. Being able to drive the new C7.R there will make this year’s Le Mans the most important one for myself, the team and Chevrolet.”



RICHARD WESTBROOK, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R (Le Mans)

“It’s great to be going back to Le Mans with Corvette Racing. I’m absolutely looking forward to driving the C7.R for the first time. Obviously I’ve talked to the guys who have been in it, and they are so excited about the C7.R. It’s a mouth-watering prospect being part of the car’s Le Mans debut. The thought of coming away with some success in its first race there is something that really excites me. The goalposts consistently change in GTE Pro. The competition gets stronger and stronger. People keep bringing out new cars. Now it’s our turn. We won’t take this challenge lightly.”



Corvette Racing History at Daytona

Year
Class
Drivers
Result
Car
Notes

1999
GT2
Fellows/Kneifel/Paul Jr.
3rd
Corvette C5-R

Pilgrim/Collins/Sharp
12th
Corvette C5-R

2000
GTS
Fellows/Kneifel/Bell
2nd
Corvette C5-R

Pilgrim/Collins/Freon
10th
Corvette C5-R

2001
GTS
Fellows/O’Connell/Kneifel/Freon
1st
Corvette C5-R
Overall win

Collins/Pilgrim/Earnhardt/Earnhardt Jr.
1st
Corvette C5-R

I am sure it is still disguised. Surprised that no spy photos have surfaced yet.

Great video on Tommy's helmet:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=wzZKUHoIk64

and they are testing the C7R today!

CORVETTE RACING AT PETIT LE MANS: Garcia, Magnussen Claim Drivers’ Championship

Sixth-place finish with Taylor enough to take title at Road Atlanta; No. 4 Corvette places 10th



BRASELTON, Ga. (Oct. 19, 2013) – Antonio Garcia and Jan Magnussen closed the American Le Mans Series era by winning the GT drivers’ championship Saturday at Petit Le Mans. The pairing drove with Jordan Taylor to a sixth-place finish in the No. 3 Compuware Chevrolet Corvette C6.R at Road Atlanta. Garcia won his first ALMS title, and Magnussen claimed another to go along with his 2008 GT1 championship.



Chevrolet and Corvette Racing clinched the GT manufacturers’ and team championships in the previous ALMS round at Virginia International Raceway two weeks ago. Garcia and Magnussen made it nine drivers’ titles for the manufacturer and team since 2001. The results were fitting ones in the final year of the C6.R in the hands of Corvette Racing.



“Congratulations to Antonio Garcia, Jan Magnussen and the No. 3 Corvette C6.R team on clinching the American Le Mans Series GT driver’s championship,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet U.S. Vice President, Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “Antonio, Jan and the team raced incredible competition in the GT class and persevered. Preparation, teamwork, efficient pit stops – along with a Chevrolet Powertrain that delivered the right combination of power, fuel efficiency and reliability – were key components of the team’s success.


“It was a total team effort for Chevrolet to win the GT manufacturers’ championship, Corvette Racing to win the GT team championship, and Antonio and Jan to win GT the drivers’ championship in the final season of the American Le Mans Series.”



Garcia and Magnussen led all drivers in the ALMS’ GT class with three victories – Laguna Seca, Baltimore and Circuit of The Americas. They also finished on the class podium six times in 10 races, despite finishing with zero points at Sebring to start the year.



Saturday’s race was not without its dramas for the new champions. Taylor was running second in the race’s sixth hour when he ran over an oil slick and spun the No. 3 out of control. The car ran fifth for most of the final two hours before safety falling back to its eventual finishing position.



“Antonio and Jan are very deserving champions of the ALMS’ GT class,” said Mark Kent, Chevrolet’s Director of Racing. “Their performance, along with that of the team’s crew members and engineers, set the standard in what arguably is the toughest class of sports car racing in North America. Congratulations to Antonio and Jan, everyone at Pratt & Miller and GM Racing Powertrain for a phenomenal end of the season and final race for the Corvette C6.R.”



The No. 4 Compuware Corvette of Oliver Gavin, Tommy Milner and Richard Westbrook ran in 10th place and six laps down after two lengthy stops to replace a pair of alternator belts. Gavin had moved from seventh to second in the first two laps before the telemetry showed the alternator was not charging the battery at the 30-minute mark. Gavin brought the car in for fuel, tires and driver change to Milner along with a belt replacement. That belt proved faulty, and Milner pitted again on the next lap for another replacement. This time, the belt functioned properly and the car continued with the battery fully charging.



Corvette Racing will open the 2014 TUDOR United SportsCar Championship with the Corvette C7.R race car at the Rolex 24 At Daytona on Jan. 25-26.



EDITORS: High-resolution images of Corvette Racing are available on the Team Chevy media site for editorial use only.



ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

“For sure this is a great day for us. We had a fantastic season. There is no way we could think about this after no points at Sebring. The Corvette Racing team just kept digging. We went from zero wins last year to three wins this year. It was a very competitive year, and congratulations to all our competitors who raced against us. They were all very good teams. So I am very happy for my first ALMS title. Now we are looking forward to the next era for Corvette Racing.

“It’s a really hard to celebrate anything. I lost a very close friend last week – Maria De Villota – and then Sean Edwards this week. Even when I went by the checkered flag, I didn’t feel like I could celebrate and be happy. I was more thinking about them.”



JAN MAGNUSSEN, NO. 3 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

“This is an incredible championship. I could not believe Antonio and I would walk away with this after how the season started for us. We both have to say thank you to the entire Corvette Racing team for their hard work and great pit stops all year. For sure we would have liked to win the race but I will trade that for a championship any day.

“It is a fantastic day. My son Kevin won the World Series by Renault this morning, so that was a good way to start the day. It was nice that he got it over with so I could concentrate on my own championship! I can’t even begin to describe how proud I am of him. I wish I could have been celebrating with him but it’s great we can have a chance to win a big championship on the same day. We will celebrate when we get home.”



JORDAN TAYLOR, NO. 3 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

"Congratulations to Jan and Antonio on a terrific season. The guys really gave it everything they had, and they deserve this championship. The second half of the race didn’t go as smooth as we would have liked. The spin on a fluid leak from another car set us back. But at the end of the day, I’m glad to have helped the team win this championship. Topping this off with the Rolex DP championship makes this an incredible end to the season.”



OLIVER GAVIN, NO. 4 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

"These last few races have been extremely difficult and tough for us. But today is all about the No. 3 car. Antonio and Jan deserve this championship thoroughly. They bounced back from a heart-breaking Sebring. But since then they have driven brilliantly. They had great strategy and pit stops. They executed every weekend and scored points every time they were allowed to. A full, hearty congratulations to them.

“For Tommy and I, the 2013 season can’t come to an end soon enough. It seemed like every which way we turned, things were not going right for us. Our luck just ran out. I’m just now focused on 2014 with the new car and hitting the ground running at Daytona. We had two really big highlights – winning at Sebring and Canada was fantastic. But the rest of it has been under par to say the least.”



TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

"At the end of the day, we obviously would have loved to finish better. But Antonio and Jan got their championship, which is fantastic. We’re team champions and manufacturer champions just like last year. It’s a great send-off for the C6.R and we’re looking forward to the C7.R now. It was a rough day for us –that was our season in a nutshell. There were just little problems that sometimes can be easily fixed and solved. But this year, every little thing cost us a lot of time. All in all, and looking back on the season it was a great one again. The car was fantastic and it’s always a pleasure working with the guys at Corvette Racing. I’m looking forward to a lot more years.”



RICHARD WESTBROOK, NO. 4 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

"I’m absolutely for Antonio, Jan and Jordan. They’re part of the Corvette Racing team, but they're also mates. It’s great to see your mates celebrate like that. From our point of view, we can’t wait to get going on next year. Sebring seems like a long time ago. It was our high of the year. You can’t have good years every year. It will make us stronger and tougher. All of us will work harder over the winter. Today again, we proved we had a great car but Lady Luck was against us.”



DOUG FEHAN, CORVETTE RACING PROGRAM MANAGER

"Today was probably the most important sixth-place finish in Corvette Racing history. As we closed out the 15th season of the American Le Mans Series - a historic run - Jan Magnussen and Antonio Garcia clinched the GT drivers' championship. It gives Chevrolet and Corvette Racing a second consecutive sweep of all three ALMS championships. Jan and Antonio's climb back from scoring zero points at Sebring is emblematic of the never give up fighting spirit at Corvette Racing. I couldn't be more proud of Jan, Antonio, Jordan Taylor and the entire crew and engineering group on the No. 3 Corvette. As satisfying as this is, we are excited and looking forward to the start of a new era in Corvette Racing - the first race of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship at Daytona in January.”



ALMS GT Championship Standings

Driver Standings
Team Standings
Manufacturer Standings

1. Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen – 135

2. Dirk Muller – 129

3. Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 105

4. Bill Auberlen – 102

5. Dominik Farnbacher/Marc Goossens - 101
1. Corvette Racing – 171

2. BMW Team RLL – 140

3. SRT Motorsports – 121

4. Risi Competizione - 73

5. CORE autosport – 55
Team Falken Tire - 55
1. Chevrolet – 174

2. BMW – 154

3. SRT – 137

4. Ferrari – 126

5. Porsche – 119

CORVETTE RACING AT PETIT LE MANS: Solid Start in Last Title Push

GT championship co-leader Garcia qualifies No. 3 Corvette fourth in GT; Gavin seventh in No. 4



BRASELTON, Ga. (Oct. 18, 2013) – The final race for the Chevrolet Corvette C6.R will see two of Corvette Racing’s GT challengers starting fourth and seventh on the GT grid for Saturday’s Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta. Antonio Garcia qualified the No. 3 Compuware Corvette fourth with a lap of 1:19.128 (115.560 mph) in the finale of the American Le Mans Series.



Garcia and Jan Magnussen enter the 1,000-mile/10-hour race leading the GT drivers’ championship. With three wins this season, the duo needs a seventh-place finish or better Saturday with Jordan Taylor to clinch the title. Their only challenger for the title – Dirk Muller – will start fifth. The top seven cars were within 0.579 seconds of each other.



Garcia set his best time on his final lap of the session to beat Muller’s time. The No. 3 Corvette placed second in last year’s Petit Le Mans, and a similar showing Saturday would give Corvette Racing a drivers’ championship for the ninth time since 2001. Magnussen won the 2008 GT1 title, and Garcia was third in last year’s GT standings with Magnussen for his best championship finish.



In the ALMS’ previous round at VIR, Chevrolet clinched its 10th manufacturers’ championship, and Corvette won an ALMS team title for the 10th time.



Gavin, driving with Tommy Milner and Richard Westbrook, set a best lap of 1:19.440 (115.106 mph) in the No. 4 Corvette. The trio hopes to bookend their season with a victory to match a season-opening win in March at the 12 Hours of Sebring. Gavin and Milner – last year’s ALMS champions – stand third in this season’s drivers’ points and have a chance to move up to the runner-up position in the final standings.



Saturday’s race begins at 11:30 a.m. ET with live coverage alternating between FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2.



EDITORS: High-resolution images of Corvette Racing are available on the Team Chevy media site for editorial use only.



ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

“We had a decent setup and decent pace compared to where we have been in past races. I felt like I could really attack. We seem to be a little closer to our competitors than where we expected. It’s a very good starting position for a long race. No one will be taking risks right away. The more toward the front you are, the less chance there is of having an issue. This is a good starting point. Now we need to run a clean race. Who knows – for sure we want to make 70 percent. After that, we will go for the win.”



OLIVER GAVIN, NO. 4 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

“We are still searching for some punch out of the slow-speed corners. We also were looking for some direction change in the middle of the corners and made some adjustments before qualifying. I think we overshot with that. Now we have a car that is very much the other way and oversteering everywhere. I couldn’t attack any of the corners or carry my brakes all the way in. I was very nervous with the rear of the car, and my steering inputs were very, very small. It was the sort of stuff you expect when you have a little too much on the nose of the car and the rear is too light. But it’s a long race. We will take seventh place; we have worked our way up well from those positions all year. I’m pretty confident we can do it again. We will get the car right and will be there in the race.”



DOUG FEHAN, CORVETTE RACING PROGRAM MANAGER

“One of the main goals of the session was to start in front of the BMW, which we accomplished. Antonio put in a great final lap, and Oliver positioned the No. 4 to help the team car fight for the championship. Now the goal is to have a clean, mistake-free race under very competitive conditions to wrap up our ninth ALMS drivers’ title – a remarkable feat over the last 15 years. The drivers, engineers and crew have performed brilliantly under pressure all season. Now it comes down to the final race. We are prepared and ready.”



Petit Le Mans (all times ET)

· Warmup: 9:15 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 19

· Race: 11:30 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 19



Petit Le Mans: Watch It!

· Race (TV): 11 a.m.-noon, 2:30-6:30 p.m. (FOX Sports 2); 6:30-8 p.m. (FOX Sports 1); 8-9:30 p.m. (FOX Sports 2)

· Race (Web): 11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 19 (ALMS.com)



ALMS GT Championship Standings

Driver Standings
Team Standings
Manufacturer Standings

1. Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen – 125

2. Dirk Muller – 109

3. Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 100

4. Dominik Farnbacher/Marc Goossens - 93

5. Bill Auberlen - 82
1. Corvette Racing – 161

2. BMW Team RLL – 120

3. SRT Motorsports – 109

4. Risi Competizione - 56

5. CORE autosport – 48
1. Chevrolet – 164

2. BMW – 134

3. SRT – 123

4. Ferrari – 109

5. Porsche – 95




Corvette Racing History at Road Atlanta

Year
Class
Drivers
Result
Car
Notes

1999
GTS
Fellows/Kneifel/Paul Jr.
5th
Corvette C5-R

Pilgrim/Collins/Sharp
4th
Corvette C5-R

2000
GTS
Fellows/Kneifel/Bell
3rd
Corvette C5-R
Fellows pole

Pilgrim/Collins/Freon
1st
Corvette C5-R

2001
GTS
Fellows/O'Connell
9th
Corvette C5-R

Collins/Pilgrim/Freon
1st
Corvette C5-R
Pilgrim pole

2002
GTS
Fellows/O'Connell/Gavin
1st
Corvette C5-R

Collins/Pilgrim/Freon
3rd
Corvette C5-R
Pilgrim fastest race lap

2003*
GTS
Fellows/O'Connell
3rd
Corvette C5-R

Collins/Gavin
1st
Corvette C5-R

2003
GTS
Fellows/O'Connell/Freon
5th
Corvette C5-R

Collins/Gavin/Pilgrim
3rd
Corvette C5-R

2004
GTS
Fellows/O'Connell/Papis
2nd
Corvette C5-R

Beretta/Gavin/Magnussen
1st
Corvette C5-R
Gavin pole, fastest race lap

2005*
GT1
Fellows/O'Connell
1st
Corvette C6.R
O'Connell pole, fastest race lap

Beretta/Gavin
2nd
Corvette C6.R

2005
GT1
Fellows/O'Connell/Papis
6th
Corvette C6.R

Beretta/Gavin/Magnussen
1st
Corvette C6.R
Beretta pole, Gavin fastest race lap

2006
GT1
Fellows/O'Connell/Papis
4th
Corvette C6.R
O'Connell pole

Beretta/Gavin/Magnussen
3rd
Corvette C6.R
Gavin fastest race lap

2007
GT1
Magnussen/O'Connell/Fellows
3rd
Corvette C6.R

Beretta/Gavin/Papis
1st
Corvette C6.R
Gavin fastest race lap

2008
GT1
Magnussen/O'Connell/Fellows
1st
Corvette C6.R
O'Connell pole, Magnussen fastest race lap

Beretta/Gavin/Papis
2nd
Corvette C6.R

2009
GT2
Magnussen/O'Connell/Garcia
6th
Corvette C6.R

Beretta/Gavin/Fassler
4th
Corvette C6.R

2010
GT
Beretta/O'Connell/Garcia
6th
Corvette C6.R

Gavin/Magnussen/Collard
1st
Corvette C6.R
Magnussen fastest race lap

2011
GT
Beretta/Milner/Garcia
17th
Corvette C6.R

Gavin/Magnussen/Westbrook
4th
Corvette C6.R

2012
GT
Garcia/Magnussen/Taylor
2nd
Corvette C6.R

Gavin/Milner/Westbrook
12th
Corvette C6.R


* Denotes two-hour, 45-minute race

CORVETTE RACING AT PETIT LE MANS: One More Title To Go

Garcia, Magnussen look for ALMS GT drivers’ title at end of 1,000-mile enduro



DETROIT (Oct. 14, 2014) – Only one more race separates Antonio Garcia and Jan Magnussen from the American Le Mans Series’ GT drivers’ championship. Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta is the site of the final round of the 2013 ALMS but also the series’ finale as well. The 1,000-mile/10-hour endurance classic has been a staple at Road Atlanta – an hour northeast of Atlanta – since its first running in 1998.



After nine of 10 rounds in this year’s championship, Garcia and Magnussen in the No. 3 Compuware Chevrolet Corvette C6.R lead their sole remaining challenger – Dirk Muller – by 16 points with 24 available to the winner at Petit Le Mans. The Corvette Racing camp is aiming for a second straight clean sweep of the ALMS GT titles. It clinched a 10th series team championship and won Chevrolet’s 10th manufacturer title in the previous race at Virginia International Raceway. The championship chase concludes at Road Atlanta with live coverage starting at 11 a.m. ET on FOX Sports 2; the race’s broadcast alternates between it and FOX Sports 1.



No duo in the GT class can match Garcia and Magnussen’s three victories in 2013: Laguna Seca, Baltimore and Austin. For Petit Le Mans, they will team with newly crowned GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series Daytona Prototype champion Jordan Taylor. The group must finish seventh or higher at Road Atlanta for Garcia and Magnussen to win the driving title; they were second last year.



If they do, the duo would succeed Corvette Racing teammates Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner as champions. Richard Westbrook returns to join them in the No. 4 Compuware Corvette; the trio opened the ALMS season with a remarkable, come-from-behind victory at Sebring. Gavin is the team’s winningest driver at Road Atlanta with five victories.



With five wins on the season, Corvette Racing is assured of being the ALMS’ most successful entrant in series history. The list of achievements is remarkable – 82 victories, 10 team and manufacturer titles, and 64 pole positions. All are American Le Mans Series records.



Starting in January, a new era begins with the debut of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship – a result of a merger between the ALMS and GRAND-AM. The season will open with the Rolex 24 at Daytona and close with Petit Le Mans.



EDITORS: High-resolution images of Corvette Racing are available on the Team Chevy media site for editorial use only.



ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

(Championship strategy) “We need to keep racing as we have up to this point. We need to use a percentage of caution; we won’t risk as much during the race as we normally would. But in this case, you can’t hold back and wait. If you hold back a little too much, you become vulnerable. We need to keep the same strategy – try to be up front and stay out of trouble.”

“We all just need to stay calm and relax. The key is to remain consistent and keep doing the same things we have earlier in the year.”

(Being successful at Road Atlanta) “The key thing is that we normally have a few more cars and new people running in the race. The amount of traffic rises, as does the risk. Because Road Atlanta is not so easy on traffic due to the layout, you need to take it easy. You also need to have a smart, safe strategy and don’t try to do something out of sequence and completely different than anything from the season.”



JAN MAGNUSSEN, NO. 3 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

(Championship strategy) “We will have to keep our eye on the ball and win the championship. That’s not to say we can’t go for a victory, but we do need to make sure we get the championship. The situation is looking quite good for us but it is a long race. Our main competitors will be strong but our car is usually excellent as well at Road Atlanta. We need to be clever about it – push when we need to but also smart when need to.”

(Keys to victory) “Because of the race’s length, the team plays a much bigger part. There is a ton of strategy involved and there are more pit stops. Fortunately for us, we have been able to do a really good job at both. The longer distances will suit our team even more and usually we are quite strong. We do put a lot of time and effort into stops and making the right strategy calls.”



JORDAN TAYLOR, NO. 3 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

“Finishing the last three races in the Rolex Series and winning those races, there isn’t a much better feeling. Having those victories and a championship is the best possible way to come into Petit Le Mans. I’m really excited to get back to the Corvette and the team since the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The No. 3 team has had a great season so far. My job is to help them to win a championship.”

(Taming the track) “Road Atlanta is one of the more traditional courses we have in America. There is a lot of speed, and the track flows very well. It’s a fun track to drive but when you get into a race situation with traffic, it can be frustrating and stressful if you’re stuck behind a slower GT car or trying to hold off a prototype in certain sections. Things can get pretty stressful and it’s easy to lose a ton of time. If you lose a little bit of rhythm or momentum at a place like Road Atlanta – where you are going by rhythm or momentum – you can lose sync of everything and wonder where your lap time went. It’s a big track for confidence and believing in yourself and the car.”



OLIVER GAVIN, NO. 4 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

“The race really is one of the crown jewels of the sports car racing world. It’s an event many teams from outside the series want to do. A thousand miles around Road Atlanta is a great challenge. The track is fast and unforgiving. It can frustrate you when you’re in traffic, but sometime you can use that your advantage if someone is chasing you. It’s a track that is suited for this race with the fact you go from starting in the middle of the day and ending at night. Those last couple of hours, you know is going to be hard and tough after racing all day. It will be a fine way to finish off the story that has been the ALMS.”

(Adding a Petit Le Mans win to Sebring) “That has to be the goal. We’ve had some ups and downs starting at Sebring. We had a great victory in Canada before things started going downhill for us. When you have three bad races in a year, you have to be super-lucky to come away with a championship. Considering how difficult this class is, you get one ‘get out of jail free’ card. Jan and Antonio played their card at Sebring, but since then they have nailed it every single weekend. They’ve had a very strong season and deserve to be leading the championship with one race to go. Let’s hope they can seal it at Petit Le Mans and get us all three championships again for Corvette Racing. It would be an amazing feat to close the American Le Mans Series with Corvette Racing and Chevrolet as champions in everything we can win.”



TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

“There is a lot to race for, that’s for sure. We can’t win the championship – we’re one point out of having a chance. We’d love to be second in the final standings. But from my perspective I’d rather go for a win at Petit Le Mans – the last ALMS race and one race I haven’t won yet. That’s higher on my list than finishing second or staying third in the standings. It’s a big race – where the ALMS started. Sebring and this one were races coming into the year that I definitely wanted to win. We got Sebring in March and if we can get Sebring, I’d be able to look back on this season and be satisfied with what Oliver, Richard and I have accomplished. There would be nothing better to end the season and the ALMS’ run with a victory.”

(Track characteristics) “Road Atlanta is a track that suits multi-class racing. There is an ebb and flow with traffic throughout the race within our class. It’s one I’ve always enjoyed. It’s incredibly fast and fun circuit. For whatever reason, I seem to get a little more excited for Petit Le Mans. The whole picture of that event makes it pretty special. It’s always well-subscribed by fans.”



RICHARD WESTBROOK, NO. 4 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

“Petit Le Mans is one of the classics. In the sports car racing world, you’ve got the Le Mans 24 Hours, Sebring and Petit Le Mans. This is where the ALMS started. It will always be a very special event. Any driver that wins it will put it straight away on their CV. Driving a Corvette in Petit Le Mans also is a very special thing. We have a great turnout with the Corvette owners in the Corvette Corral – one of the biggest of the year. So being a Corvette driver at Road Atlanta is an incredibly special thing.”

(Dealing with traffic) “For a driver, and it’s something I have to be mindful of – you have to be patient. It’s a short track with a very large field. It’s easy to get bottled up for half your stint or even your whole stint in traffic. It’s so easy to be caught up in other people’s battles. You need to be patient early and let the racing take care of itself in the last couple hours.

(A good track) “This definitely is a track that suits our car. It’s has a long straight, a really fast section with a lot of high-speed corners. You also have the slow chicane where you are braking from very high speed. It’s a great indicator of how your car is generally because it has a bit of everything.”



DOUG FEHAN, CORVETTE RACING PROGRAM MANAGER

“Over the years, Petit Le Mans has proven to be one of the most exciting events on our schedule. From a driver's perspective, the Road Atlanta circuit presents an extremely difficult challenge featuring a lot of elevation change mixed with very high-speed corners. And none of that is wasted on our fans who truly understand how important this year's race will be to Corvette Racing. We come in having wrapped up both the ALMS manufacturers' and team championships, which leaves the all-important drivers' championship still up for grabs. Jan and Antonio have fought back all year to take the lead in points and Petit Le Mans will decide who goes home with the crown. You can't ask for any more drama than that!"



Petit Le Mans (all times ET)

Wednesday, Oct. 16-Saturday, Oct. 19

· Test Session: 2:15 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 16

· Practice 1: 10:45 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 17

· Practice 2: 2:45 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 17

· Practice 3: 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 17

· Practice 4: 10:20 a.m., Friday, Oct. 18

· GT Qualifying: 2:05 p.m., Friday, Oct. 18

· Warmup: 9:15 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 19

· Race: 11:30 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 19



Petit Le Mans: Watch It!

Friday, Oct. 18-Saturday, Oct. 19 (all times ET)

· Qualifying: 1:50 p.m., Friday, Oct. 18 (ALMS.com)

· Race (TV): 11 a.m.-noon, 2:30-6:30 p.m. (FOX Sports 2); 6:30-8 p.m. (FOX Sports 1); 8-9:30 p.m. (FOX Sports 2)

· Race (Web): 11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 19 (ALMS.com)



Corvette Racing History at Road Atlanta

Year
Class
Drivers
Result
Car
Notes

1999
GTS
Fellows/Kneifel/Paul Jr.
5th
Corvette C5-R

Pilgrim/Collins/Sharp
4th
Corvette C5-R

2000
GTS
Fellows/Kneifel/Bell
3rd
Corvette C5-R
Fellows pole

Pilgrim/Collins/Freon
1st
Corvette C5-R

2001
GTS
Fellows/O'Connell
9th
Corvette C5-R

Collins/Pilgrim/Freon
1st
Corvette C5-R
Pilgrim pole

2002
GTS
Fellows/O'Connell/Gavin
1st
Corvette C5-R

Collins/Pilgrim/Freon
3rd
Corvette C5-R
Pilgrim fastest race lap

2003*
GTS
Fellows/O'Connell
3rd
Corvette C5-R

Collins/Gavin
1st
Corvette C5-R

2003
GTS
Fellows/O'Connell/Freon
5th
Corvette C5-R

Collins/Gavin/Pilgrim
3rd
Corvette C5-R

2004
GTS
Fellows/O'Connell/Papis
2nd
Corvette C5-R

Beretta/Gavin/Magnussen
1st
Corvette C5-R
Gavin pole, fastest race lap

2005*
GT1
Fellows/O'Connell
1st
Corvette C6.R
O'Connell pole, fastest race lap

Beretta/Gavin
2nd
Corvette C6.R

2005
GT1
Fellows/O'Connell/Papis
6th
Corvette C6.R

Beretta/Gavin/Magnussen
1st
Corvette C6.R
Beretta pole, Gavin fastest race lap

2006
GT1
Fellows/O'Connell/Papis
4th
Corvette C6.R
O'Connell pole

Beretta/Gavin/Magnussen
3rd
Corvette C6.R
Gavin fastest race lap

2007
GT1
Magnussen/O'Connell/Fellows
3rd
Corvette C6.R

Beretta/Gavin/Papis
1st
Corvette C6.R
Gavin fastest race lap

2008
GT1
Magnussen/O'Connell/Fellows
1st
Corvette C6.R
O'Connell pole, Magnussen fastest race lap

Beretta/Gavin/Papis
2nd
Corvette C6.R

2009
GT2
Magnussen/O'Connell/Garcia
6th
Corvette C6.R

Beretta/Gavin/Fassler
4th
Corvette C6.R

2010
GT
Beretta/O'Connell/Garcia
6th
Corvette C6.R

Gavin/Magnussen/Collard
1st
Corvette C6.R
Magnussen fastest race lap

2011
GT
Beretta/Milner/Garcia
17th
Corvette C6.R

Gavin/Magnussen/Westbrook
4th
Corvette C6.R

2012
GT
Garcia/Magnussen/Taylor
2nd
Corvette C6.R

Gavin/Milner/Westbrook
12th
Corvette C6.R


* Denotes two-hour, 45-minute race



ALMS GT Championship Standings

Driver Standings
Team Standings
Manufacturer Standings

1. Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen – 125

2. Dirk Muller – 109

3. Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 100

4. Dominik Farnbacher/Marc Goossens - 93

5. Bill Auberlen - 82
1. Corvette Racing – 161

2. BMW Team RLL – 120

3. SRT Motorsports – 109

4. Risi Competizione - 56

5. CORE autosport – 48
1. Chevrolet – 164

2. BMW – 134

3. SRT – 123

4. Ferrari – 109

5. Porsche – 95




Connect with Corvette Racing and Team Chevy on social media. Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TeamChevy, follow us on Twitter @CorvetteRacing and @TeamChevy, and add +TeamChevy into your Google+ circles.

2013 16th Annual Petit Le Mans Powered by Mazda

Road Atlanta, Braselton, GA, USA
October 16 - 19, 2013



Live Qualifying:
10/18/2013 at 1:50 pm EDT

Live Streaming:
10/19/2013 at 11:30 am EDT

Television Broadcast:
10/19/2013 at 11:00 am EDT on Fox Sports 2

11 am - 12pm EDT on FOX Sports 2
2:30pm - 6:30pm EDT on FOX Sports 2
6:30pm - 8pm EDT on FOX Sports 1
8pm - 9:30pm EDT FOX Sports 2

Encore Presentation:
10/20/2013 at 4:00 pm EDT on Fox Sports 1

LIVE TIMING:
http://scoring.alms.com/

Live Timing for mobile device:
http://scoring.alms.com/mobile.html

PIT NOTES:
http://twitter.com/almsnotes

https://twitter.com/corvetteracing

RADIO ALMS
http://www.alms.com/camera/live-audio-broadcast

Live onboard cameras:
http://www.alms.com/camera/live-audio-broadcast

TICKET INFO:
1-800-849-RACE
Make sure you order the Corvette Corral parking corral ticket
http://www.roadatlanta.com/ev_petit.lasso

Event Schedule:
http://www.imsaracing.net/2013/events ... e%20and%20Supp%20Regs.pdf

Spotters Guide:
http://www.spotterguides.com/

Corvette Corral: (click on Corvette Corral-info not posted yet)
http://www.alms.com/car-corral

Entry List: Not listed

Track Map:
http://www.alms.com/sites/default/fil ... lanta%20Track%20Map_0.pdf

Facility Map:
http://www.imsaracing.net/2011/events/petit/2011-Petit-Map.pdf

WEATHER:
http://www.weather.com/outlook/health ... 6hr_fcst10DayLink_fitness

Chevrolet Claims 10th ALMS Manufacturer Championship

Corvette Racing delivers another Bowtie title with VIR victory



ALTON, Va. (Oct. 5, 2013) – Chevrolet added to its record-setting tally in the American Le Mans Series on Saturday by wrapping up its 10th manufacturer championship. A third-place class finish by the No. 3 Chevrolet Corvette C6.R of Antonio Garcia and Jan Magnussen in the Oak Tree Grand Prix at Virginia International Raceway was enough to clinch the GT manufacturer title with one round of the ALMS remaining.



This is the second consecutive GT championship for Chevrolet to go along with eight straight GT1 titles from 2001-08.



“It's exciting for Chevrolet to clinch the ALMS GT manufacturers' championship for the second year in a row,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet’s U.S. Vice President of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “This championship is the result of tremendous preparation, persistence, teamwork and great driving all season long. Thanks to the Corvette C6.R drivers, Chevrolet powertrain engineers, and our partners at Pratt and Miller for their efforts and results.”



Saturday’s result also clinched the ALMS GT team championship for Corvette Racing – its 10th in the ALMS and most in the series’ history. In addition to VIR, Chevrolet and Corvette Racing were victorious at Sebring, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Baltimore and Circuit of The Americas.



“The ALMS GT class was as deep and competitive as ever in 2013,” said Mark Kent, Chevrolet’s Director of Racing. “Winning this manufacturer championship required the highest level of teamwork from our group, Pratt & Miller, and GM Racing Powertrain. We look forward to closing the ALMS season at Road Atlanta in two weeks and beginning the 2014 Tudor United Sports Car Championship in Daytona Beach with the Corvette C7.R.”








CORVETTE RACING AT VIR: A 10th ALMS Team Championship

Garcia/Magnussen 3rd, Gavin/Milner 6th on title-winning day



ALTON, Va. (Oct. 5, 2013) – For the 10th time in the 15 years of the American Le Mans Series, Corvette Racing can lay claim to an ALMS team championship. Antonio Garcia and Jan Magnussen finished third in the Oak Tree Grand Prix at Virginia International Raceway in their No. 3 Compuware Chevrolet Corvette C6.R to clinch both the ALMS manufacturer and team titles with one round of the series to go.



The result moved Garcia and Magnussen ahead in the drivers’ standings by 18 points with 24 available at Road Atlanta’s Petit Le Mans in two weeks.



Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner in the No. 3 Compuware Corvette placed sixth on an up-and-down day that saw the cars begin the race eighth and ninth on the GT grid. Once again, clever strategy and engineering plus quick pitwork allowed the two yellow Corvettes to march toward the front early.



Garcia made a steady and sometimes aggressive charge to the race lead by the end of his stint. The Spaniard displayed many of the same skills in traffic that delivered a Corvette Racing victory in the previous ALMS round at Circuit of The Americas. He handed the C6.R over to Magnussen with a little more than an hour left, and the Dane drove a measured stint the rest of the way.



Meanwhile in the No. 4 car, Gavin had a rough-and-tumble two hours that saw him work his way into the top-five at one point before multiple incidents of contact and a one-minute penalty after colliding with a GT Challenge Porsche just after the one-hour mark. Gavin handed off to Milner with 60 minutes left, and the Virginia native moved up quickly through the field to fourth late in the race. As the final 10 minutes of the race clicked away, Miler and the No. 56 BMW became involved in a dicey fight. The pair battled to the checkered flag which saw the No. 4 car settling for the sixth finishing position.



The 2013 American Le Mans Series closes with Petit Le Mans on Saturday, Oct. 19 from Road Atlanta. The 1,000-mile/10-hour endurance race will air live on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2.



EDITORS: High-resolution images of Corvette Racing are available on the Team Chevy media site for editorial use only.



ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

“After yesterday, we knew would be a hard race. We knew that if we didn’t have ultimate pace, we would focus on at least having a good car for the race. We worked on not having a lot of tire degradation, and that’s what saved us on race pace. We definitely needed to move up quickly, and Olly (Gavin) and I did at the start. Even when we fell back early after the first stop, I was able to muscle back toward the front. Our Corvette was very good, and our pace was really good. That’s what allowed us to catch and pass people, sometimes very aggressively. We needed to keep moving forward. Overall, we had a nice car and good stops.

“Even if we couldn’t win, we ended up with really good points. The most important thing is that we wrapped up the manufacturer championship for Chevrolet and the team title for Pratt & Miller. That is a great goal and I am very happy we were able to win these championships for them.”



JAN MAGNUSSEN, NO. 3 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

“Antonio did a fantastic job in his first two stints. When I got in the car, I really felt like there was a lot on the line. I couldn’t risk anything – there could be no penalties or anything. We had to lock up the manufacturer championship, and we could do that by finishing ahead of the BMWs. That was the number one goal. I was far from as aggressive as I normally would have been. It was difficult because you definitely lose a little bit of your edge. I had to defend a couple times on the BMW; he was fast in some places and I was faster. Every time I got a gap over him, something would happen and he would catch right back up. It was tough, but I’m happy for Chevrolet. I’m happy for Corvette Racing. It’s great to get both these championships today.”

“Now we go to Petit Le Mans with a good margin (in the drivers’ championship). We can relax a little bit, and the pressure is on the 56 car to win or finish second. If we score even just a few points, I think we will have it.”



OLIVER GAVIN, NO. 4 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

“Today was quite a tough day. Every way I seemed to turn, there was contact or people hitting me. The track is so narrow and slick at times with the different amounts of dust and rubber on it; it makes for a very tricky surface to race on. The first stop was a great job by the guys to get us from almost last to almost first. But after that, something silly would always happen. Our car wasn’t great toward the second stop; we were on the harder tire, and the car was nervous, skating around and wasn’t hooked up. The thought was to get through my stint, hand over to Tommy, we’ll make some changes and we’d move on from there. But I got blocked by a slower GTC car and caught another slow car at the end of the backstraight. He blocked me all the way down to the last corner before pit entry. He stopped on both apexes and we had contact. We ended up both spinning, I fell back and then had to serve the penalty. It was super-frustrating. Fortunately we got a caution and got Tommy in the car. He did a great job all the way to the end under difficult conditions. For sure, the BMW was blocking him but the officials didn’t want to look at it that way.

“It’s been a rough day and weekend for the No. 4 car. But it’s a great day to come away with a great result in winning the manufacturer and team championships. The manufacturer title is the main goal for the whole year. Everyone is and should be happy about that. All in all and in the bigger picture, it’s been a great day considering how we started. The crews were fantastic in the pitlane and delivered.”



TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

“Oliver had a really tough two hours. But after all that trouble in Oliver’s stint, I got in and came out right on the tail end of the lead lap with a car that was still pretty quick. I was chomping at the bit to go chase after some guys. I had fun for awhile there – passing some of the other GT competitors and getting into the race. I was quick initially and then settled in with five other cars and we ran together for awhile. At the end, Dirk (Muller) flat-out blocked me and it should have been a penalty. In the end, we are ALMS GT manufacturer and team champions, so that’s not a bad way to end the day.”



DOUG FEHAN, CORVETTE RACING PROGRAM MANAGER

“I spend a lot of time not only in Europe but among the people that run and organize (Le Mans and the FIA World Endurance Championship), and to a man they look at the ALMS as the most competitive GT racing in the world. I think you would have a difficult time arguing that if you look at every race this year – including all day here at VIR. We were eighth and ninth on the grid, and they were many out there who would have written us off. We have been in that position before. The beauty of continuity and keeping a team together over the years is that you develop an inner strength that galvanizes the team to an extent that makes you literally unbeatable. This is a team that does not give up despite all the odds. We took a car that qualified eighth and ninth, but ran up front with both of them. That is a testament to the team Gary (Pratt, team manager), the drivers and the crew.”



GARY PRATT, CORVETTE RACING TEAM MANAGER

“This means everything to us. Our number one goal when we start at Sebring is the manufacturers’ championship. Once we get that, we go on to the drivers and team championships. When you execute like the guys did today and have a good strategy –even though we aren’t the fastest car, somehow we get it done with great pit stops. We have what we think are the best drivers in the paddock; they execute and do a great job every single race. Chevrolet expects a lot out of us, and we just try to deliver. There is a lot of good engineering and a great group of mechanics and crew chiefs that execute in the shop, in the paddock and in the pits. Sometimes it looks easy but it’s really not.

“I also want to thank Chevrolet. We started in 1999 doing just the endurance races. They were patient, let us build the team and get experience. We didn’t have a lot of engineering on staff but we were able to go out and get Doug Louth and Lynn Bishop as our head engineers. That mix of good engineering, great mechanics and good drivers has really paid off. Corvette is a great product to start with. And the patience from Chevrolet with us to build the team and allow us to continue to do this after this many years really puts us in a big advantage.”



Petit Le Mans (all times ET)

Wednesday, Oct. 16-Saturday, Oct. 19

· Test Session: 2:15 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 16

· Practice 1: 10:45 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 17

· Practice 2: 2:45 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 17

· Practice 3: 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 17

· Practice 4: 10:20 a.m., Friday, Oct. 18

· GT Qualifying: 2:05 p.m., Friday, Oct. 18

· Warmup: 9:15 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 19

· Race: 11:30 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 19



VIR: Watch It!

Friday, Oct. 18-Saturday, Oct. 19 (all times ET)

· Qualifying: 1:50 p.m., Friday, Oct. 18 (ALMS.com)

· Race (TV): 11 a.m.-noon, 2:30-6:30 p.m. (FOX Sports 2); 6:30-8 p.m. (FOX Sports 1); 8-9:30 p.m. (FOX Sports 2)

· Race (Web): 11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 19 (ALMS.com)



ALMS GT Championship Standings

Driver Standings
Team Standings
Manufacturer Standings

1. Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen – 125

2. Dirk Muller – 109

3. Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 100

4. Dominik Farnbacher/Marc Goossens - 93

5. Bill Auberlen - 82
1. Corvette Racing – 161

2. BMW Team RLL – 120

3. SRT Motorsports – 109

4. Risi Competizione - 56

5. CORE autosport – 48
1. Chevrolet – 164

2. BMW – 134

3. SRT – 123

4. Ferrari – 109

5. Porsche – 95

CORVETTE RACING AT VIR: Uphill Climb Following Qualifying

Magnussen eighth in GT; Milner ninth following spin on oil slick



ALTON, Va. (Oct. 4, 2013) – Corvette Racing faces a tall mountain to climb for Saturday’s Oak Tree Grand Prix at Virginia International Raceway. The two Compuware Chevrolet Corvette C6.Rs qualified eighth and ninth Friday in the American Le Mans Series’ ultra-competitive GT class.



Jan Magnussen in the No. 3 Compuware Corvette set the team’s best time in the 15-minute session at 1:46.923 (110.098 mph). Tommy Milner, driving the No. 4 Corvette, was next in the order at 1:47.038 (109.980 mph) but the defending race and ALMS GT co-champion spun on another car’s oil and fluid at VIR’s famed Oak Tree turn with four minutes left in the session. The damage was confined to the front-left portion of the Corvette.



Corvette Racing seeks its 10th ALMS GT team championship, which it can achieve with a sixth-place class finish or better. Chevrolet will wrap up the manufacturer title with a victory in Saturday’s race, set for 2:15 p.m. ET. Live coverage on ESPN3 begins at 2 p.m.; ESPN2’s coverage airs at 5:30 p.m. ET on Sunday.



Magnussen and Antonio Garcia are on a two-race winning streak, and their three victories are the most in the GT class this season. The pair leads the drivers’ championship by 13 points – 44 remain over the final two rounds.



Milner and Oliver Gavin won last year’s race at VIR to take the drivers’ title. It also delivered the manufacturer championship for Chevrolet and team title to Corvette Racing. Entering the weekend, they stand third in the GT standings and are 18 points back of their teammates in the No. 3 Corvette.



EDITORS: High-resolution images of Corvette Racing are available on the Team Chevy media site for editorial use only.



JAN MAGNUSSEN, NO. 3 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

“That was a tough session for both Corvettes. The car was actually pretty balanced.

The only strategy we can look at now is that we need to react to what everyone else does. We need to try to stay clean and get as many points we can. The chance of getting 20 points is slim. But if we’re good for 10 points, we’d better get 10 points.”



TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

“Looking at the track now, you can see a pretty big wet spot on the track. I had just wound up for another quick lap and wound some front brake bias into the car. My first indication of it was when I went for the brakes and locked the front. The first reaction was that I went too far on the front brake bias and just went off. I started apologizing to the crew over the radio. When I finished, Chuck (Houghton, No. 4 engineer) said, ‘I don’t think it was your fault. It looks like there was something on the race track.’

(The session) “It’s not the best qualifying all the way around. We have struggled all weekend but I think everyone has with grip levels and other areas. Maybe we are having the worst of it. We’re not miles off the pace but would like to be farther up the grid than where we are now. The good thing is that our pit crews have been phenomenal all year long. We are making the most of things because we have the right strategy calls, not making mistakes and the pit work has been great. They’ll always be up to the task and will gain us a couple spots if we need.”



DOUG FEHAN, CORVETTE RACING PROGRAM MANAGER

“Today was a difficult and frustrating day. Weather conditions compounded by a tricky and dirty race track proved to be a difficult challenge to overcome. But those out there at follow Corvette Racing know that we never give up. COTA was a perfect example of coming home victorious and not necessarily having the fastest car.”



Oak Tree Grand Prix (all times ET)

· Warmup: 9:35 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 5

· Race: 2:15 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 5



VIR: Watch It!

Saturday, Oct. 4-Sunday, Oct. 6 (all times ET)

· Race (Web): Live – 2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 5 (ESPN3)

· Race (TV): 5:30 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 6 (ESPN2)

ANTONIO GARCIA: Inside Track at VIR



Last year may have been the first race for the American Le Mans Series at VIR, but it wasn’t the first visit there for Antonio Garcia. Corvette Racing’s speedy Spaniard raced there twice in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports car Series’ Daytona Prototype class, and he parlayed that experience into the fastest GT race lap in the ALMS’ debut last season – 1:47.389 (109.620 mph).



Garcia, who leads the ALMS GT championship with Jan Magnussen in the No. 3 Compuware Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, tells you what he looks for during a lap at VIR.



“VIR is a race track that I’ve always liked since I went there for the first time in 2010. Overall, the track has a lot of momentum and flow. The backstraight is the only place where you are not turning and are just going straight. Everywhere else, you need to place the car well – especially in the first bit where there is a little combination of some slow-speed corners. As you go toward the Oak Tree Corner, which sadly is missing the Oak Tree now – and the other side of the track, you have a section of very, very fast corners. The first time you go through there can be a little scary. No matter what car you are driving, you are flat or just breathing a little on the throttle at the last corner. The track is very challenging and very narrow with no room for even little mistakes.



“Braking is very important into Turn 1 and also at the end of the backstraight. You need to be able to brake very late because both of the entries are rather bumpy. You really need to nail the curbing where you shift just to make the line smooth. Through the esses, drivers – like Jan! – run over all the curbing. The esses give you the chance to do that although I’m not really keen on working on the curbs. I have a line through there where I don’t use a lot of curbing. But going through there really is the moment of your lap. Everyone tries to take a line to get through there as flat as possible until the last right-hander before the downhill toward Oak Tree. I don’t think there is much to be gained by going flat versus breathing a little bit. Another point is the Oak Tree corner. In the past, the Oak Tree would not really let you see the apex because it would be right behind the tree. I don’t know how it will be now, but for sure the corner is one where you need to give away the entry a little in order to go back on power early because the backstraight is so long. From Turn 4 up until Oak Tree are the key points of the race track.



“If you’re running in a group or in traffic, for sure the most difficult section would be the esses. Really it’s Turn 3 up until Oak Tree is the most important. If you are in a group, chasing traffic or traffic is catching you, that does give you a chance to make up time on your competition if you get through there cleanly. It’s important that if someone is coming on you that you let him know where you are going to go and where you want to be passed. Otherwise there can be a misunderstanding between drivers and that’s when big crashes happen.”



Saturday’s race is set for 2:15 p.m. ET with live coverage on ESPN3 beginning at 2 p.m. ESPN2’s coverage airs at 5:30 p.m. ET on Sunday.





Oak Tree Grand Prix (all times ET)

· GT Testing: 3:30-5 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 3

· Practice 1: 10:25 a.m., Friday, Oct. 4

· Practice 2: 2:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 4

· GT Qualifying: 4:05 p.m., Friday, Oct. 4

· Warmup: 9:35 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 5

· Race: 2:15 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 5



VIR: Watch It!

Friday, Oct. 4-Sunday, Oct. 6 (all times ET)

· Qualifying: Live – 3:35 p.m., Friday, Oct. 4 (ESPN3)

· Race (Web): Live – 2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 5 (ESPN3)

· Race (TV): 5:30 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 6 (ESPN2)

CORVETTE RACING AT VIR: GT Championships in Sight

ALMS manufacturer, team titles within reach in next-to-last round



DETROIT (Oct. 1, 2013) – Twelve months ago, Corvette Racing and Chevrolet celebrated a championship weekend at Virginia International Raceway (VIR). Now let’s fast-forward to the present day – Chevrolet and Corvette Racing are on the verge of securing a repeat championship titles in the American Le Mans Series... once again at VIR.



The Oak Tree Grand Prix on Saturday, Oct. 5 could see the ALMS GT team and manufacturer championships wrapped up. The two yellow Compuware Chevrolet Corvette C6.Rs have five victories between them: three for the No. 3 of Antonio Garcia and Jan Magnussen – Laguna Seca, Baltimore and Circuit of The Americas – and two for Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner in the No. 4 Corvette – Sebring and Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.



All Corvette Racing needs to win its 10th ALMS team championship is for either of the two cars to finish sixth or better in class at VIR. A victory for either Corvette would secure Chevrolet’s 10th manufacturer title with one race left in the season. That’s what happened in 2012 – Gavin and Milner’s triumph landed them the drivers’ championship, Chevrolet clinched the manufacturers’ crown and Corvette Racing wrapped up the team title.



In the drivers’ standings, Garcia and Magnussen are in the midst of a remarkable run of three wins and two podium finishes in the last six races. That streak places them in the lead of the championship despite coming away from the season’s first race at Sebring with no points.



Saturday’s race is set for 2:15 p.m. ET with live coverage on ESPN3 beginning at 2 p.m. ESPN2’s coverage airs at 5:30 p.m. ET on Sunday.



VIR, which opened in 1957, has been a happy hunting ground for Corvette’s stable of four drivers. In addition to his GT victory last year with Gavin, Milner also won in GRAND-AM competition in 2005. The Virginia native made his professional debut in GT racing a year earlier and claimed pole position.



Magnussen also is a past winner at VIR in Rolex Series competition having taken a Daytona Prototype victory in 2007. This will mark Garcia’s fourth straight year competing at the venue, and he posted the fastest GT lap of the race in 2012. He and Magnussen placed eighth in class last season.



EDITORS: High-resolution images of Corvette Racing are available on the Team Chevy media site for editorial use only.



ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

“VIR is a race track that I’ve always liked since I went there for the first time in 2010. Overall, the track has a lot of momentum and flow. The backstraight is the only place where you are not turning and are just going straight. Everywhere else, you need to place the car well. As you go toward the Oak Tree Corner, which sadly is missing the Oak Tree now – and the other side of the track, you have a section of very, very fast corners. The first time you go through there can be a little scary. No matter what car you are driving, you are flat or just breathing a little off the throttle at the last corner. The track is very challenging and very narrow with no room for even little mistakes. There is no runoff. If you crash there, it’s going to be big.”

(More conservative given lack of runoff?) “The thing about the ALMS is that you can’t be conservative. There will always be someone who is not and will be faster than you. You really need to give everything you can even if in the back of your mind, you know you will be in a big one if you go off the track. I like VIR because of that factor. You are willing to nail everything at 100 percent but if you go over just a little bit, it’s likely you will have a big off.”

(Similar to other ALMS venues?) “I would say VIR is a bit like Road America and Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. You really need to get in a rhythm, and it takes some time to get to that point. But once you are there, it looks like you are way more relaxed and the level of stress goes a little bit lower. For sure, the first time people race at VIR and go through sections like the esses, it is very stressful. But once you do it flat, you realize it is possible and you relax slightly.”

(Championship thoughts): “It’s a mistake to start thinking about the championship with still two races to go. We’ve seen that anything can happen. We need to remain focused and take care of the next two races. Then we will be champions.”



JAN MAGNUSSEN, NO. 3 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

“I’ve raced at VIR in the past with the Rolex Series, and all the way back in the Panoz days we would test there. I really enjoy the track and the whole area. We will race for the first time there without the Oak Tree. It was very much the trademark of the track but it will still be a good race without it.

“The circuit is pretty narrow with some really, really fast sections. It’s very hard to pass at VIR, especially with the situation we are in with top speed. But we do have a very good-handling car. It will be tough for us to pass anyone but I have great faith in the guys that if we are a little behind, we can turn it around with a minimum of two stops. It’s different from last year when it was a four-hour race. We will have to go there and see if we can qualify toward the front. When we aren’t the fastest car, much more emphasis goes into qualifying because you can control the race from the front. It’s much harder controlling anything when you’re fifth.”

(Championship chase) “The importance of the win at Laguna Seca proved to the No. 3 team that it was possible to win. We had a whole 2012 season where we were fast and had a shot but something would always happen. As a result, we had a season with no wins. We started off at Sebring this year really poorly; Long Beach was a decent weekend but wasn’t great. Laguna proved that if we were perfect, we could win. It turned things around a little bit.

“I have to say that just because we won (in Monterey) that come VIR we would be leading the championship. After Sebring, I wrote off the championship completely. We thought we weren’t going to catch up and just went for wins. Maybe we would risk things once in awhile. Now things have changed and we’re in the lead and have to conserve things to make sure we get points.”



OLIVER GAVIN, NO. 4 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

“VIR is very much a momentum track, and our cars are very good in those areas and on the brakes. There are a few heavy brake zones around the circuit where our car is pretty strong. It is a circuit that is very challenging and one that is narrow. It usually punishes you pretty badly if you make mistakes. You have to use every bit of the track to be quick but you have to drive it with some respect. It isn’t a place where you can really attack and be very aggressive like Road America. At VIR, you have to turn the dial back just one notch so you aren’t too aggressive. If you are, you’re going off the track, onto the grass and you’re not coming back for quite awhile. Along with that you’ll pick up all kinds of junk and rubbish in the radiator. It will for certain make your race that much harder. With all that in mind, you have to be aware that it can bite you.”

(Championship outlook after COTA) “What happened in Austin was bitterly disappointing. From us leading in the championship and being in control of our title run, now we are very much on the back foot with only two races to go and us having to have other people run into poor luck. For Tommy and I, we won’t necessarily be driving with caution in mind. We really just have to go for it and go for wins over the next two races. We have to try and score maximum points to give ourselves a chance and see how others’ races go. There still is some 12 hours and 45 minutes of racing to go in the season so there is still plenty that can happen. We know from our experience at COTA that it can turn around very quickly. It’s not all lost and the possibility of winning is still there. But it does give us a mountain to climb. We can’t afford to sit back and be content to collect points. We have to maximize every opportunity.”



TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

“The track does have significance in my career. It was where I got my start in professional GT racing. I did my first race there in 2004 with my dad’s team and won my first GT pole – I outqualified Bill Auberlen and Boris Said to do that. It was great to go there last year and clinch my first ALMS championship at VIR where my GT racing career started. That was pretty special to have that connection at a race track like that. It’s a fantastic circuit with a very pretty setting and has a traditional, old-school feel to it. They took a piece of land, put down roads where it looked good, left the elevation changes and didn’t touch much of the surrounding area. That’s how Canadian Tire Motorsport Park is, and that’s how VIR is. I have fun racing on those tracks and have had recent success racing there, so let’s hope that continues.”

(On difference in venues between Austin and VIR) “I would rate COTA and VIR similar in their feel, so to speak. The big difference is that Austin is very wide and spacious with a lot of run-off room, and VIR is very narrow and doesn’t have a lot of run-off. The flow to the racetrack is very similar between the two. Obviously, your heart rate is a little bit higher at VIR; you know that any little mistake will send you off the track. Fortunately there is a lot of grass and not anything solid! But running on grass will slow down your momentum and kill your laptime and lot faster than running on dirty asphalt like at COTA.

(Traffic concerns) “One of my concerns last year was traffic, based on experience from years past. The track was just as narrow as I remembered. But as the race went on and traffic went along, for the most part it wasn’t nearly as bad as I expected. Everyone played nicely. The way the classes were spaced at that moment suited what the track offered. Yes, there are sections where traffic holds you up, and it is frustrating. You wish the slower cars weren’t there. But I can tell you from experience that there are tracks where it’s way worse than that just because of the nature of the track and how the corners are linked. I didn’t have any real issue last year and I don’t see it being any bigger of a problem this year.”


DOUG FEHAN, CORVETTE RACING PROGRAM MANAGER

“VIR is a venue that promotes fantastic racing. Even with a lap of more than three miles, there is no chance to rest with a great combination of slow-to mid-speed turns early in the lap and then a very long section of high-speed corners and a massive backstretch. As evidenced at all our previous events, the competition in the ALMS GT class is extremely well balanced. Winning here will take a total team effort – the kind of effort that wins championships.”



Oak Tree Grand Prix (all times ET)

GT Testing: 3:30-5 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 3
Practice 1: 10:25 a.m., Friday, Oct. 4
Practice 2: 2:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 4
GT Qualifying: 4:05 p.m., Friday, Oct. 4
Warmup: 9:35 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 5
Race: 2:15 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 5


VIR: Watch It!

Friday, Oct. 4-Sunday, Oct. 6 (all times ET)

Qualifying: Live – 3:35 p.m., Friday, Oct. 4 (ESPN3)
Race (Web): Live – 2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 5 (ESPN3)
Race (TV): 5:30 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 6 (ESPN2)

2013 American Le Mans Series at VIR

Virginia International Raceway, Danville, Virginia, USA
Oct 3 - 5, 2013



Tune-in Details:


Television Broadcast:
10/06/2013 at 5:30 pm EDT on ESPN 2

Live Streaming:
10/05/2013 at 2:00 pm EDT on ESPN 3

Live Qualifying:
10/04/2013 at 3:35 pm EDT on ESPN 3

LIVE TIMING:
http://scoring.alms.com/

Live Timing for mobile device:
http://scoring.alms.com/mobile.html

PIT NOTES:
http://twitter.com/almsnotes

RADIO ALMS
http://www.americanlemans.com/

Live onboard cameras:
http://www.alms.com/camera/live-audio-broadcast

TICKET INFO:
http://www.etix.com/ticket/online/eve ... &utm_campaign=events-page

Event Schedule:
http://www.imsaracing.net/2013/events ... ace/VIR%20Supp%20Regs.pdf

Spotters Guide:
http://www.spotterguides.com/

Corvette Corral: http://www.alms.com/sites/default/fil ... -%20Corvette%20Corral.pdf

Entry List:
http://www.imsaracing.net/2013/events ... %20VIR%20ALMS%20Entry.pdf

Track Map:
http://www.imsaracing.net/2013/events ... 20Race/VIRtrackMap813.jpg

Track Elevation Map:
http://www.imsaracing.net/2013/events ... lCourseElevations2012.jpg

WEATHER:
http://www.myweather2.com/Motor-Racin ... nternational-Raceway.aspx

Please help Gainsco win the Grand-Am Rolex "Moment of the Year Award"

Thanks for your ongoing support of GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing. The great victory the “Red Dragon” team had at Circuit of The Americas this year is one of five on the ballot for the Rolex Moment of The Year. Voting ends tomorrow and we are the only Corvette on the ballot! The winner will be announced at the GRAND-AM Rolex Series Banquet on Monday night.
Can you please take a minute to vote AND pass this note on to all? We want to win this honor for you and Corvette! Click here, select the second video and vote away! Thank you!
http://www.grand-am.com/rolexmoments

Adam Saal
SaalGood for GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing

CORVETTE RACING AT AUSTIN: Thrilling Victory for Garcia, Magnussen

Third win of season and GT championship lead for No. 3 Compuware Corvette



AUSTIN, Texas (Sept. 21, 2013) – Jan Magnussen and Antonio Garcia scored their second straight victory in the American Le Mans Series’ GT class on Saturday, winning the eighth round of the championship at Circuit of The Americas. Garcia led the final 58 minutes in his No. 3 Compuware Chevrolet Corvette C6.R under intense pressure to win by less than a second.



Their third victory of the season moved Garcia and Magnussen into the lead of the ALMS GT drivers’ championship with two rounds remaining. The result bolstered Chevrolet’s lead in the manufacturer standings and Corvette Racing’s advantage in the team championship.



“The ALMS GT class is ultra-competitive,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet U.S. Vice President, Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “Corvette Racing's teamwork was the key element to put us in the best positions to race for a win today. Preparation, strategy, flawless pit stops and incredible driving by Jan Magnussen and Antonio Garcia delivered a fifth win for Corvette Racing this season. The championship points standings remain very tight. Our focus remains on prep for the final two races of the season.”



Saturday’s race will air on ESPN2 at 5:30 p.m. ET on Sunday.



On the opposite end of the spectrum were Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner. Their No. 4 Corvette lost its transmission just shy of the one-hour mark. The duo entered the weekend with the drivers’ championship lead.



Milner started from third but moved to lead class lead at the start the race as both Corvettes got around the pole-sitting BMW before Turn 1. Magnussen dropped back to third but moved up two positions and into the lead 10 minutes later when the then-race leading Viper went wide off track and forced Milner to back off slightly.



Two stellar pit stops and an incredible strategic call on the team’s first stop put Garcia in the lead for good with a little less than an hour remaining. The Spaniard fended off multiple charges from Dirk Muller by timing the race traffic just right. He was able to put slower cars between himself and his competitors on numerous occasions to build gaps from as little as 0.2 seconds to 1.5 and 2 seconds at a time.



In the No. 4 Corvette, Milner reported having issues shifting up to third gear 11 minutes in, and the problem grew worse when the car lost drive in fourth gear at the 57-minute mark. It stopped halfway around the circuit and could not continue.



“It was great to see the Corvette Racing team salute our Corvette customers in the Corvette Corral directly across from our pit location with a win,” Campbell said. “We race to improve the production car, and we race for our Corvette owners.”



The next race for Corvette Racing is the Oak Tree Grand Prix on Saturday, Oct. 5 from Virginia International Raceway in Danville, Va. The race will air on ESPN2 at 5:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, Oct. 6 with live coverage at 2 p.m. ET, Oct. 5 on ESPN3.



EDITORS: High-resolution images of Corvette Racing are available on the Team Chevy media site for editorial use only.



ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

“We made the right decision with strategy. We saw the No. 55 BMW stop early before because of traffic, and that’s why our team decided to pit me early as well (on the last stop). I knew we were pitting before everyone else and I had to be really focused and aggressive on my out-lap on new tires. That’s what I think gave us the lead. From that point, traffic played a huge role in this race. From Turn 3 to Turn 8, no one could pass. I’m sure all the prototypes were getting mad behind us, and we were getting mad at the GT Challenge cars. So basically we needed to stay in line and stay aggressive. There was a point with 30 minutes to go where Dirk (Muller) right on my bumper. I thought it was going to be a really long finish with 30 minutes of holding him back. There was no traffic at that point, but when I did see traffic I knew that was my only opportunity. I was really aggressive and could build a gap over him. In the end, it’s second victory in a row for us and the GT championship lead. I’m very happy.”

(Have you driven in a stint that intense?) “I have but I was chasing people for a long time. Last year, we were there in four or five races in a row where we couldn’t make the winning pass. The team did a great job on strategy by stopping Jan earlier so the fuel fill was a little shorter. We know that from being in the lead, other cars have to work harder to pass you. “



JAN MAGNUSSEN, NO. 3 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

“The start was mayhem. A lot of cars were trying to get into turns 1 and 2. I went three-wide with a prototype and my teammate and didn’t win anything. I lost a spot to the other Corvette. When things got settled, we were struggling to get by the Prototype Challenge cars, which at that point hadn’t gotten up to speed. It was really hard to get back into a rhythm and go for it from there. I was able to just about hang on to one of the Vipers, which was extremely fast at the beginning. Once we pitted, I handed over to Antonio. Once all the stops were over, we were in the lead. After that, Antonio did a fantastic job with all the pressure he faced.”

(How tough was it to watch the finish?) “It’s nerve-wracking and frustrating to watch someone else be under the kind of pressure Antonio was under. I know exactly what he was going through, and you’re honestly exploding inside. I looked at the clock with 17 minutes left and watched a lot of racing. Then I looked up again and the clock said 16 minutes! That clock was counting down very slowly. You feel pretty helpless there watching the monitor. I think what makes you so nervous when you’re watching the race is that you get all the information – all the lap times, who is going fast and who isn’t, and all the TV cameras. It was no good!”



OLIVER GAVIN, NO. 4 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

“It was an extremely disappointing day for the No. 4 car. We were encouraged by Friday’s qualifying performance, and Tommy’s strong start to the lead put us in an ideal position. But in racing, bad luck can strike at any time and it hit us today in a most inopportune time. We still have a lot to race for during the final two rounds to help Chevrolet and Corvette Racing secure another ALMS championship. Congratulations to Antonio, Jan and the No. 3 team on a phenomenal victory in an absolutely stunning race.”



TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

“It’s a disappointing day. A gremlin that was around all weekend finally bit hard in the race, which is unfortunate. It doesn’t kill our drivers’ championship hopes but it puts a big damper on them. It’s great for the No. 3 guys. It’s hard to be too mad because our teammates are out front, doing well and have won two in a row. So that’s good for them. This is how a two-car team should be. We have two very good teams and two very good cars. The weekend started pretty poorly in general. But we had a great qualifying effort, which was a whole team effort. We had great cars in the race, obviously. All credit to Corvette Racing.”



DOUG FEHAN, CORVETTE RACING PROGRAM MANAGER

“The drive that Antonio put on the last hour-and-a-half of that race was as strong an effort as I've seen in my time in the ALMS. It was just an incredible drive – precision, skill, being cool under fire – that demonstrates all the things we represent at Corvette Racing. Antonio Garcia put on an awesome show for the fans today. If you didn’t enjoy this one, nothing will make you happy.”



DOUG LOUTH, TECHNICAL DIRECTOR, CORVETTE RACING

“Kyle Millay in the No. 3 car and Chuck Houghton on the No. 4 did a phenomenal job with the car setups. Facing a new track with a different mix of segment types than we usually see and the hottest track temps we’ve had in years, they came up with a package relatively unusual for us that obviously had great long-run pace and consistency. Jan and Antonio were spot on; Antonio’s drive to work traffic and hold off the BMW is one of the best I’ve ever watched. And of course the No. 3 crew had two perfect pit stops. As close as the finish was, anything less than perfect would have put us mid-pack. The No. 4 car had a tough day, but the guys were just as successful getting their car tuned for the hot conditions as Tommy showed early in the race.”



Oak Tree Grand Prix (all times ET)

· GT Testing: 3:30-5 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 3

· Practice 1: 10:25 a.m., Friday, Oct. 4

· Practice 2: 2:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 4

· GT Qualifying: 4:05 p.m., Friday, Oct. 4

· Warmup: 9:35 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 5

· Race: 2:15 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 5



VIR: Watch It!

Friday, Oct. 4-Sunday, Oct. 6 (all times ET)

· Qualifying: Live – 3:25 p.m., Friday, Oct. 4 (ESPN3)

· Race (Web): Live – 2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 5 (ESPN3)

· Race (TV): 5:30 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 6 (ESPN2)

CORVETTE RACING AT AUSTIN: Second, Third in ALMS GT Qualifying

Team makes massive gains from practice to qualifying on damp day in Texas



AUSTIN, Texas (Sept. 20, 2013) – Corvette Racing didn’t let heavy rains and an unfamiliar track deter its efforts in qualifying Friday for the inaugural American Le Mans Series race at Circuit of The Americas. The two Compuware Chevrolet Corvette C6.Rs earned the second- and third-place starting spots in the GT field for Saturday’s two-hour, 45-minute race.



ESPN2 will air at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday with live coverage available on ESPN3 beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET on Saturday.



Antonio Garcia in the No. 3 Compuware Corvette qualified on the outside of the GT front row with a lap of 2:17.442 (89.056 mph) around the 3.4-mile, 20-turn layout. The Spaniard, who drives with Jan Magnussen, set his best time on his final lap to overtake teammate Oliver Gavin for the second spot.



Gavin posted a best lap of 2:17.594 (88.957 mph) in the No. 4 Corvette. The Englishman and seatmate Tommy Milner come to Circuit of the Americas with a two-point lead in the GT drivers’ standings as they try to repeat as class champions. Garcia and Magnussen are second in the championship and sit just two points back.



In the manufacturer standings, Chevrolet leads BMW by 20 points. Corvette Racing also heads the team championship with three rounds left in the season.



Friday’s qualifying effort saw a remarkable turnaround for the two Corvettes. After placing fourth and seventh in the day’s first practice and fifth and eighth in the second session, team and Michelin tire engineers developed a sound strategy for time trials. The results spoke for themselves. Only Joey Hand qualified faster at 2:17.178 (89.227 mph).



EDITORS: High-resolution images of Corvette Racing are available on the Team Chevy media site for editorial use only.



International Sports Car Weekend (all times CT)

· Warmup: 8 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 21

· Race: 3:45 p.m., Saturday Sept. 21



Circuit of The Americas: Watch It!

Saturday, Sept. 21-Sunday, Sept. 22 (all times ET)

· Race (Web): Live – 4:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 21 (ESPN3)

· Race (TV): 1 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 22 (ESPN2)



ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

“We know this track appeared to be very aggressive on tires. So over 15 minutes you only have two or three shots at a good lap. My very first lap, the balance wasn’t quite there. So I knew where to push on my second run. I put together a very, very nice lap. It is great to have Corvette Racing in P2 and P3, especially after how the last session went. We knew the performance was there but couldn’t quite put it together. But I am very happy. The car was really good.”

(His best lap) “On the very last lap, the tires were giving up on the last three corners. At one point I thought comparing that lap to my previous best that I could go down in the 2:16s but the tires just gave up over the last few corners. Still, it was pretty decent work and happy to be on the first row.”

(Starting second and third) “Being up front is always good. We know anything can happen. In a situation like Baltimore, just being one spot or one row behind where we were would have put us out of the race. You cannot predict that but for sure being on the front row gives you the best shot in the race.”

(The fight with BMW) “We are the meat in the sandwich. For sure, we’ve seeing again that the four strongest cars are from both manufacturers. They will be very strong tomorrow so we will see how it develops. We still don’t know how the weather will be. If it is part of the race, it will come down to the pits and crews again. As I’ve said in the past, Corvette Racing is the best third driver you can have. I’m glad to be in this position.”



OLIVER GAVIN, NO. 4 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

“This is a big fill-up for us. It’s been a difficult couple of sessions for us, and we didn’t look so good in the rain early on. But we worked away at a plan. (Lead engineer) Chuck (Houghton) and the guys from Michelin worked hard together as well with the No. 3 car and us to put a plan together of how we were going to run the session. We knew that we had to do (the times) early to make it work, and it did. So we’re pleased to be second and third. My strategy after the first timed lap maybe wasn’t as aggressive as Antonio’s in terms of what he did to get the performance back for his (final) timed lap. But he did a fantastic job to get to that time. This is a very solid place for us to start the race tomorrow.”

(On the race outlook) “I think it will be dry and we will just have to see. It’s a little bit of an unknown for all of us being here for the first time – seeing what tire life is like, how cars hang up in the heat and how the race evolves. The track will be washed off today and should rubber up for our race. Balance of the cars may change throughout and how cars react to certain things. Things like tire pressures and different compounds... It will be very busy on top of the timing stand to make sure we’re on top of all that.”

(Adjustments from practice to qualifying) “The biggest change was our approach with the tire, understanding it and how we were going to get the lap time from that tire and which particular wet tire we were going to run. It looked like we made the right choice because we made a nice little jump. I’m pleased with that. I far prefer to start second and third than eighth and ninth.”



DOUG FEHAN, CORVETTE RACING PROGRAM MANAGER

“We saw earlier in the week the challenge that Circuit of The Americas can present. Those were amplified today with periods of heavy rain and a wet track. The improvements our engineers – both from Corvette Racing and our partners at Michelin – and crew made between practice and qualifying was the stuff of champions. Baltimore proved how critical your starting position can be, and having our Corvettes second and third on the grid gives us a great chance to secure important championship points.”

*******************************


ACO Honoring Corvette Legend Dick Thompson on ALMS/WEC Weekend

‘Flying Dentist’ is oldest living American to race at Le Mans 24 Hours



AUSTIN, Texas (Sept. 20, 2013) – Through the years, Corvette and Chevrolet have had the honor of racing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. A number of American sports car achievements have come from Corvette drivers over the years, and those contributions will be front and center during a special ceremony this weekend at Circuit of The Americas.



Friday evening, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), the governing body of Le Mans, will honor Dr. Dick Thompson, the oldest living American to race at Le Mans. “The Flying Dentist” won multiple SCCA national championships from the mid-1950s to early-1960s, and Thompson was part of Corvette’s initial journey to Le Mans in 1960 in one of Briggs Cunningham’s three Corvettes.



Cunningham’s trio of cars, plus a fourth entered by Camoradi USA, started a dramatic shift in the perception of Corvette as a global sports car brand. Corvette Racing’s debut of the C5-R at the great race in 2000 added to its rich history. Since that time, Corvette Racing captured seven class victories at Le Mans with the C5-R and C6.R.



As part of this weekend’s tribute, both of Corvette Racing’s Compuware Corvette C6.Rs that race in the American Le Mans Series’ GT class will feature the names of every American driver who has raced at Le Mans in the race’s first 90 years. Included on that list are seven American drivers who drove or currently drive for Corvette Racing.



The ALMS shares the COTA weekend with the FIA World Endurance Championship.



JIM CAMPBELL, CHEVROLET VICE PRESIDENT, PERFORMANCE VEHICLES AND MOTORSPORTS

“We salute and honor all of the American drivers who have competed at Le Mans, including Dr. Dick Thompson for his achievements. He was inducted in the National Corvette Museum’s Hall of Fame in 2000 – a very special honor in the Corvette community. I personally had the opportunity to spend time with Dr. Thompson at the 12 Hours of Sebring a number of years ago, where we sat in the 1959 Corvette Stingray Racer. It was extra special because he had actually raced that car.”



PIERRE FILLON, PRESIDENT, AUTOMOBILE CLUB DE L’OUEST

“As part of the ceremonies linked to the 90th anniversary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest is pleased to honor the American drivers who have raced at Le Mans through their most senior, Dr. Dick Thompson, a former Corvette driver. An iconic American brand, Corvette’s racing history is tied to the 24 Hours of Le Mans and there could be no more appropriate a manufacturer to carry the names of all the U.S. drivers who have distinguished themselves at the 24 Hours of Le Mans."

Don't forget to vote for Jan Magnussen in the most popular driver award!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/7QG5SN2
and from the Fans Survey Vote for Corvette Racing!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/JDYLMLP
2013 Circuit of the Americas

Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas, USA
September 19 - 21, 2013

Tune-in Details:

Television Broadcast:
9/22/2013 at 1:00 pm EDT on ESPN 2

Live Streaming:
9/21/2013 at 3:45 pm EDT on ESPN 3

Live Qualifying:
9/20/2013 at 2:40 pm EDT on ESPN 3
LIVE TIMING: http://scoring.alms.com/

Live Timing for mobile device:
http://scoring.alms.com/mobile.html

PIT NOTES:
http://twitter.com/almsnotes

RADIO ALMS
http://www.americanlemans.com/

Live onboard cameras:
http://www.alms.com/camera/live-audio-broadcast

TICKET INFO:
http://circuitoftheamericas.com/tickets

Event Schedule:
http://www.alms.com/races/circuit-americas

Spotters Guide:
http://www.spotterguides.com/

Corvette Corral: (click on Corvette Corral-info not posted yet)
http://www.alms.com/car-corral

Entry List:
http://www.imsaracing.net/2013/events ... 20ALMS%20COTA%20Entry.pdf

Facility Map:
http://media.ticketmaster.com/tm/en-u ... nue/maps/dal/48792s_a.gif

WEATHER:
http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/Austin+TX+78767

Don't forget to vote for Jan Magnussen in the most popular driver award!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/7QG5SN2

and vote for Corvette Racing:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/JDYLMLP





CORVETTE RACING AT AUSTIN: A New Stop for ALMS GT Leaders

Chevrolet, Corvette bring driver, team and manufacturer championship lead to COTA debut


DETROIT (Sept. 16, 2013) – Corvette Racing’s chase for another American Le Mans Series championship next moves to Texas for the eighth round of the ALMS season. As was the case three weeks ago in Baltimore, Corvette Racing hopes the two biggest stars of the weekend are its two Compuware Chevrolet Corvette C6.Rs.


The stars at night aren’t the only things big and bright deep in the heart of Texas. The new Circuit of The Americas is the newest and most glamorous permanent road-racing venue in the United States. In its first year of operation, the 20-turn, 3.4-mile Circuit of The Americas has played host to the Formula One United States Grand Prix along with MotoGP and V8 Supercars.


Next up is the International Sports Car Weekend – a combined event with the ALMS and FIA World Endurance Championship. Corvette Racing’s two velocity-yellow Corvette C6.Rs head an ALMS GT class that will garner much of the weekend’s attention during Saturday’s 3:45 p.m. CT race. Viewers around the country can the action live on ESPN3 and then on ESPN2 at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday.


Corvette Racing’s stable of four drivers comes to Austin with two victories each on the season. Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner, defending ALMS GT champions, lead the drivers’ standings with wins at Sebring – with Richard Westbrook – in their No. 4 Compuware Corvette to open the year and another victory at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Jan Magnussen and Antonio Garcia took their first victory together in the No. 3 Compuware Corvette at Laguna Seca. They won the most recent ALMS round at Baltimore to move within two points of Gavin and Milner in the championship.


With four victories, Corvette Racing heads the team standings, and Chevrolet is in control of the manufacturers’ race. There are 64 points available over the remaining three rounds.


This weekend’s race marks the first for the ALMS at Circuit of The Americas. Corvette Racing is one of the few teams that have logged test days at the venue, having spent time there in late 2012. The trip not doubt will prove beneficial as Corvette Racing can spend more time on engineering and strategy rather than establishing a baseline setup once testing starts Tuesday.


EDITORS: High-resolution images of Corvette Racing are available on the Team Chevy media site for editorial use only.


International Sports Car Weekend (all times CT)

Test Session 1: 1 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 17
Test Session 2: 12:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 19
Practice 1: 8 a.m., Friday, Sept. 20
Practice 2: 12:40 p.m., Friday, Sept. 20
GT Qualifying: 2:10 p.m., Friday, Sept. 20
Warmup: 8 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 21
Race: 3:45 p.m., Saturday Sept. 21

Circuit of The Americas: Watch It!

Friday, Sept. 20-Sunday, Sept. 22 (all times ET)

Qualifying: Live – 2:40 p.m., Friday, Sept. 20 (ESPN3)
Race (Web): Live – 4:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 21 (ESPN3)
Race (TV): 1 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 22 (ESPN2)

ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

“It will be difficult and different. Teams in the ALMS are used to running through the same schedule of events. With new events, the team becomes a bigger part of it. It’s true we had a couple of test days late last year, but in the end we don’t know what to expect. There have been some races there and maybe the track has changed a little bit. Now it’s up to the team to judge what will be the ideal setup to start the weekend and develop a program to approach the race.

(The layout) “If I were running the Formula One season or more of the European season, it would be just another track and similar to many there. I knew from the past a few of the tracks designed by the same person. When you go around COTA, it is a combination of Turkey, Bahrain and Shanghai together. But because we don’t have tracks like this, it’s different and it’s great to have. It is good for everyone. Maybe it takes away a little bit of bravery because of the run-off areas, but I think everyone will be very close because of that. It will be challenging for sure.”

(What type of car should the track favor?) “I’m not sure. It has long sections of medium- and high-speed corners. Maybe Mosport is similar with very long, fast corners, and the Viper seems to be competitive there. For sure, because it’s brand new it will depend on how the teams perform before the race and leading up to the weekend.”


JAN MAGNUSSEN, NO. 3 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

“Obviously it’s a fantastic facility and really shows that it is a Formula One track. The layout and all the facilities around it are absolutely top-line all the way through. It is interesting for us to go race. There aren’t that many facilities like this in the world, so I’m sure the whole team is looking forward to going there and see what we can do. We had a test there in December and obviously we can’t say how we are going to do. We will have to wait until we get to the weekend to see where we are in terms of the competition. I think with the long straights, we may encounter a little of the same issues as at Road America and Le Mans where our top speed may not be good enough.”

(Finding a line) “The section from Turn 3 to Turn 10 is one long, continuous series of corners. If you mess up one, you will mess up the rest because you are now off-line for the entry to the next one. I can see a lot of scrapping going on there, especially with the prototypes and trying to stop them from passing you in a place that puts you off the line. I can see some issues running different categories but it will be the same for everyone. It is a new track and no one has a lot of experience there. I’m sure everybody will be experimenting with setups to get the most out of the cars.”

(The championship chase): “I’m very happy and surprised that we are where we are. I have to say that after Sebring, we scored zero points which put us 24 behind the No. 4 car. At that point, I thought the championship was over for us. We could try for some wins and make the most of it, but I didn’t think that with three races to go we would be two points back. For us, I don’t know if it changes anything in the way we are going to approach the weekend. What we have been doing is very consistently scoring good points. We’ve won the races we can and scored as many points at races where wins weren’t on the table. That is what we need to keep doing and how we will win this championship.”


OLIVER GAVIN, NO. 4 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

“It is the most recently built big racing facility in the United States and built to Formula One spec. It’s impressive and a great track. It has a number of challenges and a couple of different personalities. From Turn 1 to Turn 10 is all high-speed, long-duration corners. You need a car with a lot of downforce to get through there quickly. Then it goes from there to basically a circuit of very long straightaways and hairpin turns. That’s all about straightline speed and braking. Getting back to the pit area, you’ve got a very long right-hander and then a quick left-hander where you go into another hairpin to the frontstraight. You could run a low-downforce setup or a high-downforce setup and maybe make either work there. We will have to wait and see when the time comes.”

(On last year’s test) “It’s a place where all the drivers when we tested there got quite a thrill from driving. It was a big challenge to figure out different ways of getting around there and different lines you could take going through turns 2, 3, 4 and 5. We were all comparing notes and found out we were doing it all differently. We need to see how that turns out and figure out the fastest way through there before raceday. It should be a great facility to race at.”

(Finding balance) “You’d always err on the side of having a bit more downforce than not. You’re going to sacrifice a little too much on the first part of the track but it’s something the engineers will look at and try to figure out through assimilation. We will take the lead from them.”


TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

“The facility is probably the best in the United States. With catering to the F1 crowd, it’s fun for us to go and race on that track. Everything about it is first-class, and it’s a joy to be there. From all the comfort side, it’s all great. As far as the track goes, it’s also a challenging venue and one that’s fun to drive. There is lots and lots of elevation change. From nearly every perspective, it’s a great track. We don’t know how it is going to race yet. We had two LMP cars that ran with us when we tested there last year and got some indication as to what the traffic will be like. There may be some areas where it will be tough to let faster cars go by. But that’s part of the challenge. We have some baseline to go off of, so we’re a little ahead of the game compared to some of our competitors. Hopefully it gives us a little bit of an edge and advantage once the race begins.”

(Preparing for a new track) “With the way the modern F1 tracks are – the ones I’ve driven on, at least – they are wide enough that it allows you to play around with your line and take some unorthodox lines in some cases to find some speed in certain areas. Each of our drivers went through and tried to figure out the fastest way around. What the fastest way is by yourself isn’t always going to be the fastest way with traffic and trying to get by someone. In many places, the track just has one line like the first turn, the exit and the esses. But when you get to the last three-quarters of the track, there are quite a few lines you can take to get through the slow stuff. It allows you to play around with being faster in the first two corners while giving up the exit. It will be a challenge for anyone who hasn’t been there – to figure out what’s best for their car. But also once we get to the race, trying to figure out where we can make passes. It is a big challenge because no one in our class has raced there.”


DOUG FEHAN, CORVETTE RACING PROGRAM MANAGER

“Circuit of the Americas ranks as one of the finest road racing facilities in the world. So to say we are excited to be part of this event would certainly be an understatement. Aside from the formidable 20-turn, 3.4-mile circuit itself, what makes this race even more difficult is the fact that no ALMS teams have raced there, as yet. I think that situation tends to accentuate a team's engineering capabilities, and I know all our guys are looking forward to demonstrating what they can do. With three races remaining in our quest to repeat as ALMS driver, team and manufacturer champions, it is paramount that we finish strongly here. It should prove to be just another epic ALMS GT battle.”

CORVETTE RACING AT BALTIMORE: Garcia, Magnussen Lead 1-2 GT Finish

Season’s second victory for No. 3 Corvette duo in wild street race



BALTIMORE (Aug. 31, 2013) – Corvette Racing scored a 1-2 class finish today in one of the wildest and unpredictable sports car races in memory at the Grand Prix of Baltimore and the seventh round of the American Le Mans Series. Antonio Garcia and Jan Magnussen won for the second time this season in the ALMS’ GT class driving their No. 3 Compuware Chevrolet Corvette C6.R. Defending ALMS GT champions Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner were runners-up for the second consecutive season on the Streets of Baltimore in the No. 4 Corvette.



Magnussen moved from third in class to first – and around Milner – on a restart with a little less than 20 minutes to go. The 1-2 finish was the team’s first since last year’s Laguna Seca round. It also increased Chevrolet’s lead in the GT manufacturer championship, as well as Corvette Racing’s margin in the team standings.



Garcia and Magnussen moved up to second in the drivers’ championship and sit just two points behind Gavin and Milner with three rounds left in the season.



“Congratulations to the Corvette C6.R drivers and crews on their 1-2 class finish in the ALMS GT class in Baltimore,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet US Vice President, Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “Both teams demonstrated exceptional driving, quick pit work and tremendous perseverance. Oliver Gavin and Antonio Garcia did a terrific job of adapting to intense, ever-changing racing conditions. And finally it was great to see Jan Magnussen and Tommy Milner drive to the front after the final restart.



“Today's Corvette Racing results were important for manufacturer, driver and team standings,” Campbell added. “However our focus remains on the three final races in the ultra competitive GT class.”



ABC’s 1 p.m. ET Sunday broadcast of the race will be one to see. The race featured a nearly one-hour, red-flag period after a massive crash blocked the circuit immediately following the drop of the green flag. The race length was shortened from two hours to approximately 70 minutes, and both Corvettes were involved in a slight incident on the subsequent restart. The drama continued for Garcia, who lost radio communication with the Corvette Racing crew and did not hear the call to pit just 12 minutes after the restart. He made an evasive maneuver and spun 180 degrees to make the pit entry at the very last minute.



Milner rejoined the race in third place and Magnussen fourth. Milner chased down Maxime Martin’s BMW and moved to second with 41 minutes left, and Magnussen followed suit one lap later. The race’s fourth and final caution period led to Magnussen’s move on Milner and another BMW going into Turn 1.



Corvette Racing returns to action at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas, for the eighth round of the ALMS championship. The race, set for 3:45 p.m. CT on Saturday, Sept. 21, will air Sept. 22 at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN2.



EDITORS: High-resolution images of Corvette Racing are available on the Team Chevy media site for editorial use only.



Circuit of The Americas (all times CT)

· Test Session 1: 1 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 17

· Test Session 2: 12:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 19

· Practice 1: 8 a.m., Friday, Sept. 20

· Practice 2: 12:40 p.m., Friday, Sept. 20

· GT Qualifying: 2:10 p.m., Friday, Sept. 20

· Warmup: 8 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 21

· Race: 3:45 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 31



Circuit of The Americas: Watch It!

Friday, Sept. 20-Sunday, Sept. 22 (all times ET)

· Qualifying: Live – 2:40 p.m., Friday, Sept. 20 (ESPN3)

· Race (Web): Live – 3:45 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 21 (ESPN3)

· Race (TV): 1 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 22 (ESPN2)



ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

“It was one of those situations you don’t like. We had just started to accelerate and could avoid people. But those that were three or four cars behind me couldn’t do anything at all. The situation is that no one practiced that line (around the curbing) before the start. So you don’t know how much you will jump (over the rail line). You have the chicane when we are racing to slow us down but not at the start. We are going straight. Maybe that is what caught people on the start when they went to power and jumped more than they thought. On the inside, the jump is heavier.

“I was on the lucky line because I just followed the car in front of me and it looked like it was the right one. After we crossed the rail line, I started to see people spin around. I tried to find my spot and carry on. Afterwards when I saw on TV what happened, that was not really good for the fans for sure. At that point, the race lost what looked like half of the cars.”

Loss of radio communication before the pit stop: “I got the call that when the pits were open, we were coming in. I had no other radio communication afterward. When I saw a Ferrari that was a lap down pitting, I didn’t know if it was my turn. If it was the BMW or maybe someone else pitting then I would follow. But as soon as I saw Olly (Gavin) pitting, I did a 180-degree turn to get into the pitlane.

“The main thing is that there was no communication. I started the race thinking it was a two-hour race, and then following the caution I was told we were doing a pit stop and a driver change. That’s when the radio went off completely. As soon as I saw the cars following me go into the pit, I decided I needed to go in too.”



JAN MAGNUSSEN, NO. 3 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

“It was a really weird race – a sprint race with really no pit stops. There was one in the beginning once we restarted the race but everyone had the driving time limits to figure out. We got a little bit messed up in the pit stop because of a radio failure so there was no way to tell Antonio that the pits were open. It was impossible for him to know if it was all cars, just P cars or just GT cars. He made the right decision. He stopped, spun it around and only lost a couple of spots when we could have lost them all. It was good thinking and reaction on his part. After that, it was a matter of going as hard as we could. We didn’t have to worry about tires or fuel. We just needed to go.”

Pass for the lead: “I was trying to pass one of the BMWs, and he got balked by someone. I had to get around and in front so I could defend and not give him the position back. I got a little off-line and locked up the inside-front a little and the car shoved me to the inside of Tommy. It wasn’t a planned move but when I got halfway there, I thought ‘To hell with it. I’ll just go!’ It was a clean pass, and Tommy used his head. We were just trying to race and maximize our points to get both Corvettes ahead of the BMW. We were successful in that.”



OLIVER GAVIN, NO. 4 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

“I’ve never been quite in anything like that before. You see a wreck like that at the start, and you think it’s going to be nasty. Cars start bouncing around and ricocheting everywhere and there is nowhere for anyone to go. I was off-throttle as the Level 5 car went into the wall. I thought for sure he was going to bounce back across. Immediately it was all being waved off. We came around and just sat there. No one knew what to do for the next 45 minutes. For the restart, I moved from the left side of the grid to the right side, and starting on that side is much tougher. You get such a bigger jump across the train tracks than on the left.”

On the starts the last few races: “There is something strange going on at the front of the grid with the way these races have been started. Someone is absolutely jumping the gun, and that’s making it unsafe for all of us. That’s a bit crazy.

More on the day: It’s pretty amazing that we were sitting in a wreck at Turn 4 – both cars – with others and somehow we’ve managed to pull a 1-2 out of that! It was one of those wacky races that you couldn’t take your eyes off of. You have to take every single one, and I’m very happy to take second in this one.”



TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

“It was a weird race, unfortunately. What can you say? It’s a tight street race and you can see what happens when one car gets turned around. Fortunately we missed all of it. There was a lot going on, and we’re happy to come home with some good points. Jan snookered me there at Turn 1. But that’s what he should do. We’re all here to race and win. I had to brake a little early because I was on the dirty line. But great day for Chevrolet and Corvette Racing.”



*******************

If you missed it, here is the 2013 Grand Prix of Baltimore presented by SRT Race Broadcast: http://youtu.be/rqEEf719eJI

Looking forward to seeing the race on TV! Tomorrow at 12:00 PM EST on ABC

Have you voted for your favorite Corvette Racing driver? http://ow.ly/ocxpH








CORVETTE RACING AT BALTIMORE: A Grand Prix, Indeed

Compuware Corvettes to test their mettle around Inner Harbor street circuit



DETROIT (Aug. 27, 2013) – Crab cakes, Camden Yards and Charm City’s temporary street circuit await Corvette Racing and its two Compuware Chevrolet Corvette C6.R race cars this weekend with the third running of the Grand Prix of Baltimore. The two-hour race is the seventh round of the American Le Mans Series and the second street race of the season. One of the newest venues on the ALMS calendar has been kind to Corvette Racing with podium finishes in the event’s first two years.



The concrete canyons along Baltimore’s Inner Harbor frame a demanding and unforgiving layout that will challenge Corvette Racing’s four drivers. ALMS GT championship leaders Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner – who lives 90 minutes from Baltimore in his native Virginia – drive the No. 4 Compuware Corvette that has won two races this season. Meanwhile, Antonio Garcia and Jan Magnussen look to win for the second time in 2013 with their No. 3 Corvette. The pair stands fourth in the drivers’ standings but only six points out of first place.



With four races remaining in the ALMS season, positions and points are at a premium. In addition to the drivers’ championship, Chevrolet leads the GT manufacturers’ standings, as does Corvette Racing in the team category.



The Inner Harbor circuit measures 2.02 miles in length with 12 turns. The long frontstretch features a temporary chicane to slow cars before crossing a light-rail line prior to start-finish and a hard right-hander for Turn 1. The course also features a tight hairpin turn and a run around Camden Yards – home of Major League Baseball’s Baltimore Orioles.



Corvette Racing appears to have history – brief as it may be – on its side at Baltimore. Gavin and Magnussen were third in 2011 with Gavin and Milner runners-up last year en route to the ALMS championship. Gavin was on pole position and set the fastest GT race lap in 2012, and Magnussen was the fastest driver in the 2011 race.



EDITORS: High-resolution images of Corvette Racing are available on the Team Chevy media site for editorial use only.



Baltimore Grand Prix (all times ET)

· Practice 1: 8:50 a.m., Friday, Aug. 30

· Practice 2: 12:05 p.m., Friday, Aug. 30

· GT Qualifying: 4:50 p.m., Friday, Aug. 30

· Warmup: 10:10 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 31

· Race: 3:45 p.m., Saturday Aug. 31



Baltimore: Watch It!

Friday, Aug. 30-Saturday, Aug. 31 (all times ET)

· Qualifying: Live – 4:20 p.m., Friday, Aug. 30 (ESPN3)

· Race (Web): Live – 3:30 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 31 (ESPN3)

· Race (TV): Noon, Sunday, Aug. 11 (ABC)



ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

“Street circuits have always been some of my favorite tracks. Last year I discovered both of the ALMS street circuits for the first time – Long Beach and Baltimore. Because the schedules were so tight, it was harder to get on the pace right away without knowing the track. This year is completely different. I have a race at Baltimore under my belt now – even if it wasn’t a good one because we got a puncture right at the start.

“Over the years, Corvette Racing has been competitive on all types of circuits – road courses and street circuits. Whatever kind of track will are on, the car is always competitive. We just need to be focused and get in a rhythm as soon as possible. Like any street circuit, you cannot make any mistakes and keep the car on the track until the end of the race.”

(On the level of focus for a street circuit) “You cannot ‘relax’ as much as on a road course, for sure. You always are focused even if you’re on a straight because of the bumps which are present. The level of focus needs to be a little higher. Everywhere is a potential place to make a mistake.”



JAN MAGNUSSEN, NO. 3 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

“It’s a fun track. It has quite a lot of grip in the surfaces we run on. That gives you confidence right away even though there is not a lot of room. Some places are very, very bumpy. (The chicane) is a little bit of an issue for everyone because it is a movable chicane. And we move it! Whoever uses that chicane best takes the most chances but can make the most gains. Other than that, I’m looking forward to going back there. It’s always a fantastic show in downtown Baltimore.”

(On the GT championship with four rounds remaining) “The manufacturer championship is most important to us. We keep reminding ourselves and the team reminds us that the ultimate goal is to win the manufacturer championship for Chevrolet. So far that has panned out well and continues to do so.”



OLIVER GAVIN, NO. 4 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

“Baltimore is a lot of fun. I have some pretty good memories from there. I won pole last year, which was very satisfying. I enjoy the circuit. It is, alongside Sebring, the most aggressive circuit we race on in terms of the bumps and how physical the circuit can be. It’s tight and challenging. The walls are right there and you have to run right against them. I actually have the wing mirror from last year! The team gave it to me after the Baltimore event. The right side is missing – just the end part of it – as I scraped up against the side of the wall in qualifying. That’s kind of satisfying to do that kind of thing; you’re right on the limit and can’t use any more of the circuit.”

(Describing a lap) “It’s unique like every street circuit is. Braking into Turn 1 is tricky and challenging because it’s bumpy and it’s wide. You’re all the time wondering what side of the track you need to be. Can I be looking further on the inside or all the way out? Also just before the corner late in the braking zone, it goes quite a bit downhill. So that’s another thing that can catch you out. Braking into Turn 3 – the hairpin – is super bumpy but you always get a lot of grip right and the end of the braking zone and it’s very wide. Then you come back along the circuit to where the pits are, and they always resurface that area where the tram lines go. That part is very ‘grippy’. They use very good tarmac there. That part of the track is very quick, and there is another section back around the other side of the baseball field just before you get back on the start-finish straight.”



TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

“It’s a home race for me. The last couple years, it’s been a fantastic event with good crowds and lots of new people to see us race. It’s great to see that the D.C., Virginia and Maryland areas have embraced the race like they have. I’m looking forward to getting back there again. We were second last year, and obviously that one is high on my list of ones I want to win.

(On the track) “It’s a good street track. I was pretty impressed the first year when they came with a brand new track. It’s tough to fit it in an area like the Inner Harbor where they want to have the race. There are some good passing spots with some sections that bumpy, some that are smooth. There are fast sections, slow stuff and hairpins… it’s challenging and fun for the drivers and makes for a good race track.

“There are bits and pieces that are challenging in their own right. Turn 1 is tough because the street has not been repaved or resurfaced at all. You’re kind of going uphill then down a little, and it’s a super-tight right-hander that is a great passing spot. It’s tough to squeeze the last couple of tenths out of the car there. It’s tougher when you’re offline because it’s so dirty. The last sweeping left- and right-hander before you come back on to Pratt Street is difficult because those are extremely quick corners for a street track. There is no margin for area. I’ve tried to push and find some more speed but you can get loose easily, and that’s a pretty scary moment.”



DOUG FEHAN, CORVETTE RACING PROGRAM MANAGER

“As difficult as road racing can be, nothing compares to the intensity of a battle on the streets of a major urban center. This time it will be the Inner Harbor of the great city of Baltimore. To be successful here, it takes the perfect balance of patience and aggression on the part of the drivers along with an effective race strategy and finished off with flawless execution by the crew guys in pit lane. With only four rounds to go in the ALMS season, every lap and every stop will play a vital role in retaining our ALMS manufacturers' championship. With nine of those titles under our belt, you can bet we are ready to capture number 10.”

Corvette corral parade laps photos:

http://www.alms.com/car-corral/galleries/4520

Vote for your favorite Corvette Racing Driver:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/KPCLSZF

*******************************************
Grand Prix of Baltimore,, Maryland, USA
Aug 30 - 31, 2013


TUNE IN DETAILS:

Television Broadcast:
9/01/2013 at 12:00 pm EDT on ABC

Live Streaming:
8/31/2013 at 3:30 pm EDT on ESPN 3

Live Qualifying:
8/30/2013 at 4:20 pm EDT on ESPN 3

LIVE TIMING:
http://www.imsaracing.net/2003/lt/ltc.html

http://scoring.alms.com/

Live Timing for mobile device:
http://scoring.alms.com/mobile.html

PIT NOTES:
http://twitter.com/almsnotes

http://www.alms.com/races/tequila-pat ... -mans-series-long-beach-1

RADIO ALMS
http://www.americanlemans.com/

Live onboard cameras:
http://www.alms.com/camera/live-audio-broadcast

TICKET INFO:
http://raceonbaltimore.com/

Event Schedule:
http://www.imsaracing.net/2013/events ... mentary%20Regulations.pdf

Spotters Guide:
http://www.spotterguides.com/

Corvette Corral: (click on Corvette Corral-info not posted yet)
http://www.alms.com/car-corral

Entry List:
Not posted

Facility Map:
http://www.imsaracing.net/2012/events ... /MAP_BALTIMORE_GRAND_PRIX

WEATHER:
http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/USMD0018

Vette Fans! It's time for the ALMS favorite driver poll! Click the link to
vote for YOUR favorite Corvette Racing Driver!

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/KPCLSZF

CORVETTE RACING AT ROAD AMERICA: A Pair of Podium Finishes

Second and third for Compuware Corvettes; Gavin and Milner regain drivers’ title lead



ELKHART LAKE, Wis. (Aug. 11, 2013) – Corvette Racing scored two podium finishes Sunday at Road America in the Orion Energy Systems 245. The No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R of Antonio Garcia and Jan Magnussen placed second in the sixth round of the American Le Mans Series. Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner, driving the No. 4 Compuware Corvette, finished third.



The race, shown to a nationwide audience live on ABC, marked the first time this season that the two Corvettes finished on the podium in the same race. Even more importantly, the results provided a major boost for the drivers, Corvette Racing and Chevrolet in the ALMS GT championships.



Gavin and Milner, defending GT champions, moved back into the lead in the driver standings. Garcia and Magnussen unofficially are third but only six points out of the championship lead.



Chevrolet solidified its lead in the manufacturer standings, as did Corvette Racing in the team championship.



"The Corvette Racing drivers and team exhibited terrific teamwork on the track and in the pits, and with race strategy to claim two podium positions in the American Le Mans Series at Road America," said Jim Campbell, U.S. Vice President, Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. "The team's never-give-up approach will bode well as we go into the final races of the season. It was a great points day for Tommy Milner and Oliver Gavin as they reclaimed the lead in the ALMS GT driver standings. Jan Magnussen and Antonio Garcia also improved their standing, as well."



Endurance racing is a true team sport, and that played out again Sunday. The Corvette Racing pit crew executed two perfect stops during the race’s penultimate full-course caution period. The two Corvettes entered the pits running seventh and eighth in class. with 90 minutes remaining but left pitlane first and third.



The race began on a wet track with Magnussen in the No. 3 Corvette and Milner in the No. 4. Both Corvettes, like the rest of the field, began on wet tires. Both Magnussen and Milner ran aggressive yet cautious stints in the beginning before both cars went to slick tires at the 40-minute mark. From that point, strategy and some of the best pit work in the ALMS took over.



Corvette Racing’s next event is the Grand Prix of Baltimore on Aug. 30-31 from the Baltimore Inner Harbor street circuit. Gavin and Milner placed second there last season, and Gavin and Magnussen teamed for a third-place finish in 2011.



EDITORS: High-resolution images of Corvette Racing are available on the Team Chevy media site for editorial use only.



Grand Prix of Baltimore (all times ET)

· Practice 1: 8:50 a.m., Friday, Aug. 30

· Practice 2: 12:05 p.m., Friday, Aug. 30

· GT Qualifying: 4:50 p.m., Friday, Aug. 30

· Warmup: 10:10 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 31

· Race: 3:45 p.m., Saturday Aug. 31



Road America: Watch It!

Friday, Aug. 30-Saturday, Aug. 31 (all times ET)

· Qualifying: 4:20 p.m., Friday, Aug. 30 (ESPN3)

· Race (Web): 3:30 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 31 (ESPN3)

· Race (TV): Noon, Sunday, Sept. 1 (ABC)



ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

HOW MUCH DID YOU FEEL LIKE YOU COULD PUSH IN THAT LAST STINT: " I had a really good restart and was making a lot of gap to the guys. When I saw the Viper coming, I held him off for like four or five laps and I was thinking, 'no problem'. But the problem was right when he was catching me, my engineers were telling me I need to save fuel. I said 'All right', so I was saving fuel but going fast. I was kind of trying to guess how much fuel I needed to save. At some point Marc (Goossens) got a really good run out of Turn 3, and at some point I was asking on the radio should I defend or should I just let him go by. That's what I did basically. They told me it was more important to save fuel than to keep the position. And then it was a matter of just holding back, just trying to save as much fuel as possible. I knew that Ollie (Oliver Gavin) was under pressure from the Porsches as well, so we were managing that gap too. I was really aggressive on the brakes in the traffic just trying to make a gap. Then as soon as we had a gap, went just went back toward them again. I think that is what we could do. I don't know exactly if we were good or not (on fuel at the end); I think we were right on. The thing is that I wouldn't risk it. I think we were probably better than the Viper, but I believed I should have kept that result. I preferred to keep Corvette two-three and in good position for the championship."


HOW SURPRISED WERE YOU TO COME OFF PIT LANE IN P1 FROM THAT STOP? "I knew after all the pit stops came that we were the guys changing four slicks the latest, and we were almost leading the guys that came in the previous time the latest so I knew we had some advantage and fuel there. We needed just to do 13-14 seconds of fuel plus the tires, so we really needed to be sure that driver change was good. Everything went smooth. Fuel, tire change was perfect and I just remember launching myself out of the pits seeing the Ferrari just come in, and I just a half of a car ahead, or something like. So that put us into one-three at the moment. I was like...that is what I said yesterday after qualifying: When it comes to race time, Corvette Racing is the best that a driver can ever have. So, that is the thing."



JAN MAGNUSSEN, NO. 3 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

ON THE CHALLENGE OF THE FIRST HOUR: "It was a difficult beginning of the race with the wet track. But it was not super wet so I don't think the wets (tires) really got up to working 100 percent. The balance of the car wasn't great or right to begin with. Everybody was pulling away from us quite a bit. Then it seemed like the car and the tires came in, and we were doing pretty well for ourselves. But making the decision to go to slicks was really hard for me to make because the wets which don't give you a good feel for what is going on. You can feel the grip is improving, but is it improving enough for slicks? And also just looking at the track, it wasn't clear-cut dry or not dry, so you really have to rely on other people making the decision for you. Fortunately some guys down the back made the first move – it was wrong. So good thing we didn't follow those guys. But when we did make the move for slicks, it was definitely the right time. So that worked out well. There was a lot of pressure from Tommy (Milner) throughout the stint when we were on the slicks.


"Then there was one absolutely fantastic pit stop from the Corvette guys! We came in seventh and eighth, and out one-three. That is unbelievable. So fantastic… absolutely fantastic. After that, Antonio drove under extreme pressure – saving fuel; trying to go fast… two things that are really, really hard to do at the same time. Overall it was a fantastic job for the whole team.


"I don't know had we not had that yellow at the end what would have happened. We were very, very close on fuel. I have a feeling the Vipers were even closer. So who knows? But when the safety car came out right there at the end, there was a big sigh of relief from the whole team. It was 'OK, now we have second'. I am sure we would have gone for it (if the race had restarted), but would we have won doing it or blown it?"



OLIVER GAVIN, NO. 4 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

ON THE RACE: "The race today was pretty hard. First of all Tommy (Milner) came in and we were seventh and eighth, and the guys just did a fabulous job with the tire stop, the fuel and everything. We went in eighth position, and came out third, and our sister car (No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R) came out in the lead! That is just a spectacular job by the guys. Just amazing that pit stop. At the restart, the (No. 62) Ferrari was pretty racy into Turn 1 and he tried to squeeze me as we came off. We just rubbed all the way down to Turn 3; I got by him and then I was up behind Antonio (Garcia) but the (No. 91) Viper was coming. It was quick. It just had a bit too much pace for us today.


"I was being told, 'Save fuel, save fuel, save fuel.' I was doing the best I could. The Porsche was catching us and catching us. They've got super straight-line speed so that was tough. In the end there, I think we were good to go with the fuel. I was wondering if everybody else was going to be in the same spot or not. I know we could have gone to the end, but I don't know if the Viper could, whether the Porsche could or anybody else. We had done our job in doing that. The guys were fantastic in the pits. Tommy did a spectacular job of getting it through in very tricky conditions in the wet weather. So all-in-all it was a great team effort by everybody here at Corvette Racing."


ON BEING TOLD TO SAVE FUEL: "You have to figure out your routine on how to do it and the way you are going to go about doing it. Where you are going to lift, where you are going to brake and how you are going to do it. I was working really hard with (engineer) Chuck (Houghton). It was frustrating, and a couple of times we were adjusting the engine map, and the Porsche was catching us, and Chuck was telling me, 'Go back! Go back!' The Porsche was so close. It was just one of those ones where it was nail-biting every single lap. You could not take your attention away, or ever think 'We've got this now; we've got everything under control', because everything was just in flux; right on the limit, and right on the balance the whole race. Sometimes that's the way it is, and everybody on the team worked so hard."


ON REGAINING DRIVER CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD: "That is just fantastic. Of all the things that could have happened today, to get the points lead back, and to extend our lead in the manufacturers' championship, that is spectacular. This is a huge win-win... we didn't win the race, but in terms of the actual bigger picture, it's been a great day for us."



TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

ON THE RACE: "We knew that the race would be dry toward the end. We didn't do anything to the car to try to help it in the wet, so we actually struggled early on. It made it very difficult to keep the car underneath me. It was very loose the entire time in the wet conditions. It is tough here to tell when this track dries up; it is not very easy to see when the lines are drying and when they are still wet. So on that (first) yellow flag, we probably could have switched it to dry tires right then, but I wasn't too sure, and didn't want to gamble on that and then throw the race away. So we stayed out which hurt us a little bit there for awhile. But the car was really, really good on slicks in the dry again. I knew if we could just get Oliver in the car and get that last pit stop out of the way, we would be in good shape.


"I could have never imagined to go from basically eighth place to third place in the pits. Oliver did a great job on the restart and got second. So really, today's result is thanks to Corvette Racing, the pit stops and the strategy that was played to perfection. The Viper definitely was quick today. Congrats to them. They've done an awesome job all year long so far. They've been right there, and they put one together. I know what that feels like; it is obviously very exciting for them. We've got a race on our hands for the rest of the year. They are quick, and we are quick. Porsche is quick; BMW is quick. It is going to be a big fight to the end."


ON BEING THE POINTS LEAD - IS IT BETTER TO LEAD OR BE CHASING WITH A FEW RACES TO GO? "It can go either way. I think we all kind of approach each weekend as its own separate championship. We want to win that race, and if we can't win, we want to finish as high as we possibly can. If you just focus on one race at a time, the championship takes care of itself. All we did today was not get too worried about the fact we were in seventh and eighth at the back. We were more focused on how do we make the best out of our race today. What is our best strategy. We did that. Here we are in third place, points lead. Everything is going the way it should right now."



DOUG FEHAN, CORVETTE RACING PROGRAM MANAGER

“This race marks the middle of our 15th season in the American Le Mans Series. In those 14½ years, I don’t remember an event where a pair of pit stops had the impact on the outcome that it did today. The 3 and 4 car came in seventh and eighth, and they went out first and third. That’s all-world, and that’s what we do at Corvette Racing.”

CORVETTE RACING AT ROAD AMERICA: Solid Starts for Compuware Corvettes

Garcia qualifies second in No. 3 Compuware Corvette; Gavin fourth in No. 4 entry



ELKHART LAKE, Wis. (Aug. 10, 2013) – Corvette Racing’s two Compuware Corvette C6.Rs qualified second and fourth in class Saturday for the Orion Energy Systems 245 at Road America. That means the two velocity yellow Corvettes will roll off the grid one behind the other for Sunday’s sixth round of the American Le Mans Series. Antonio Garcia was second-quickest in the GT class with a 2:04.212 in the No. 3 Corvette he shares with Jan Magnussen.



Oliver Gavin qualified fourth in the No. 4 Corvette at 2:04.277 that he drives with Tommy Milner. The defending ALMS GT champions stand second in this year’s championship. Garcia and Magnussen are third. Corvette Racing and Chevrolet lead the team and manufacturer standings, respectively.



“I am very happy with the way we performed,” said Garcia, who made his Road America debut in 2012. “We got 100 percent out of the car. I believe everything will be even better for the race. We can use both cars to fight at the front.”



The Road America round begins at 3 p.m. ET with live coverage on ABC.



Saturday’s qualifying session was another tight one in the class. Only 0.699 seconds separated Garcia from the ninth-place qualifier. The pole-winning time was a 2:03.410. The Corvettes have a strong history at Road America with six class victories since its first race here in 2002.



So far in 2013, Corvette Racing has won three times in ALMS competition. Gavin and Milner won the most recent round at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and opened the season with a victory at Sebring alongside Richard Westbrook. Garcia and Magnussen were winners at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.



EDITORS: High-resolution images of Corvette Racing are available on the Team Chevy media site for editorial use only.



Orion Energy Systems 245 (all times CT)

· Warmup: 8:30 a.m., Sunday, Aug. 11

· Race: 2 p.m., Sunday Aug. 11



Road America: Watch It!

Sunday, Aug. 11 (all times ET)

· Race (TV): Live – 3 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 11 (ABC)



ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

“It was a good qualifying run. Yesterday I didn’t put together a full lap. But that’s what practice is for – to get used to new rubber and to see where you can and can’t push. It was a pretty good lap. I had a couple of very equal laps, and on the previous one I made a little mistake. Maybe we could have improved a little bit but not enough to fight for pole position. For sure it will help to not have to go through the field at the start (like at the previous round at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park). We have a good car. If strategy goes the way it should, we will have a great car for the race.”



OLIVER GAVIN, NO. 4. COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

“Coming off our victory in Canada, starting from the second row is very good. We have to hunt and search a lot to gain on the pole time. But the rest of the class is very close. You could throw a blanket over all of us. As it always is here, it will be a dogfight for those first couple of hours but then the last half an hour is the critical point. You have to make sure you have yourself in the right position and on the right tire otherwise you will really struggle. I’m confident that we have the right car and the right team.”



DOUG FEHAN, CORVETTE RACING PROGRAM MANAGER

“Today’s qualifying results were very encouraging. Hats off to Antonio and the crew of the No. 3 Corvette for picking up nearly a full second from the end of Friday’s practice session. Oliver’s time in the No. 4 car gives us an ideal spot to challenge and push early for the race lead. As we all know, Road America is full of challenges and one of the toughest circuits we will race. But good strategy combined with our solid teamwork will keep both our Corvettes in contention for a class victory.”

CORVETTE RACING AT ROAD AMERICA: The Spiritual Home

Compuware Corvettes come to Elkhart Lake in thick of ALMS GT championships



ELKHART LAKE, Wis. (Aug. 6, 2013) – For more than 50 years, Road America has come to define the quintessential American road racing circuit. Likewise, the Chevrolet Corvette has been America’s sports car for 60 years. This weekend, Corvette Racing serves as the bridge that once again reunites the two icons for the Orion Energy 245 – the sixth round of the 2013 American Le Mans Series. The team enters its two velocity yellow Compuware Corvette C6.Rs in the two-hour, 45-minute race.



Road America – featuring 14 turns and measuring 4.048 miles – is one of the more popular stops for Corvette Racing’s lineup and the whole of the ALMS paddock as well. The track also promotes fantastic racing as the last two ALMS races there produced the closest overall finishes in series history. Audiences on ABC can watch all of this year’s race action live at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, Aug. 11.



For years, Road America has been the site of numerous debuts and race victories for the Corvette brand. It only makes sense – a high-performance automobile deserves a high-performance track. Since 2002, Corvette Racing has carried on the proud tradition of winning at Road America. The span includes six class victories in the ALMS along with a plethora of pole positions and fastest race laps. Oliver Gavin, co-driver with Tommy Milner in the No. 4 Compuware Corvette, owns a particularly strong record with three race victories, four career pole positions and four fastest race laps. Three times he was both the fastest qualifier and fastest driver in the race on the same weekend.



Gavin and Milner enter as winners of the most recent ALMS round at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and sit second in the GT drivers’ championship and only five points out of first. The duo also is the only one in the class to win more than once in 2013. Third in the championship is the pairing of Antonio Garcia and Jan Magnussen in the No. 3 Compuware Corvette. They won at Laguna Seca in May and placed second in early July at Lime Rock Park. Magnussen has two victories at Road America, and Garcia made his Road America debut last season.



With three victories this year, Chevrolet leads the manufacturers championship and Corvette Racing is first in the team standings.



The weekend has extra meaning for the North American sports car scene. The ALMS and GRAND-AM’s Rolex Sports Car Series share the Road America weekend as a preview to next year’s United SportsCar Series championship – a result of the merger of the two sports car racing organizations. Corvette Racing’s two endurance drivers – Jordan Taylor and Richard Westbrook – will race in Saturday’s Rolex Series event.



EDITORS: High-resolution images of Corvette Racing are available on the Team Chevy media site for editorial use only.



Orion Energy Systems 245 (all times CT)

· Practice 1: 11:50 a.m., Friday, Aug. 9

· Practice 2: 4 p.m., Friday, Aug. 9

· GT Qualifying: 10 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 10

· Warmup: 8:30 a.m., Sunday, Aug. 11

· Race: 2 p.m., Sunday Aug. 11



Road America: Watch It!

Saturday, Aug. 10-Sunday, Aug. 11 (all times ET)

· Qualifying: 10:45 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 10 (ESPN3)

· Race (TV): Live – 3 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 11 (ABC)



ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

“It’s one of the best tracks in America, for sure. It’s very tough and challenging because of the length of the lap and variety of turns. It has everything. You couldn’t ask for more as a driver. To get a good lap, you need to find a rhythm in the slowest corners for sure – like turns 5, 6 and 8. Most of them lead to very long straights so if you make a mistake you can lose a lot of time. Because the lap is about two minutes, you really need to get into a rhythm and not be afraid of corners like the Carousel and the Kink. Once you have that rhythm, the time comes very easily.

“If you are suffering from a bad setup or your car doesn’t match the track conditions, it is very easy to lose a lot of time to your competitors. You really have to nail the setup of the car. When everything works, it makes things much easier around Road America.”



JAN MAGNUSSEN, NO. 3 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

“The reason why Road America is on everyone’s list of favorites is that there isn’t only one piece that makes it great. It’s the whole thing. The layout is fantastic. It’s super fast in some places and super technical in others. You don’t have any really slow corners. The average speed is up there. And it’s a fantastic place to race. Obviously, there are a few places where you need to be fast to race other guys. It will be a tough weekend for us even though it’s a weekend we are looking forward to. At present time, the long straights aren’t our strongest suits. We will go there use all the knowledge we have with the C6.R and get as many points as we possibly can.

“In terms of exciting corners, I’d say Turn 1 is also one of them. You arrive at such a high speed and you don’t slow down very much to be able to go through there. You can also make up quite a bit of time if you get it right. You use every bit of road available to you… and then a little bit more. They have put in rumble strips there that can upset the car so you have to be careful of the attitude of the car when you enter the corner.”



OLIVER GAVIN, NO. 4 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

“You’ve always got this race track that’s fast, flowing and has a great feel to it. It has a lot of what everyone likes in a track – a decent amount of grip, decent straightaways, good brake zones, opportunities to overtake and places where you can tow up behind people. You have a couple quick corners that you can really get into. It takes some guts to go through. It has that really great combination of elements.

“It’s great to see how the track evolves through the weekend and picks up grip through the race. The way you set your car up, maybe you do it to take advantage of that at the end. We’ve been there and gone through different lengths of racing – two hours and 45 minutes, four hours, six hours... Whatever length of race there suits me perfectly. I’d like to do 24 hours there because it’s the type of place where you could drive all day and get a huge amount of satisfaction.”



TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

“It’s got everything: very, very fast corners – some that are taken flat-out, some that are close to flat, some aren’t quite there – then there are others where you have to brake massively beforehand to get the car slowed down before you can make the corner. Having super high-speed corners and straights followed by slow-speed turns makes for good passing opportunities along with a fun race track. I’ve always liked fast corners and fast tracks. That’s why I like Road America. It’s fast but also has a great flow to it. You have to do two or three laps to build up a little steam to get down to the lap times you’re capable of.

“I’ve raced at Road America throughout my career. My first race there was in 2004 with Formula BMW. It was incredibly quick in those cars. The horsepower and downforce made for a really fun lap. The speeds there were all pretty high. We were actually bump-drafting!”



DOUG FEHAN, CORVETTE RACING PROGRAM MANAGER

“Road America is a classic circuit in every sense of the word. It is a favorite of competitors and fans alike and is a first-class facility that always promotes tremendous racing. Just as key to Road America’s aura is the history of racing in Elkhart Lake – first in the town itself in the early 1950s and then later at Road America. Likewise, Chevrolet and Corvette are proud to have a long and storied background at Road America. We expect that to continue this season with our two Compuware Corvettes in a GT championship that is competitive as ever. Fans at the track and watching live on ABC will be in for a treat.”



ALMS GT Championship Standings

Driver Standings
Team Standings
Manufacturer Standings

1. Dirk Muller – 70

2. Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 65

3. Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen – 56

4. Dominik Farnbacher/Marc Goossens - 53

5. Bill Auberlen/Maxime Martin - 50
1. Corvette Racing – 92

1. BMW Team RLL – 80

2. SRT Motorsports – 61

3. Paul Miller Racing – 32

4. Risi Competizione - 29
1. Chevrolet – 95

2. BMW – 85

3. SRT – 66

4. Ferrari – 61

5. Porsche - 58




Corvette Racing at Road America

Year
Class
Drivers
Result
Car
Notes

2002
GTS
Fellows/O'Connell/Gavin
2nd
Corvette C5-R
Fellows pole; Gavin fastest race lap

Collins/Pilgrim
1st
Corvette C5-R

2003
GTS
Fellows/O'Connell
2nd
Corvette C5-R

Collins/Gavin
5th
Corvette C5-R
Gavin pole, fastest race lap

2004
GTS
Fellows/O'Connell
2nd
Corvette C5-R

Beretta/Gavin
1st
Corvette C5-R
Beretta pole, fastest race lap

2005
GT1
Fellows/O'Connell
2nd
Corvette C6.R

Beretta/Gavin
1st
Corvette C6.R
Gavin pole, Beretta fastest race lap

2006
GT1
Fellows/O'Connell
1st
Corvette C6.R

Beretta/Gavin
2nd
Corvette C6.R
Gavin fastest race lap

2007
GT1
Magnussen/O'Connell
2nd
Corvette C6.R
Magnussen pole, fastest race lap

Beretta/Gavin
1st
Corvette C6.R

2008
GT1
Magnussen/O'Connell
1st
Corvette C6.R

Beretta/Gavin
3rd
Corvette C6.R
Gavin pole, fastest race lap

2009
GT2
Magnussen/O'Connell
3rd
Corvette C6.R

Beretta/Gavin
6th
Corvette C6.R

2010
GT
Magnussen/O'Connell
4th
Corvette C6.R

Beretta/Gavin
3rd
Corvette C6.R
Gavin pole, fastest race lap

2011
GT
Beretta/Milner
14th
Corvette C6.R

Gavin/Magnussen
5th
Corvette C6.R

2012
GT
Garcia/Magnussen
6th
Corvette C6.R
Magnussen fastest race lap

Gavin/Milner
4th
Corvette C6.R