Corvettes Qualify Second and Fourth for Inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix



Corvettes Quick on Downtown Street Circuit After Abbreviated Practice Sessions



BALTIMORE, Sept. 2, 2011 – A late start and a scant 75 minutes of practice meant that the learning curve for the American Le Mans Series Baltimore Grand Prix was a steep one. Jan Magnussen and Tommy Milner proved to be fast learners when they qualified Corvette Racing's twin Compuware C6.Rs second and fourth respectively for Saturday's two-hour street race through downtown Baltimore.



Magnussen was quickest in the abbreviated final practice session, and then turned his fastest lap at 1:31.950 (79.869 mph) in the No. 4 Corvette C6.R on his fifth qualifying lap on the 2.04-mile, 12-turn temporary street circuit. Milner turned a time of 1:32.224 (79.632 mph) on his fourth lap, the fifth quickest in GT. The No. 45 Porsche of Patrick Long, which was third on the provisional qualifying list, was subsequently excluded for "unjustifiable risk," moving the No. 3 Corvette up to fourth on the GT grid. The No. 55 BMW M3 GT of Dirk Werner was the fastest qualifier in the category at 1:31.362 (80.384 mph).



"We didn't have a lot of time to make changes or to find a good rhythm, so I'm very pleased with the work that the Corvette Racing engineers did," Magnussen said. "All in all, I'm happy with the car. Now we have to work with the extra bit of data we have, and I think there is more speed to come. The walls get closer and closer the harder you push – that's all part of it.



"There are some massive bumps out there, and the cars are taking a beating worse than Sebring," Magnussen added. "It's still good fun to drive this circuit, and you're really feel that you're racing in the heart of the city with the tall buildings all around. It's cool, and I enjoy it."



Milner agreed: "I'm really happy with the car here, no complaints. With so little track time, I'm sure we can make the car a little better here and there, but it's good just to get some laps in and get comfortable with the track.



"I had a qualifying lap that would have been quicker, but I got into Turn 10 a little wide in the dirty part of the track and had a big, big moment. I was basically drifting through the turn!



"The track's fun to drive and it will race well, too," Milner predicted. "There are two good passing spots. It's going to be tough to pass in GT because everyone is so close, but everything is slow enough that you can rub some fenders and make things happen. I'm looking forward to the race tomorrow."



The two-hour Baltimore Grand Prix will start at 4:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, September 3. Live video coverage will be available on ESPN3.com in the U.S. and americanlemans.com for international users. ABC will televise the Baltimore Grand Prix on Sunday, September 4, at 4 p.m. ET.



Baltimore Grand Prix GT Qualifying (Top 10):

Pos./Car No./Drivers/Car/Time

1. 55 Auberlen/Werner, BMW M3 GT, 1:31.362

2. 4 Gavin/Magnussen, Corvette C6.R, 1:31.950

3. 56 Mueller/Hand, BMW M3 GT, 1:32.010

4. 3 Beretta/Milner, Corvette C6.R, 1:32.224

5. 17 Henzler/Sellers, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 1:32.772

6. 01 Sharp/van Overbeek, Ferrari F458 Italia, 1:34.151

7. 99 Junqueira/Wilden, Jaguar XKR, 1:34.360

8. 48 Miller/Maasen, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 1:34.609

9. 98 Jones/Moran, Jaguar XKR, 1:35.911

10. 02 Brown/Cosmo, Ferrari F458 Italia, 1:38.674

ALMS SCHEDULE UPDATE: BALTIMORE GP
First practice now set for 1:20 p.m. today
(Baltimore is having trouble getting the circuit ready due to rains and heavy traffic. Some part of the track is still undergoing paving. So, times for practice and qualifying have been changed)


Today’s schedule for the Baltimore Grand Prix has shifted as track construction concludes. Here is the current schedule.

12:00-12:30: USF2000
12:35-1:05 Star Mazda
1:20-2:35 ALMS
2:50-3:35 Indy Lights
3:50-4:50 IndyCar
5:05-5:50 ALMS (Qualifying)
6:05-7:00 IndyCar

The qualifying session will be GT/GTC combined and LMP1/LMPC combined.

2011 Baltimore Grand Prix

Baltimore Grand Prix, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Sept 2 - Sept 4, 2011


ESPN3.com Qualifying Stream 1:40 - 2:55 PM CDT Friday, Sept 2nd


ESPN3.com Race Stream 3:15 - 5:45 PM CDT Saturday, Sept 3rd


ABC TV Broadcast 3:00 - 5:00 PM CDT Sunday, Sept 4th



Canadian or non-US? Then watch it on ALMS.com:

http://americanlemans.com/index.php

US citizens that can't get ESPN3
http://www.justin.tv/rampageturke2


LIVE TIMING:
http://www.imsaracing.net/2003/lt/ltc.html

http://americanlemans.com/primary1.php?cat=racehub#scoring


Live Timing for mobile device:
http://mobile.imsaracing.net/wap2.cfm

http://scoring.americanlemans.com/m


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


RADIO ALMS
http://www.americanlemans.com/radio/almsradio2.php


Entry List
http://www.imsaracing.net/2011/events ... timore%20Entry%20List.pdf


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

Corvette Racing at Baltimore Grand Prix: The Science of Street Racing



Software, Simulations, and Experience Prepare Corvette Racing for Inaugural Baltimore Race



BALTIMORE, Aug. 31, 2011 – Before the first practice session at the inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix begins, Corvette Racing's twin Compuware Corvette C6.R race cars will already have made dozens of laps on the downtown street circuit – thanks to sophisticated computer simulations.



The first race on the 2.1-mile, 12-turn temporary street circuit is a journey into the unknown for American Le Mans Series teams. With limited practice time before Saturday's two-hour race, every second on the track is precious. In order to maximize the Corvettes' performance, the engineering team has analyzed the layout and developed chassis setups on a virtual track.



"Beginning with drawings provided by the organizers, we developed a projected racing line based on the geometry of the track," said Corvette Racing engineering director Doug Louth. "Then the engineering team ran simulated laps to optimize gear ratios and chassis setups. We've prepared maps for the drivers that show projected shift points, maximum and minimum speeds, and potential passing zones."



This proprietary simulation program is used in a variety of GM motorsports programs, from ALMS and Grand-Am road racing to NASCAR. It's also used by engineers in the production Corvette group and other technology partners.



"The big variable on street circuits is the pavement," Louth noted. "While we have data about elevation changes and the crown in the road, we won't know how smooth or rough the asphalt is until we're on site. There could be bumps that require adjustments in the racing line, or the organizers might make last-minute changes in the barriers and cones that define the track perimeter. We have to be prepared for these possibilities.



"Corvette Racing's years of experience on street circuits is definitely an asset," he added. "We've raced on smooth tracks and on rough ones, so we have the background to handle whatever we find in Baltimore. We have a list of high-priority items to work through in the limited track time that's available. All of the ALMS teams are in a similar situation, so hopefully we can do a better job than our competitors. It's exciting to go to a new venue in a major metropolitan area, and this event is another step forward for the American Le Mans Series."



Corvette Racing's drivers know how to win on street courses. Olivier Beretta (No. 3 Corvette C6.R) and Oliver Gavin (No.4 Corvette C6.R) are the most successful ALMS drivers on temporary circuits with seven wins each. In the Series' last visit to the mid-Atlantic area at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., in 2002, Jan Magnussen (No. 4 Corvette C6.R) scored an overall win in a Panoz LMP1 prototype.



But all eyes in Baltimore will be on the youngest driver on the Corvette Racing squad, Tommy Milner. Milner was born in the District of Columbia and grew up in nearby Virginia. Last Sunday, he opened the Baltimore GP festivities by throwing the first pitch at a Baltimore Orioles/New York Yankees baseball game at Camden Yards, which is located inside the street circuit.



"The last time the Series raced in the mid-Atlantic area, the event got great reviews," Milner said. "I'm optimistic that the Baltimore Grand Prix will be a success. Many of my friends have never seen me race except on television, and they're excited about going to this race. I'll have lots of support in the grandstands.



"This race is going to be a real test," he noted. "With most circuits, a driver can learn the layout on a simulator or a video game, but we don't have that option for the Baltimore race. Street tracks are always tough because there is not a lot of grip initially, and the surface changes quite a bit from the first practice to the race.



"A good baseline setup makes it easier to get acclimated to a new track, and I'm confident that the Corvette Racing crew will give us one," Milner explained. "I'm comfortable with the Corvette C6.R on a street circuit after coming from the back of the pack in Long Beach. I consider Baltimore to be my home race, and I want to do as good a job as possible. Every driver is on equal footing, and it's all brand new. I feel confident that we'll be on pace right away."



Corvette Racing’s next event is the two-hour Baltimore Grand Prix on Saturday, September 3, starting at 4:30 p.m. ET. Live video coverage will be available on ESPN3.com in the US and americanlemans.com for international users. ABC will televise the Baltimore Grand Prix on Sunday, September 4, at 4 p.m. ET.

2011 Baltimore Grand Prix

Baltimore Grand Prix, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Sept 2 - Sept 4, 2011


ESPN3 Qualifying Stream 2:40 - 3:55 PM EDT Sept 2nd
ESPN3 Race Stream 4:15 - 6:45 PM EDT Sept 3rd
ABC TV Broadcast 4:00 - 6:00 PM EDT Sept 4th

Event Schedule:

http://www.imsaracing.net/2011/events ... e%20and%20Supp%20Regs.pdf



Facility Map

http://www.imsaracing.net/2011/events ... baltimore%20track_map.pdf


Circuit Map

http://www.imsaracing.net/2011/events ... imore%20GP%2006-24-11.dwg



Entry List:

http://www.imsaracing.net/2011/events ... timore%20Entry%20List.pdf


Corvette Corral:

http://www.imsaracing.net/2011/car%20corrals/Baltimore,%20MD/Corvette%20Corral%20-%20Baltimore.pdf


Tickets:

http://baltimoregrandprix.com/tickets/


2011 SPOTTERS GUIDE:
http://www.spotterguides.com/


10 day Weather:
http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/USMD0018


Radio Frequencies:
http://lastturnclub.com/index.php?opt ... sk=view&id=735&Itemid=111

Corvette Racing Takes Fifth at Road America



Gavin and Magnussen Run at the Front in GT, Beretta and Milner Retire after Accident



ELKHART LAKE, Wis., Aug. 20, 2011 – The fans wanted a four-hour race at Road America, and the American Le Mans Series teams delivered four hours of nonstop action in the Time Warner Cable Road Race Showcase. The No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R driven by Oliver Gavin and Jan Magnussen finished fifth in the GT class after running in the lead pack throughout the race. The No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R of Tommy Milner and Olivier Beretta retired with suspension damage after an accident at the three-hour mark. The No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 458 Italia driven by Jaime Melo and Toni Vilander won the hard-fought GT category, and the No. 4 Corvette won the Michelin Green X Challenge competition.



After qualifying second and sixth, the yellow Corvettes were third and fourth when the first lap was completed. An early full-course caution opened the opportunity to split the race strategies, and Milner pitted the No.3 for fuel only at 20 minutes. After a spirited fight with the No. 56 BMW and the No. 62 Ferrari, Gavin took the lead at 54 minutes into the race. He held the point through the No. 4 Corvette's first pit stop, then had contact with the Ferrari as the two cars exited the pit lane simultaneously. After dropping to fifth, Gavin worked his way back to the front, passing the BMW again for the lead at 1:52. The Briton then handed off to Magnussen when the No. 4 pitted at 2:16.



"It was an action-packed stint," Gavin said. "I was tapped at the start, got sideways, and several cars screamed by on the inside. Then there was a big scrap as we went into Turn 5, with cars everywhere. Finally things settled down a little.



"On the first pass for the lead, the BMW was pushed wide by the Ferrari and they got bottled up in Carousel," he recalled. "I got around the BMW, and then passed the Ferrari as we came into Turn 14. After the pit stop, the Ferrari's door was open as we went down the pit lane, Vilander was trying to get himself secured, and he spun me around. On the next restart, I passed the Ferrari and was having a good battle with the leading BMW. When we came up behind a slower GTC car, he went left, I went right, and I managed to outdrag him on the front straight. It was great fun and great racing!"



Milner agreed. "The start was unbelievable," he said. "They've been trying to pack everybody up at the green flag, and they got that here at Road America. There was definitely some good action where I was sitting. After everything settled down, the No 3 Corvette was quick. The guys made the right call to switch strategy and pit us out of sequence."



That gamble nearly paid off as Beretta was running third in the No. 3 Corvette C6.R after taking over from Milner at 1:28 into the race. Milner was back in at 2:36, and stopped for fuel and two tires at 3:02. On the out-lap, he spun off in Turn 13 and damaged the right-side suspension.



"If I hadn't wrecked, that would have been the right call," Milner said. "It's frustrating because we had such a really good car today. We ran quick laps when I was by myself, but in traffic it's hard to run to the capabilities of the car. We put on two tires to go to the end, and the car was tough to drive with two sticker tires. I turned in for Turn 13, the rear was loose and I had to catch it. I was off the line, and there's a big bump at the exit. I tried to avoid it, but got the car sideways and into the wall."



"We got off sequence early and hoped that it would pay off," explained crew chief Dan Binks. "After that last pit stop, I think we had 'em smoked. The engineers made a great call, but with cold tires, Tommy just spun off. The rear suspension was too badly damaged to fix safely in 30 minutes, so we called it."



Magnussen was consistently in the top five in the No. 4 Corvette in the second half, and was attacking the No. 45 Porsche for third with 30 minutes remaining. In the closing minutes, however, he was passed by the No. 56 BMW, and then had to defend his position against the No. 17 Porsche.



"My first stint in the car was quite good," Magnussen said. "Then as the temperature cooled down, the balance of the car changed and I backed off to bring the car home. Fifth place is absolutely not satisfying in any way; it's not where I thought we were going to finish."



The No. 4 Corvette C6.R won the Michelin Green X Challenge competition as the fastest, cleanest, and most efficient entry in the GT class for the third consecutive race.



"Corvette Racing won the inaugural Michelin Green X Challenge in 2009, and to win for the ninth time in the milestone 25th competition shows Chevrolet's enduring commitment to efficiency, performance, and alternative fuels," said Corvette Racing program manager Doug Fehan. "The team did a masterful job of executing a two-car strategy, but unfortunately circumstances prevented us from reaching our goal."



ABC will televise the Time Warner Cable Road Race Showcase on Sunday, August 21, at 4:30 p.m. ET (2 p.m. PT). Corvette Racing’s next event is the two-hour Baltimore Grand Prix on Saturday, September 3, starting at 4:30 p.m. ET. Live video coverage will be available on ESPN3.com in the US and americanlemans.com for international users. ABC will televise the Baltimore Grand Prix on Sunday, September 4, at 4 p.m. ET.



Time Warner Cable Road Race Showcase GT Results (Top 10):

Pos./Car No./Drivers/Car/Laps

1. Melo/Vilander, Ferrari F458 Italia, 101

2. 55 Auberlen/Werner, BMW M3 GT, 101

3. 56 Mueller/Hand, BMW M3 GT, 101

4. 45 Bergmeister/Long, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 101

5. 4 Gavin/Magnussen, Corvette C6.R, 101

6. 17 Henzler/Sellers, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 101

7. 48 Miller/Maasen, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 101

8. 01 Sharp/van Overbeek, Ferrari F458 Italia, 101

9. 44 Neiman/Holzer, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 100

10. 04 Murry/Lazzaro, Doran Ford GT, 100

14. 3 Beretta/Milner, Corvette C6.R, 92

Corvettes Qualify Second and Sixth in Road America



Magnussen Qualifies No. 4 Corvette C6.R Under GT Track Record, Misses Pole by .005 Second



ELKHART LAKE, Wis., Aug. 19, 2011 – Jan Magnussen was more than a second quicker than Oliver Gavin's pole-winning lap at Road America in 2010, and six tenths of a second under the GT qualifying record set in 2008. Despite the Dane's strong performance today, he missed putting the No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R on the GT pole for the second consecutive year by .005-second. That was the razor-thin margin that favored Dirk Mueller's No. 56 BMW M3 GT in qualifying for Saturday's Time Warner Cable Road Race Showcase, the sixth round of the American Le Mans Series.



Magnussen held back as the 15-minute qualifying session began, seeking a gap in traffic. With a clear track ahead, he rocketed around the 4-mile circuit in 2:05.452 (116.162 mph) on his fourth lap, eclipsing his teammate's pole-winning 2:06.509 time from last year. Olivier Beretta was close behind with a lap at 2:06.585 (115.123 mph) that put the No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R sixth on the GT grid. Mueller took the pole with a 2:05.447 (116.167 mph) lap.



"Five thousandths!" Magnussen exclaimed after qualifying. "When the session started, I made a quick decision to fall back to give myself a big gap. I was clear of traffic, set my fast time, and then did a cool-down lap to get ready for my final qualifying run. That lap was looking really good until we caught traffic. Even with a similar lap, five thousandths could have gone either way.



"Corvette Racing has done such a fantastic job with the cars," Magnussen said. "We're developing all the time, Michelin is making gains with the tires, and the guys back in the shop are prepping the cars perfectly. There are so many tiny improvements, so much attention to the details, and when they are all added up, you get a big improvement like this in one year."



Beretta also posted his best time on his fourth lap, jumping from 11th to sixth in the order.



"Everything was OK, the tires were working well, but I had some power understeer," Beretta said. "I felt that I was losing time in the Carousel, the Kink, and Turn 7. Four hours is a long race, so I think we can make it to the front with some more work on the front of the car."



The four-hour Time Warner Cable Road Race Showcase is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. CT on Saturday, August 20. Live video coverage will be available on ESPN3.com in the US and americanlemans.com for international users. ABC will televise the Time Warner Cable Road Race Showcase on Sunday, August 21, at 4:30 p.m. ET (2 p.m. PT).



Time Warner Cable Road Race Showcase Qualifying (Top 10):

Pos./Car No./Drivers/Car/Time

1. 56 Mueller/Hand, BMW M3 GT, 2:05.447

2. 4 Gavin/Magnussen, Corvette C6.R, 2:05.447

3. 62 Melo/Vilander, Ferrari F458 Italia, 2:05.687

4. 55 Auberlen/Werner, BMW M3 GT, 2:06.245

5. 45 Bergmeister/Long, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 2:06.379

6. 3 Beretta/Milner, Corvette C6.R, 2:06.585

7. 01 Sharp/van Overbeek, Ferrari F458 Italia, 2:06.730

8. 99 Junqueira/Wilden, Jaguas XKR, 2:06.812

9. 44 Neiman/Holzer, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 2:06.838

10. 17 Henzler/Sellers, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 2:06.921

2011 American Le Mans Series - powered by eStar

Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, USA
August 18 - August 20, 2011

ESPN3 Qualifying Stream 3:05 - 4:20 PM CDT Aug 19th

ESPN3 Race Stream 2:45 - 7:15 PM CDT Aug 20th

ABC TV Broadcast 3:30 - 5:00 PM CDT Aug 21st


Canadian or non-US? Then watch it on ALMS.com:
http://americanlemans.com/index.php

US citizen that can't get ESPN3
http://www.justin.tv/rampageturke2


LIVE TIMING:
http://www.imsaracing.net/2003/lt/ltc.html

http://americanlemans.com/primary1.php?cat=racehub#scoring


Live Timing for mobile device:
http://mobile.imsaracing.net/wap2.cfm

http://scoring.americanlemans.com/m


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


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


Entry List

http://www.imsaracing.net/2011/events ... merica%20Entry%20List.pdf


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

Corvette Racing at Road America: Celebrating Chevy's Homecoming


Sixth Round of American Le Man Series to Showcase Corvette's Racing Heritage



ELKHART LAKE, Wis., Aug. 16, 2011 – Two events occurred in 1955 that forever changed sports car racing in America: Chevrolet introduced the small-block V-8 in Corvette, and Road America held its first race. Since then, America's iconic sports car and "America's National Park of Speed" have been inextricably linked. This weekend's Time Warner Cable Road Race Showcase, the sixth round of the 2011 American Le Mans Series, and its companion event, the Corvette World Tribute, will highlight the longstanding love affair between Corvette enthusiasts and the scenic 4-mile, 14-turn track.



Chevrolet's roots run deep at Road America. It was the venue chosen by GM Vice President of Design Bill Mitchell to campaign the original Sting Ray race car and to unveil the stunning Mako Shark concept car in the early '60s. Road America witnessed victories by Wisconsin-based racers Augie Pabst and Jim Jeffords, and saw Zora Arkus-Duntov's mighty Grand Sport Corvettes thunder through its rolling hills. The roster of celebrated Chevy racers at Road America includes Roger Penske, Jim Hall, Hap Sharp, Tony DeLorenzo, Jerry Thompson, John Greenwood, John Heinricy, and many more. In recent times, Corvette Racing has scored six ALMS victories at Road America in the GT1 class with Corvette standouts Andy Pilgrim, Ron Fellows, and Johnny O'Connell at the wheel. The Corvette World Tribute will showcase many of the men and machines that made motorsports history at Road America.



Corvette Racing returns to Road America in the midst of a ferocious battle for the GT class championships. After a victory in Mosport and a runner-up finish in the rain-shortened Mid-Ohio round, Corvette drivers Oliver Gavin and Jan Magnussen are second in the GT driver standings, 17 points behind the leaders. Teammates Olivier Beretta and Tommy Milner are fifth, and Chevrolet is second in the manufacturer standings, 19 points behind BMW. With 25 points on the line for a victory in Saturday's four-hour race, the championship races are wide open.



There's no better setting for a crucial round in the championship chase. "Road America is the circuit in the U.S. that's most like Le Mans," Gavin said. "It's fast and challenging, with sweeping corners followed by heavy braking. Every driver loves the elevation changes and the nature of the track. You've got to have finesse to be quick, but also guts to get through the Carousel and the Kink – corners we take right on the limit. We've tested previously at Road America in preparation for Le Mans, and I'm confident that the team will have two strong Corvettes for the ALMS race."



Milner agreed: "You hold your breath when you get a quick lap at Road America," said the American ace. "You approach Turn 1, Turn 5, and Canada Corner at huge speeds and then brake heavily. That makes for good racing because braking zones allow passing."



Jan Magnussen scored Corvette Racing's last GT1 win at Road America in 2008 with co-driver Johnny O'Connell, and he is keen to return to the winner's circle there. "Road America is a huge challenge because it is so fast and there is a lot of time to be gained in the Kink and the Carousel," said the Dane. "If you're willing to take a risk, you can gain a lot – or lose a lot. That makes it really exciting."



While the team's focus during Saturday's ALMS race will be on results, the Corvette World Tribute, organized by the Registry of Corvette Race Cars, will provide time to reflect on Corvette's rich racing heritage. Chevrolet will celebrate its homecoming to Road America on Sunday morning with a ceremony at the Corvette Bridge, the track's signature landmark that first appeared in 1963 – the year when the split-window Sting Ray Corvette made its debut. The Corvette World Tribute will feature a display of historic corvette race cars, panel discussions, a racers reunion, a concours, autocross competition, touring sessions, and races for vintage and contemporary Corvettes. Information on the Corvette World Tribute is available at http://registryofcorvetteracecars.com/ee/index.php/site/ra-cwt.



"It' going to be wonderful to see Corvettes that were racing before I was born," said Beretta, who started his milestone 100th ALMS race at Mid-Ohio. "I want to see how people built cars with the materials and technology they had at the time. It's very cool that those cars are still running today and can be seen on the track. Sunday will be a great time to enjoy the cars.



"We are celebrating Chevrolet's 100th anniversary in 2011, and the Corvette World Tribute is testimony to Chevy's history," Beretta noted. "No other manufacturer has been so successful, and has won so many races and championships, in so many different series around the world."



The four-hour Time Warner Cable Road Race Showcase is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. CT on Saturday, August 20. Live video coverage will be available on ESPN3.com in the US and americanlemans.com for international users. ABC will televise the Time Warner Cable Road Race Showcase on Sunday, August 21, at 4:30 p.m. ET (2 p.m. PT).

For all of you who will be attending the Road America ALMS race there will be an exciting auction put on by our very own Dan Binks, #3 C6R crew chief. He and his family support Camp Anokijig and proceeds from the auction will go to support this family oriented camp.

Check out the exciting auction items listed below. This is one auction you don't want to miss!

Camp Anokijig

Road America Auction

August 19 at 4:30 pm

Corvette Coral



Here is a list of items to be auctioned:



Dale Earnhardt Jr. #8 Corvette GT1 Door from Sears Point



Dale Earnhardt Jr. #8 right front wheel from Sears Point



GT2 front wheel and Michelin tire



GT2 rear wheel with Michelin tire



GT2 bent wheel



2011 right side door #74 from Le Mans crash



2011 #73 Le Mans winning windshield signed by entire team



2011 Le Mans official program signed by GT Pro & GT Am. Winning drivers



Doug Fehan Corvette Goodwrench fire suit



1 set New Michelin Pilot Super Sport



GT2 crank shaft



GT1 carbon valve cover



GT2 carbon valve cover



8 GT2 connecting rods and pistons



8 GT2 connecting rods



16 GT2 pistons



5 GT2 wing end plates



2009 GT2 wing



2011 #4 Lime Rock rear fascia



2009 #63 & #64 Le Mans Pit Lane Garage banner (last GT1 win)



2008 #3 pit board



2008 #4 pit board



Dan Binks pit arm bands from Le Mans 2011



Miscellaneous posters, programs, team shirts and more



For those not attending the race you can go to the Camp Anokijig web link, (see below) and make a tax deductible donation:
https://www.anokijig.com/pledge.html

The Binks family wishes to extend their thanks for all who will be attending and Dan added his own comment below:

This is a very special place for my family and I would like to say thank you for all the Corvette fans that have helped Camp Anokijig in the past and the future.


Thanks
Dan Binks

2011 American Le Mans Series - powered by eStar

Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, USA
August 18 - August 20, 2011


ESPN3 Qualifying Stream 3:05 - 4:20 PM CDT Aug 19th
ESPN3 Race Stream 2:45 - 7:15 PM CDT Aug 20th

ABC TV Broadcast 3:30 - 5:00 PM CDT Aug 21st

Event Schedule:

http://www.imsaracing.net/2011/events ... e%20and%20Supp%20Regs.pdf

Facility Map

http://www.imsaracing.net/2011/events/road/facility%20map.pdf

Track Map:

http://www.imsaracing.net/2011/events/road/competitor%20map.pdf

Entry List:

http://www.imsaracing.net/2011/events ... merica%20Entry%20List.pdf

Corvette Corral:

http://www.imsaracing.net/2011/car%20corrals/Elkhart%20Lake,%20WI/Road%20America%20Corvette%20Corral%202011.pdf

Tickets:

http://roadamerica.com/FanInformation/TicketOptions.asp

2011 SPOTTERS GUIDE:

http://www.spotterguides.com/

WEATHER:

http://tinyurl.com/RoadAmericaweather

Radio Frequencies:

http://lastturnclub.com/index.php?opt ... sk=view&id=735&Itemid=111

Corvette Racing Finishes Second and Sixth in Mid-Ohio Monsoon



Gavin and Magnussen Come Through the Chaos for Podium Finish and Championship Points



LEXINGTON, Ohio, Aug. 6, 2011 – The Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge ended under a red flag when a downpour inundated the circuit with 11 minutes remaining in the two-hour, 45-minute race. Jan Magnussen and Oliver Gavin scored Corvette's third straight runner-up finish at Mid-Ohio after leading the GT category for the first two hours in the No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R. Tommy Milner and Olivier Beretta finished sixth after a spin in the treacherous conditions temporarily stranded the No. 3 Compuware Corvette before the race was stopped. Wolf Henzler and Bryan Sellers claimed the victory in the No. 17 Porsche 911 GT3 after advancing from sixth to first on the rain-soaked track in the final minutes.



"In the last two races, we've had a good race car and not such a good qualifying car – but I'll take a good race car any time," said team manager Gary Pratt. "In conditions like this, we're happy with second."



Magnussen made a fast start, moving from fifth on the grid to second in the first lap. He passed the class-leading BMW on the next lap and then held the lead through the remainder of his stint.



"I was on the outside for the first turn and had a good line," Magnussen said. "Everyone in front of me pulled in to protect their line, so I went to the outside and came out in second. I could see the BMW's tires weren't completely up to temperature and our Michelins were. In one of the practice sessions, I came out with a BMW and outbraked him at the end of the straight, so I knew he was going to be vulnerable there. Sure enough, he braked early and I made the pass."



Gavin took over the No. 4 Corvette shortly before the one-hour mark and held the point until he pitted for rain tires at 2:03. He was within striking distance of the leading No. 45 Porsche of Patrick Long when the deluge began.



"Those last four or five laps were absolutely insane," Gavin said. "I was driving down the straight with the steering wheel at full opposite lock, with the car just gliding and aquaplaning. Somehow my car straightened up and Pat Long's car went off into a gravel trap. When Wolf Henzler drove by me, I had no answer for him; he certainly had a good rain setup. I was relieved when they brought out the red flag because it was really tough.



"Before the rain came, it was great to be in the lead," the Englishman added. "The guys got me out in front after an excellent pit stop. I was slowly pulling away from Patrick, then a caution came out and we were driving around picking up loads of rubbish on the tires. Patrick was pressuring me, but eventually I got the tires clean and started to pull out a lead. Then the weather arrived, and everything changed."



Gavin and Magnussen's runner-up finish on the heels of a win in Mosport, combined with a fourth-place finish today for points leaders Joey Hand and Dirk Mueller, narrowed the GT championship race. Gavin and Magnussen are now 17 points behind the BMW duo in unofficial points, and Chevrolet cut BMW's lead in the manufacturer standings to 19 points.



Beretta, celebrating his milestone 100th ALMS race, started the No. 3 Corvette C6.R eighth on the GT grid, and pitted from P7 at 56 minutes into the race. Milner steadily worked his way to the front, running third with one hour remaining and second with 30 minutes to go. As the rain intensified, Milner had contact with another GT car and spun in Turn 8, rejoining the race in sixth.



"We had a phenomenal race car in the dry," said Milner. "In the wet, it's the same for everybody – really crazy. Unfortunately Mid-Ohio is one of those tracks that has zero grip in the rain. When you have monsoon conditions like this, it's a roll of the dice and we got snake eyes.



"When it started sprinkling, I thought about Le Mans, but once it started to pour, I said this is hurricane season," Milner reported. "Sixth is not where I wanted to finish after being on pace for second place, but it was really good to see that the team's hard work in practice and in the warm-up improved the car in the dry."



Corvette Racing won the Michelin Green X Challenge as the fastest, cleanest, and most efficient entry in the GT class for the second consecutive race.



"I think it was clear today we had the dominant cars," said Corvette Racing program manager Doug Fehan. "We were well positioned for a victory, and certainly we're satisfied with second when weather is such a factor. Most importantly, we've captured the Michelin Green X Challenge again, demonstrating durability, reliability, performance, and green thinking at Chevrolet and Corvette."



ESPN2 will televise the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge on Sunday, August 7, at 10 p.m. ET. Corvette Racing’s next event is the four-hour Time Warner Cable Road Race Showcase at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis., on Saturday, August 20, starting at 3:00 p.m. CT. Live video coverage will be available on ESPN3.com in the US and americanlemans.com for international users. ABC will televise the Time Warner Cable Road Race Showcase on Sunday, August 21, at 4:30 p.m. ET.



Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge GT Results (Top 10):

Pos./Car No./Drivers/Car/Laps

1. 17 Henzler/Sellers, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 92

2. 4 Gavin/Magnussen, Corvette C6.R, 92

3. 55 Auberlen/Werner, BMW M3 GT, 92

4. 56 Mueller/Hand, BMW M3 GT, 92

5. 01 Sharp/van Overbeek, Ferrari F458 Italia, 92

6. 3 Beretta/Milner, Corvette C6.R, 92

7. 04 Murry/Lazzaro, Doran Ford GT, 91

8. 48 Miller/Maasen, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 91

9. 45 Bergmeister/Long, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 91

10. 44 Neiman/Law, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 91

Corvettes Qualify Fifth and Eighth for Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge



Corvettes Cope with Heat and Humidity in the Heartland



LEXINGTON, Ohio, Aug. 5, 2011 – On a steamy summer afternoon, Corvette Racing drivers Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner qualified their Compuware Corvette C6.R race cars fifth and eighth respectively for Saturday's Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge, the fifth round of the 2011 American Le Mans Series. Gavin will start the No. 4 Corvette C6.R fifth on the GT grid after lapping the 2.25-mile Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in 1:20.944 (100.425 mph). Milner was eighth quickest in the No. 3 Corvette with a 1:21.280 time (100.010 mph). Joey Hand won the GT pole in the No 56 BMW M3 GT with the fastest lap in the 15-minute session at 1:20.539 (100.930 mph).



The temperature was edging toward 90 degrees and the track was a toasty 130 degrees when GT qualifying began on the classic 13-turn circuit. Gavin was on top in GT after his fourth flying lap and set his quickest time on his sixth circuit, but the competition eclipsed his fast time in the closing minutes. Milner also posted his best time on his sixth lap.



"We won from sixth on the grid at Mosport, and I don't see why we can't do the same here," Gavin said. "Our race pace looks competitive, and I'm quietly confident about that.



"We went into the qualifying session thinking that the car would do one thing and then it started doing another," Gavin explained. "I felt we were close to our competition up to that point, but as sometimes happens in qualifying, all of the sandbags came out and our rivals ran faster laps. Our pace on long runs with older tires looks quite good, so we'll continue to work on the car and see if we can get a bit more speed. And who know? It could rain!"



Milner steadily improved his lap times throughout his qualifying run. "I turned down the traction control to try to squeak out a tenth or two, and I put it all on the line," he said. "No question that we have a good race car, and at the end of the day that's what matters most. We already know that we have a good setup, so we can try some more adjustments in tomorrow morning's warmup.



"Looking at our race pace, we're much closer than it looks in qualifying, which is encouraging," Milner noted. "Some of these guys can run one quick lap, but they can't do that consistently. We can't throw a super-fast lap on the scoreboard, but we're much closer to our qualifying pace on long runs. I'm optimistic for the race because I feel we have a better race car than a qualifying car."



The two-hour, 45-minute Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, August 6. Live video coverage will available on ESPN3.com in the US and americanlemans.com for international users. ESPN2 will televise the race on Sunday, August 7, at 10 p.m. ET.



Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge GT Qualifying (Top 10):

Pos./Car No./Drivers/Car/Time

1. 56 Mueller/Hand, BMW M3 GT, 1:20.539

2. 55 Auberlen/Werner, BMW M3 GT, 1:20.655

3. 62 Melo/Vilander, Ferrari F458 Italia, 1:20.745

4. 45 Bergmeister/Long, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 1:20.917

5. 4 Gavin/Magnussen, Corvette C6.R, 1:20.944

6. 02 Brown/Cosmo, Ferrari F458 Italia, 1:21.068

7. 01 Sharp/van Overbeek, Ferrari F458 Italia, 1:21.256

8. 3 Beretta/Milner, Corvette C6.R, 1:21.280

9. 17 Henzler/Sellers, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 1:21.921

10. 04 Murry/Lazzaro, Doran Ford GT, 1:22.128

2011 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge

Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio, USA
August 4 - 6, 2011

ESPN3 Qualifying Stream 1:20 - 2:35 PM CST Aug 5th

ESPN3 Race Stream 2:15 - 5:30 PM CST Aug 6th

ESPN2 TV Broadcast 9:00 PM - 11:00 PM CST Aug 7th


Watch live qualifying and the race if you get ESPN3.
http://espn.go.com/espn3/index

Canadian or non-US? Then watch it on ALMS.com:
http://americanlemans.com/index.php

US citizen that can't get ESPN3 or is banned from watching the live race on ALMS.com?
http://www.justin.tv/rampageturke2


LIVE TIMING:
http://www.imsaracing.net/2003/lt/ltc.html

http://americanlemans.com/primary1.php?cat=racehub#scoring


Live Timing for mobile device:
http://mobile.imsaracing.net/wap2.cfm

http://scoring.americanlemans.com/m


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


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


Entry List
http://www.imsaracing.net/2011%20ALMS ... d-Ohio%20Entry%20List.pdf


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

A LAP OF MID-OHIO: TOMMY MILNER

http://americanlemans.com/primary1.php?cat=news|16028



Track to Street: Corvette Racing Series, Episode 7

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkM7mXjxeZA


Speed TV Report:

Last year’s GT race at Mid-Ohio was one for the ages as well, when Risi Competizione crossed the finish line a mere 0.582 seconds ahead of Corvette Racing. The roles were reversed two weeks ago at Mosport where Corvette’s Oliver Gavin and Jan Magnussen narrowly beat Risi’s Toni Vilander and Jaime Melo. Corvette’s Mosport win finally brought BMW Team RLL’s win streak to an end, but the crowd will most certainly be behind Bobby Rahal’s points-leading squad, which is based out of nearby Hillard, Ohio.

The Mid-Ohio race will be a special day for one Corvette driver regardless of where he finishes; Olivier Beretta is making his 100th Series start on Saturday. Beretta will become only the third driver to reach this milestone, joining Johnny O’Connell and David Brabham.


http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/alms-mid-ohio-preview1/

Corvette Racing at Mid-Ohio: No Place Like Home



Corvette Racing Celebrates Homecoming as Le Mans and Mosport Winner



LEXINGTON, Ohio, Aug. 2, 2011 – Situated between the Corvette assembly plant in Bowling Green, Ky., and Corvette Racing's headquarters in suburban Detroit, the historic 2.25-mile Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is the spiritual home of the Compuware Corvettes. The Corvette Racing team is hoping for a homecoming celebration in the fifth round of the American Le Mans Series, the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge, on Saturday, August 6.



Corvette Racing returns to Mid-Ohio with momentum after a victory by Jan Magnussen and Oliver Gavin in the No. 4 Corvette C6.R at the preceding round at Mosport International Raceway on July 24. In June, teammates Tommy Milner, Olivier Beretta, and Antonio Garcia triumphed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Gavin and Magnussen's win in Mosport narrowed the ALMS GT championship race; the Corvette duo is second in the drivers' standings, 23 points behind BMW's Dirk Mueller and Joey Hand, and Chevrolet is second in the manufacturer standings by 22 markers. With a maximum of 120 points on the table in the next five races and series-mandated balance of performance adjustments taking effect at Mid-Ohio, the GT championship is wide open at the midpoint of the ALMS season.



After scoring seven wins in the GT1 category at Mid-Ohio, Corvette Racing debuted its GT class Corvettes at the Ohio circuit in August 2009 with a runner-up finish by Magnussen and Johnny O'Connell. Last year at Mid-Ohio, Gavin and Beretta finished second in the fiercely contested class. Now the team is focused on moving up one spot on the podium with a victory.



"Mid-Ohio is quite a good track for us, and we've been very strong there from the first race with the GT car," Magnussen said. "This year we've been a little behind because of the regulations, but this may change at Mid-Ohio. It could be our time to shine."



"Last year we were really, really close to a win at Mid-Ohio," Gavin recalled. "Our car came alive in the race and we had a great battle in GT. I managed to get past the BMW and Porsche, and then I had an excellent fight with Jamie Melo's Ferrari in the final minutes. I think we had a car that was fast enough to win, but didn't quite get the breaks to get a victory. I just hope we can continue on an upward trend.



"The Mid-Ohio circuit is rather narrow and it can be quite tricky to pass, but we proved last year that we could do it," Gavin explained. "Getting the car through the Keyhole is challenging because you're braking uphill and then the track falls away as the car goes over the crest. Coming into the corner at the end of the back straight is another challenge because the braking zone can be quite slippery. It's a track where you need to be precise with your lines, precise with your braking, and have a car that rotates well."



Tommy Milner will drive a Corvette for the first time at Mid-Ohio after finishing third there in 2009 and 2010. "I've had success at Mid-Ohio in the past, and combined with Corvette's previous success, I hope to get a good result this year," Milner said. "Mid-Ohio is a showcase for the GT class; there are areas where it's tough to pass, but there are enough opportunities for the prototypes to get by. The elevation changes and the variety of corners make it a great place to race."



The Mid-Ohio round is well attended by Corvette Racing’s friends and extended family, and the team is supported by hundreds of Corvette owners and enthusiasts in the Corvette Corral.



"It's not far from the team headquarters, and a lot of the people who design and build the cars come from the race shop," said Beretta, who is slated to make his milestone 100th ALMS start this weekend. "I hope we will have a good result with both cars. The track is quite interesting because the grip is not constant. The best strategy is to get out front and stay there!"



The Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, August 6. Live video coverage will available on ESPN3.com in the US and americanlemans.com for international users. ESPN2 will televise the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge on Sunday, August 7, at 10 p.m. ET.

2011 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge

Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio, USA
August 4 - 6, 2011

ESPN2 TV Broadcast 10:00 PM - 12:00 AM EDT Aug 7th
ESPN3 Qualifying Stream 2:20 - 3:35 PM EDT Aug 5th
ESPN3 Race Stream 3:15 - 6:30 PM EDT Aug 6th

Event Schedule:

http://www.imsaracing.net/2011/events ... chedule%20and%20Supps.pdf

Facility Map

http://www.imsaracing.net/2011/events ... ohio/mid%20ohio%20map.pdf


Entry List:

http://www.imsaracing.net/2011%20ALMS ... d-Ohio%20Entry%20List.pdf


Corvette Corral:
http://www.imsaracing.net/2011/car%20corrals/Lexington,%20Ohio/Mid%20Ohio%20Schedule%20-%20Corvette%20Corral.pdf


Tickets:

http://www.midohio.com/Store/Tickets/ ... llenge-The-Honda-Indy-200


2011 SPOTTERS GUIDE:
http://www.spotterguides.com/


WEATHER:
http://tinyurl.com/2dj6r2t


Radio Frequencies:
http://lastturnclub.com/index.php?opt ... sk=view&id=735&Itemid=111

Replay of the race is tonight:
ESPN2 TV Broadcast 9:00PM - 11:00 PM CST

















Corvette Racing Wins Grand Prix of Mosport



Corvette Notches Ninth Win at Canadian Circuit, Scores First ALMS GT Victory of Season



BOWMANVILLE, Ontario, Canada, July 24, 2011 – Corvette Racing returned to the winner's circle today at the Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport as Oliver Gavin and Jan Magnussen scored the team's first American Le Mans Series victory of the season. Gavin and Magnussen won the GT class by 4.4 seconds in their No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R over the Ferrari 458 Italia of Jaime Melo and Toni Vilander. Tommy Milner and Olivier Beretta finished sixth in the No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R after contact with a backmarker cost them valuable time on the high-speed Canadian circuit.



After qualifying sixth and eighth on Saturday, Corvette Racing rebounded with a strong race day setup that ultimately broke BMW's three-race winning streak. The two-hour, 45-minute race was anything but predictable as spins, crashes, close calls and penalties added to the drama.



"We had a team meeting after qualifying and agreed that we all just needed to do our jobs because anything can happen," said team manager Gary Pratt. "The crew made great pit stops, the drivers made smart decisions, the engineers made good calls, and here we are with a victory. You have to be able to take advantage of opportunities, you have to be able to close the deal, and today we did."



Gavin and Milner were the starting drivers, and slotted into sixth and eighth respectively as the race began. The running order changed dramatically after the first round of pit stops under a full-course caution, as Gavin emerged in third after two cars were penalized. When the second-place Porsche went off track shortly after the one-hour mark, Gavin moved into second and began an extended battle with Vilander in the Risi Competizione Ferrari.



"We started coming on these big clumps of traffic, and things started getting crazy," Gavin said. "I had this mad battle with Toni, where he passed me going into Turn 2 and then he went around the outside of a GTC car. I managed to undercut them both and come back around the outside into Turn 3 – it was fantastic racing!"



Contact with the Ferrari in Moss Corner punctured a tire, and the crew scrambled as Gavin dove into the pits with one hour and four minutes to go. Magnussen took over the No. 4 Corvette and emerged in third. The Dane passed the Ferrari with 30 minutes to go, and then took the lead with 20 minutes remaining when the leading No. 55 BMW driven by Dirk Werner was assessed a stop-and-go penalty for avoidable contact.



"I knew that for us to get a good result out of this race, we had to be 100 percent focused every second," Magnussen said. "We could never relax, just push all the time. To pull a win from where we were after qualifying is just fantastic. These guys have done it before and they'll do it again – you can never count Corvette Racing out. The way this team pushes, I'm so proud to be part of it."



Gavin agreed: "The team won this race," said the Englishman. "We got our first win on the board and we've broken BMW's stranglehold on ALMS victories this year. I'm absolutely delighted!"



The No. 4 Corvette's second pit stop proved pivotal. "We had 10 seconds for everyone to get ready," said crew chief Brian Hoye. "The guys know what to do and they were ready to go. We knocked out a quick stop, kept the car in contention, and we ended up with a victory. We used every session to make the car the best it could be for the race, and it turned out be a spectacular result."



The No. 3 Corvette was less fortunate today as contact with the No. 11 Porsche GTC and a resulting spin took them out of contention. Milner had executed a series of passes to pull the No. 3 up to fourth place before the accident.



"The No. 3 Corvette was really, really good, the best I've driven all year long," said Milner. "My spot today was Turn 5, where a lot of people were getting held up in traffic and I was able to get underneath them entering 5B. It's a pretty safe spot to pass, and you can rub fenders there without it being an issue. I got a number of passes done there, but then we had that contact in Turn 10. Unfortunately we have a few drivers who need more seat time, especially running with other class cars. I gave him a lot of room going into 9, but he wanted to race me. The result was I got spun out."



The contact damaged the Corvette's left-rear suspension and an extended pit stop dropped the No. 3 off the lead lap. Beretta drove the last 62 minutes to secure sixth for the Le Mans-winning Corvette.



"It's a good win for the No. 4 Corvette and good for the whole team," Beretta said. "Tommy did a very good job, we were just unlucky to be touched by a gentleman driver and that was the end of our race. I was hoping for a yellow to close up the field, but it didn't come, so I just brought the car home."



Corvette Racing celebrated its ninth win at Mosport and captured the Michelin Green X Challenge as the fastest, cleanest, and most efficient entry in the GT class.



"As the inaugural winner of the Michelin Green X Challenge, it's always an honor when Corvette Racing collects one of these trophies," said Corvette Racing program manager Doug Fehan. "It's a testament to how hard our engine group, our chassis group, and our aero group have worked to maximize the efficiency of the Corvette. It's also a testament to Chevrolet's willingness to race with cellulosic E85, and as the world's largest producer of flex-fuel vehicles, it's only appropriate that the Chevrolet team won the Green X Challenge today."



ESPN2 will televise the Grand Prix of Mosport tonight at 10 p.m. ET. Corvette Racing’s next event is the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge in Lexington, Ohio, on Saturday, August 6, starting at 3:30 p.m. ET. Live video coverage will available on ESPN3.com in the US and americanlemans.com for international users. ESPN2 will televise the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge on Sunday, August 7, at 10 p.m. ET.



Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport GT Results (Top 10):

Pos./Car No./Drivers/Car/Laps

1. 4 Gavin/Magnussen, Corvette C6.R, 121

2. 62 Melo/Vilander, Ferrari F458 Italia, 121

3. 55 Auberlen/Werner, BMW M3 GT, 121

4. 56 Mueller/Hand, BMW M3 GT, 121

5. 17 Henzler/Sellers, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 120

6. 3 Beretta/Milner, Corvette C6.R, 119

7. 04 Murry/Lazzaro, Doran Ford GT, 119

8. 44 Neiman/Holzer, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 118

9. 01 Sharp/van Overbeek, Ferrari F458 Italia, 117

10. 48 Miller/Maasen, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 117

Corvettes Qualify Sixth and Eighth for ALMS Grand Prix of Mosport

Corvette Racing Contends with Heat and Traffic in Qualifying at Fast Canadian Circuit

BOWMANVILLE, Ontario, Canada, July 23, 2011 – In 90-degree heat on a blistering 114-degree track, Corvette Racing qualified sixth and eighth for Sunday's Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport. The fourth round of the American Le Mans Series will see the No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R driven by Jan Magnussen and Oliver Gavin start sixth in the hotly contested GT class. The No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R of Olivier Beretta and Tommy Milner will grid eighth.

The heat was on at Mosport, with summertime temperatures that far exceeded the cool weather that traditionally prevailed on the event's previous Labor Day date. With Magnussen at the wheel, the No. 4 Corvette C6.R turned its quickest time on its fifth lap at 1:17.580 (114.107 mph), while Beretta clocked his best lap (1:17.997/113.497 mph) on his fourth circuit. Dirk Mueller put the No. 56 BMW M3 GT on the Mosport pole with the session's fastest lap at 1:17.083 (114.842 mph).

"It was a really good qualifying lap, no traffic and as mistake-free as you can make one," said Magnussen. "That was absolutely as fast as I could go today. We don't have the same balance in the car as we did last year at Mosport, and the difference is it was cooler. Maybe the cooler weather that's predicted for tomorrow will help us, but usually it helps everybody.

"It's very, very close, less than a tenth of a second between each car, but it's not where we want to be and we have our work cut out," Magnussen said. "We'll have to race hard and smart tomorrow. It shows there are some adjustments that need to be made to the performance of the various cars, if only small adjustments."

Beretta was pleased with the improvement in the No. 3 Corvette C6.R following the final practice session. "The performance in qualifying was better, no question, and the team did a good job," Beretta said. "The problem on my lap was traffic. I did my qualifying time, and then I had traffic on the next three laps. Sure, I could have been quicker, but it looks like some of the other cars are definitely quicker than us – but it's a long race!"

Balance of performance adjustments announced after the Lime Rock race two weeks ago will be implemented in the upcoming round at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

"It was a difficult day at a very fast race track," said Corvette Racing program manager Doug Fehan. "You look at the top six cars and they're within a half a second – almost nothing. I think that promises an extremely close competition tomorrow. As we move on to Mid-Ohio, the performance balancing rules will take effect and we'll see even closer competition."

The Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport is scheduled to start at 3:05 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 24. Live video coverage is available on ESPN3.com in the US and americanlemans.com for international users, plus live coverage on Rogers Sportsnet in Canada. ESPN2 will televise the race on July 24 at 10 p.m. ET.


Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport GT Qualifying (Top 10):
Pos./Car No./Drivers/Car/Time
1. 56 Mueller/Hand, BMW M3 GT, 1:17.083
2. 55 Auberlen/Werner, BMW M3 GT, 1:17.142
3. 45 Bergmeister/Long, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 1:17.312
4. 01 Sharp/van Overbeek, Ferrari F458 Italia, 1:17.511
5. 62 Melo/Vilander, Ferrari F458 Italia, 1:17.543
6. 4 Gavin/Magnussen, Corvette C6.R, 1:17.580
7. 17 Henzler/Sellers, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 1:17.964
8. 3 Beretta/Milner, Corvette C6.R, 1:17.997
9. 04 Murry/Lazzaro, Doran Ford GT, 1:18.847
10. 98 Jones/Moran, Jaguar RSR, 1:19.302

2011 Mobil 1 Presents the Grand Prix of Mosport




SATURDAY 07/21-24/11 Mosport Online schedule:

http://espn.go.com/espn3/index
Watch live if you are one of the lucky ones who can get ESPN3.

Are you a lucky Canadian or non-US? Then watch it on ALMS.com:
http://americanlemans.com/index.php

Qualifying:
ESPN3 Qualifying Stream 3:20 - 4:35 PM CST July 23rd

ESPN3 Race Stream 1:45 - 5:00 PM CST July 24th
http://espn.go.com/espn3/index
or if you are a non-American:
http://www.americanlemans.com/primary1.php?cat=video
or if you ARE an American:
http://www.justin.tv/rampageturke2


Replay:
ESPN2 TV Broadcast 9:00PM - 11:00 PM CST July 24th

LIVE TIMING:
http://www.imsaracing.net/2003/lt/ltc.html

http://americanlemans.com/primary1.php?cat=racehub#scoring

Live Timing for mobile device:
http://mobile.imsaracing.net/wap2.cfm

http://scoring.americanlemans.com/m

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

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

Entry List
http://www.imsaracing.net/2011/events ... osport%20Entry%20List.pdf

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

Corvette Racing at Mosport: The Real Deal



High-Speed Canadian Circuit Favors the Brave and Suits Corvette Racing's Strengths



BOWMANVILLE, Ontario, Canada, July 19, 2011 – America is the home of the brave, but that description also applies to a twisting ribbon of asphalt in the Canadian countryside. Mosport International Raceway, a legendary circuit that will host Sunday's Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport, separates the brave from the meek with its sweeping turns and soaring speeds.



Mosport demands commitment, courage, and unflinching self-confidence. Not surprisingly, this daunting 2.5-mile road course ranks among the favorites of the Corvette Racing squad.



"I like fast, fast race tracks, and Mosport is definitely fast," said Tommy Milner, who will share the No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R with teammate Olivier Beretta in the fourth round of the 2011 American Le Mans Series. "Even Turn 5, the slowest corner on the circuit, has an approach that's quick. It's a flowing race track, and once you get your rhythm, it's a blast."



Mosport has been the stage for many of Corvette Racing's winning performances. The team has tallied eight victories there, including its first win in the GT2 category (since renamed GT) in 2009. That race featured a spectacular wheel-to-wheel duel between Jan Magnussen and Ferrari rival Pierre Kaffer in the final 30 minutes. Magnussen prevailed by .331 seconds at the finish.



"The whole circuit is a huge challenge, one that I relish," said Magnussen's teammate, Oliver Gavin. "We always go into that race with a strong car and the track seems to suit the Corvette's strengths.



"Our car's balance and braking is very good, and we seem to be quick in the tight Turn 5 area and coming into Turn 8 at the end of the back straight," Gavin explained. "One of the most daunting parts is Turn 2, and it's also the most fun when you get it right. The corner entry is blind, you turn in and the track starts to fall away almost immediately. You need absolute trust in the marshals to tell you if there's a problem ahead."



Corvette Racing has unfinished business at Mosport. Last year's event was red-flagged with 30 minutes remaining when the guardrail lining the high-speed Andretti Straightaway was severely damaged in an accident. The twin Corvettes had completed their final pit stops and were in position to race for the win when officials cancelled the remainder of the race.



"If the race had restarted we would have been in a good position," said Magnussen. "We had a strong car, things were shaping up, and we would have had a shot at it. I'm looking forward to going back there and setting the record straight."



Corvette Racing ambassador Ron Fellows, who scored three GT1 wins at Mosport in 2001-03 with teammate Johnny O'Connell, has a new role at Mosport as co-owner of the historic circuit. Fellows and partners Carlo Fidani and Alan Boughton purchased the track on June 1.



"Mosport has a storied history that goes back to 1961," said Fellows. "From Formula 1 and Can-Am to Trans-Am, Group C and motorcycles, Mosport has had it all over the decades. To have the opportunity to be part of the ownership group at a circuit that's been part of my life for over 40 years is very exciting. The ALMS Grand Prix of Mosport is our marquee event, and we intend to build on its success in the future."



Fellows' new responsibilities are appreciated by his former teammates. "Ron promised that if we have too much understeer, he'll straighten that bit out," Magnussen said with a laugh.



The Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport is scheduled to start at 3:05 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 24. Live video coverage is available on ESPN3.com in the US and americanlemans.com for international users, supplemented by live coverage on Rogers Sportsnet in Canada. ESPN2 will televise the race on Sunday at 10 p.m. ET.

Corvette Racing Encounters Traffic and Trouble in Lime Rock


Corvettes Damaged in Chain Reaction Accident, Team Battles Back to Finish Ninth and 10th


LAKEVILLE, Conn., July 9, 2011 – Corvette Racing heeded the advice of company co-founder Louis Chevrolet today at the American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix at Lime Rock Park. "Never give up!" was Chevrolet's motto, and the team was true to that credo after a chain reaction accident damaged both Compuware Corvette C6.Rs at just 20 minutes into the two-hour, 45-minute race. After the Corvette crew repaired their battered race cars, Olivier Beretta and Tommy Milner battled back to bring the No. 3 Corvette C6.R home in ninth place while Jan Magnussen and Oliver Gavin finished 10th in the No. 4 Corvette C6.R. Joey Hand and Dirk Mueller won in the No. 55 BMW M3 GT by a 20-second margin over the Long/Bergmeister Porsche.



Magnussen and Beretta were running fourth and fifth respectively in the GT class when the melee occurred near the exit of the West Bend turn leading to the fast downhill Diving Turn. An LMPC prototype had contact with a Ferrari, and the pursuing pack of GT cars had nowhere to go. The No. 4 Corvette collided with the third-place BMW, and was in turn collected by the No. 3 Corvette. Both Corvettes sustained damage to their left front corners and went to the pits for repairs. The No. 18 LMPC was subsequently penalized for avoidable contact, but the Corvettes had already paid a high price.



Led by crew chief Dan Binks, the No. 3 crew replaced a damaged upright and installed a new nose in the pit lane. Brian Hoye and the No. 4 Corvette crew took their car behind the wall and installed a new nose assembly. Beretta rejoined the fray 17 laps behind the leader, and Magnussen was back in the race with a 22-lap deficit.



"That's part of racing at Lime Rock when you have cars running that close," said team manager Gary Pratt. "Somebody spins, somebody checks up, and four or five cars get into each other. We had a lot of pieces and parts to change."



"I'm not sure who hit who, but somebody got together," Magnussen said. "The BMW ran into them, I ran into the BMW, and Olivier ran into me. When I won here in May, Lime Rock was pretty good; today it was back to just being Lime Rock."



"It was like a bicycle race in a living room," Beretta said. "I could not see through all the smoke; suddenly I saw Jan's brake lights and it was too late to stop. The crew did a fantastic job to get me back in the race. I'm not worried about the car after a crash because I know these guys will make the car as good as new. I don't even think about it, I just get on with it because I trust them 100 percent."



The Corvettes racked up the laps, pitting for fuel, tires, and driver changes with 63 minutes to go. Milner replaced Beretta in the No. 3 Corvette C6.R and Gavin replaced Magnussen in the No. 4 Corvette C6.R. The two steadily gained positions throughout the final hour as others in the GT class also encountered misfortune and mechanical problems. At the end of the race, the Corvettes had clawed their way up to points-paying positions.



"It was an uneventful stint for me, just trying to stay out of traffic and stay out of trouble," Gavin said. "Our race was really turned on its head when Jan was caught up in that accident. We tested a few things later in the race, but the car was pretty badly beaten up so it wasn't a straightforward test session. We did finish 10th and got a point, so that's better than nothing. We’ll move on to Mosport and see what we can get there."



ESPN2 will televise the American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 10. Corvette Racing’s next event is the Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport in Bowmanville, Ont., on Sunday, July 24, starting at 3 p.m. ET. Live video coverage will available on ESPN3.com in the US and americanlemans.com for international users. ESPN2 will televise the Grand Prix of Mosport at 10 p.m. ET on July 24.



American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix GT Results (Top 10):

Pos./Car No./Drivers/Car/Laps

1. 56 Mueller/Hand, BMW M3 GT,176

2. 45 Bergmeister/Long, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 176

3. 04 Murry/Lazzaro, Doran Ford GT, 174

4. 01 Sharp/van Overbeek, Ferrari F458 Italia, 174

5. 17 Henzler/Sellers, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 174

6. 48 Miller/Maasen, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 172

7. 44 Neiman/Holzer, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 165

8. 55 Auberlen/Werner, BMW M3 GT, 163

9. 3 Beretta/Milner, Corvette C6.R, 161

10. 4 Gavin/Magnussen, Corvette C6.R, 156

Rick Voegelin


Video on crash:

http://www.mefeedia.com/watch/42145445

http://www.corvetteracing.com/history ... /limerock/limerock3.shtml

SATURDAY 07/08-09/11 Lime Rock Online schedule:

http://espn.go.com/espn3/index
Watch live if you are one of the lucky ones who can get ESPN3.

Are you a lucky Canadian or non-US? Then watch it on ALMS.com:
http://americanlemans.com/index.php

Live Qualifying: Friday 07/08/11 at 2:25 PM CST to 3:40 PM CST
Race: Saturday 007/09/11 at 12:50 PM CST to 4:05 PM CST
Replay: Sunday 07/10/11 12:00 PM CST to 02:00 PM ESPN2

Or watch whenever ALMS uploads the race on it's website: http://www.americanlemans.com/primary1.php?cat=video

For us unlucky ones try: http://www.justin.tv/rampageturke2

LIVE TIMING:
http://www.imsaracing.net/2003/lt/ltc.html

http://americanlemans.com/primary1.php?cat=racehub#scoring

Live Timing for mobile device:
http://mobile.imsaracing.net/wap2.cfm

http://scoring.americanlemans.com/m

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

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

LIMEROCK Entry List
http://www.imsaracing.net/2011/events ... Lime%20Rock%20Entries.pdf

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

Corvette Racing Wins 24 Hours of Le Mans

Corvette Wins GTE Class, Scores Seventh Win for Chevrolet

LE MANS, France, June 12, 2011 – "The car's a lap down, but we can make that up," said Corvette Racing team manager Gary Pratt with six hours remaining in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Pratt's words proved prophetic as the No. 73 Compuware Corvette C6.R driven by Olivier Beretta, Tommy Milner and Antonio Garcia relentlessly pursued the class-leading No. 51 Ferrari 458 Italia, cutting the margin by seconds every lap. American driver Tommy Milner overtook Ferrari driver Toni Vilander with two hours and 10 minutes to go, and steadily increased his lead as he completed his double stint. Garcia then took over the yellow and black car for the final hour and the run to the finish.



The No. 73 Corvette C6.R completed 314 laps and finished two minutes and 29 seconds ahead of the runner-up Ferrari. Today's victory was the seventh class win at Le Mans for Corvette Racing, and its first in the GTE Pro category. It came as Chevrolet celebrates its 100th anniversary and the 10th anniversary of the team's first Le Mans victory in 2001. It was the sixth Le Mans title for Beretta, the third for Garcia, and the first for Milner.



"This is my first time at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but I've watched Corvettes race here my whole life," said Mark Reuss, President GM North America. "To come here for the first time on the 100th anniversary of Chevrolet and to have another Corvette victory is beyond words."



The contest was a dramatic one, as the No. 74 Corvette C6.R of Oliver Gavin, Jan Magnussen, and Richard Westbrook suffered a stunning reversal of fortune. After leading for nearly 16 hours, the car was extensively damaged in a crash in the 17th hour. Although Magnussen was uninjured in the high-speed shunt, the car was retired on the spot.



The No. 73 Corvette C6.R had been running steadily in the top five, and the No. 74's misfortune moved it to second in the GTE standings. More than a lap behind the No. 51 Ferrari 458 Italia at the time of the accident, the No. 73 Corvette drivers chased down the class leader. As rain began to fall in the 20th hour, Garcia was gaining 1.5 seconds per lap. Milner took over at the 21st hour and continued to reel in the Ferrari, gaining as much as six seconds per lap during his stint.



Milner made the pass for the lead on the Mulsanne Straight on lap 283. "That was the hardest drive of my life," said the 25-year-old racer. "It would have been a lot easier if it hadn't been sprinkling, raining, not raining, and then wet – all that plus the pressure of the situation. I'd been super comfortable in the car all day long, but I was certainly not comfortable then. I was just trying to drive the car to what the track would allow. Every lap it changed, every corner it changed.



"When you start racing, you hope that one day you can compete for a win," Milner noted. "To get one here at Le Mans in my first year with Corvette Racing is very cool."



"I was very happy with how the race turned out, even though it did not always go our way," said Garcia. "We had ups and downs – we didn't get a break with the first safety car, we had punctured tires, and so on. Every time I was in the car, I tried to go as fast as possible and stay out of trouble. You have to never give up here, and just keep pushing. Today it paid off.



"In the final minutes, everything comes into your mind," the Spaniard added. "It went perfectly, a real easy last stint compared to all the ones before it. This was the first time I drove a car at the finish at Le Mans, and it was very special. There is no better time to win this race than in the centennial year for Chevrolet. Now I'm already thinking about next year."



Beretta became ill after driving behind the safety car during an extended caution period, and drove a limited time in the second half of the race.



"Today was not my sixth win, but a win for the team, Tommy, Antonio, and all of the engineers and crew who did a wonderful job," Beretta said. "I was sick in the middle of the night from following the pace car, but I recovered. I'm very happy for the entire team."



Corvette Racing scored six wins in the GTS/GT1 class at Le Mans (2001-02, 2004-06, and 2009). The team moved to the GT2 class in 2010, which was renamed GTE Pro in 2011.



"If I were to write a script to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Chevrolet and the 10th anniversary of Corvette Racing's first win at Le Mans, this would undoubtedly be it," said Corvette Racing program manager Doug Fehan. "Louis Chevrolet was himself a racer, and his motto, 'Never give up!' is a philosophy we embraced from our first visit here. I think the result today embodied the spirit of Chevrolet's co-founder and of that iconic phrase."



24 Hours of Le Mans GTE Pro Top Five Finishers after 24 Hours:

Pos./Car No./Drivers/Car/Laps

1. 73 Beretta/Milner/Garcia, Corvette C6.R, 314

2. 51 Fisichella/Bruni/Vilander, Ferrari F458 Italia, 314

3. 56 Priaulx/Muller/Hand, BMW M3 GT, 313

4. 77 Lieb/Lietz/Henzler, Porsche 997 GT3 RSR, 312

5. 76 Narac/Pilet/Armindo, Porsche 997 GT3 RSR, 311


From corvetteblogger.com:



Corvette-Porsche crash:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBHEThT4pfo



Tommy Milner's interview:

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

LE MANS MEDIA SCHEDULE:

From Corvettemotorsport.com: Click on link below for live streaming, live chat, live timing, radio and news.
http://www.corvettemotorsport.com/LeMans2011

Other live timing link:
http://www.thomasbaekdal.com/mini-sites/lemans2011/

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

Speed TV Schedule & live streaming: Central Time


TELEVISION: SPEED: Saturday-Sunday: 7:30-10:30 a.m. CST; 2:30-7 p.m. CST; 10 p.m.-8:30 a.m. CST

STREAMING: SPEED.com: Saturday 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. CST; 7-10 p.m. CST
SUPLEMENT: live video streaming online at www.speedtv.com/corvette

********************************************
Live Pit notes:
http://www.lemanslive.com/en/24h-le-mans-2011-live-text-en/

Corvette Webcam:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/lm2011-corvette

Forums:
http://www.ten-tenths.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=101

http://www.americanlemansfans.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=2609

http://www.digitalcorvettes.com/forum ... php?p=1891034#post1891034

Le Mans Spotter Guide:
http://spotterguides.com/

Le Mans Entry List:
http://www.lemans.org/wpphpFichiers/1 ... ste-equipages-invites.pdf

Weather:
http://www.weather.com/weather/weekend/FRXX0048

To watch Thursday's qualifying parts 1 and 2 again:
http://www.justin.tv/rampageturke2/b/287647857

Race fans still have only a couple of weeks to enter for a chance to win a 2012 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Convertible and a trip to Le Mans, France, for the 2012 24 Hours of Le Mans by entering the “Race to Win Corvette promotion at www.racetowincorvette by June 30, 2011.

Corvette Racing Qualifies Fourth and Sixth for 24 Hours of Le Mans



Team Focuses on Race Day Preparations in Final Qualifying Sessions



LE MANS, France, June 9, 2011 – At midnight in Le Mans, the field was set for the 59th running of the world's greatest sports car race. Corvette Racing will start fourth and sixth in the 18-strong GTE Pro field in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Back-to-back two-hour qualifying sessions tonight determined the final qualifying order, but the Corvette Racing crew concentrated on preparing for the upcoming 24-hour endurance test.



Both Compuware Corvette C6.Rs stood on their lap times set on Wednesday night. Jan Magnussen qualified the No. 74 Corvette C6.R fourth at 3:59.519, and Olivier Beretta turned the sixth quickest time at 3:59.633 in the No. 73 Corvette C6.R. The No. 55 BMW M3 GT claimed the GTE pole with a fast lap at 3:57.592.



"We didn't really make qualifying runs tonight, but focused instead on the race setups," said Corvette Racing team manager Gary Pratt. "The track was covered with oil in the final two-hour session, so there wasn't any reason to try to run quicker. We did a good job on Wednesday night, qualifying the cars fourth and sixth, and those are good starting positions. Now we want to have cars that can run well for 24 hours, so we'll concentrate on the final prep tomorrow and be ready to race on Saturday."



The No. 73 Corvette crew elected to install their race motor and new brakes during the one-hour break between sessions, while the No. 74 Corvette crew installed a fresh gearbox. The new parts were run in during the closing hours of qualifying. With no track activity scheduled on Friday, the team has a full day to complete their pre-race preparations.



“We sorted out some issues throughout both qualifying sessions today," Magnussen said. "At the beginning of the second session we wanted to go for a fast lap with a baseline race setup, but that didn’t work out. P4 and P6 on the grid for this race is good. It would have been great to start from pole, of course, but the race is a different story. We’re happy with where we are now as the car seems to come to us the longer we run.”



Magnussen's teammate Oliver Gavin agreed: "We made some progress and the car felt good at the end of the run, and that was on old tires," he reported. "It bodes well for the race that we can produce competitive lap times on used tires."



"We had some handling issues initially and worked on solving them," said Richard Westbrook, third driver in the No. 74 Corvette C6.R. "That's part and parcel of the buildup for Le Mans, getting these things out of the way."



Tommy Milner had the only incident of the evening when he kissed the tire barrier at Mulsanne Corner. The crew replaced the nose section on the No. 73 Corvette C6.R and soon had the car back on track.



"The crew did an awesome job, they got me back out again quickly and I was able to turn my fastest laps of the week," Milner said. "In the end we had a respectable lap time and we're moving in the right direction, which feels good. I wasn't able to string many laps together in the previous practice sessions, so getting a long run tonight helped me to settle in."



The 24 Hours of Le Mans will be run on June 11-12. The race will start Saturday at 3 p.m. local time (9 a.m. ET). SPEED will televise the race live, supplemented by live online video streaming at www.speedtv.com/corvette. Check local listings for broadcast times.



24 Hours of Le Mans GTE Pro Top 10 Qualifying Times:

Pos./Car No./Drivers/Car/Time

1. 55 Farfus/Muller/Werner, BMW M3 GT, 3:57.592

2. 51 Fisichella/Bruni/Vilander, Ferrari F458 Italia, 3:58.040

3. 56 Priaulx/Muller/Hand, BMW M3 GT, 3:58.426

4. 74 Gavin/Magnussen/Westbrook, Corvette C6.R, 3:59.519

5. 89 Farnbacher/Simonsen/Keen, Ferrari F458 Italia, 3:59.519

6. 73 Beretta/Milner/Garcia, Corvette C6.R, 3:59.633

7. 77 Lieb/Lietz/Henzler, Porsche 997 GT3 RSR, 3:59.662

8. 59 Ortelli/Makowiecki/Melo, Ferrari F458 Italia, 3:59.901

9. 75 Goossens/Holzer/van Lagen, Porsche 997 GT3 RSR, 3:59.962

10. 79 Hancock/Dolan/Buncombe, Aston Martin Vantage, 4:00.747

GM Media:

Corvette Racing Fourth and Fifth in Provisional Le Mans Qualifying



Magnussen and Beretta Post Top-Five Qualifying Times in First Qualifying Session



LE MANS, France, June 8, 2011 – Preparations for this weekend's 79th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans began today with four hours of free practice followed by the first of three two-hour qualifying sessions. Corvette Racing's twin Compuware Corvette C6.Rs were third and fifth in the opening practice session. Then after a two-hour break, the initial qualifying session ran from 10 p.m. to midnight on the imposing 8.5-mile circuit.



Jan Magnussen qualified the No. 74 Corvette C6.R fourth on the provisional GTE Pro grid at 3:59.519, and Olivier Beretta was fifth at 3:59.633 in the No. 73 Corvette C6.R. The No. 56 BMW M3 GT is on the provisional GTE pole with the fastest lap at 3:58.426.



"Our objective here is not to win the pole; our objective is to develop a vehicle that can be raced comfortably and competitively by all three drivers in each car," said Corvette Racing program manager Doug Fehan. "Victory is our objective and that's what we're working toward."



Qualifying will continue on Thursday with a second session from 7 to 9 p.m., and conclude with the final session from 10 p.m. to midnight. With the possibility of rain tomorrow, the team has already posted competitive qualifying times with both Corvettes and all six drivers have completed their required laps in darkness.



"We got in a good qualifying run for P4, and we'll see what we can do to improve tomorrow," said Magnussen. "Our competition is fast, but we still have some improvements to make. I think we have a car now that would do very well in the race. Judging by previous years and how the track changes, we're in good shape, and we can still improve in small areas."



Olivier Beretta agreed: “All went well today," said the five-time winner at Le Mans. "We worked through our to-do list and it all worked out fine. The setup improved throughout the session each time we changed something. There was a brief interruption with a red flag situation, but it didn’t upset our schedule at all. The track was still quite dirty in the beginning of the session, but it cleaned up pretty quickly. The car is exactly how it always is when we begin an event: nearly perfect.”



Oliver Gavin had a dramatic moment at 90 minutes into the opening practice session. "I had just started a timed lap and was going through the Esses when we had a problem with the power steering system," he said. "The car was fully loaded going down the hill, and I had to make a pretty big correction. I brought the car back to the pits, but driving slowly around Le Mans is pretty hairy – those prototypes go past very, very fast.



"It's great to be back at Le Mans in our cars," Gavin added. "The circuit is a bit dirty, a little green, but felt pretty comfortable."



Tommy Milner turned his first laps at Le Mans in the No. 73 Corvette C6.R that he shares with Beretta and Antonio Garcia. "There wasn't a big difference from the Larbre Competition Corvette that I drove during the Le Mans test in April, but it's cool to be in the Corvette Racing C6.R," said the 25-year-old American driver. "Now we're focused on the task at hand. During my time in the car we made a really good change to improve the balance of the car, so we've found a direction to take and we're definitely making progress. We just have to keep at it and get the car as comfortable as we can."



“It’s good to be back in Le Mans after a year away," said Garcia. "For me it’s about getting into the rhythm again and trying to figure out traffic and how to work with the faster prototypes. We’re just concentrating on getting the car ready for the race, as we do every year. The most important thing is to get a consistent and comfortable car. Now we’ll analyze the data and fine tune the setup.”



"We've definitely got something to build on," said Richard Westbrook, the third driver in the No. 74 Corvette C6.R. "The track is changing all the time, so we have to react to that. We have a very good baseline car, and I think all three of the drivers and the engineers are confident that the small changes we make will improve things. There are no major issues, so it's just the fine tuning to react to the change in the track."



The 24 Hours of Le Mans will be contested on June 11-12. The race will start Saturday at 3 p.m. local time (9 a.m. ET). SPEED will televise the race live, supplemented by live online video streaming at www.speedtv.com/corvette. Check local listings for broadcast times.



24 Hours of Le Mans GTE Pro Provisional Top 10 Qualifying Times:

Pos./Car No./Drivers/Car/Time

1. 56 Priaulx/Muller/Hand, BMW M3 GT, 3:58.426

2. 51 Fisichella/Bruni/Vilander, Ferrari F458 Italia, 3:58.989

3. 55 Farfus/Muller/Werner, BMW M3 GT, 3:59.321

4. 74 Gavin/Magnussen/Westbrook, Corvette C6.R, 3:59.519

5. 73 Beretta/Milner/Garcia, Corvette C6.R, 3:59.633

6. 59 Ortelli/Makowiecki/Melo, Ferrari F458 Italia, 3:59.901

7. 75 Goossens/Holzer/van Lagen, Porsche 997 GT3 RSR, 3:59.962

8. 77 Lieb/Lietz/Henzler, Porsche 997 GT3 RSR, 3:59.998

9. 89 Farnbacher/Simonsen/Keen, Ferrari F458 Italia, 4:00.260

10. 79 Hancock/Dolan/Buncombe, Aston Martin Vantage, 4:00.747

Corvette Racing Celebrates Chevrolet Centennial at 24 Hours of Le Mans



American Team Aims for Seventh Le Mans Win, First GTE Title



LE MANS, France, June 7, 2011 – Racing has been a part of Chevy's heritage since the company was founded in 1911 by Swiss-born race car driver Louis Chevrolet and financier Billy Durant. Now as Chevrolet celebrates its 100th birthday and Corvette Racing commemorates the 10th anniversary of its first class win in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2001, Corvette Racing is seeking to write another chapter in Chevrolet's rich racing history with its first victory in the GTE Pro (formerly GT2) category at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.



Corvette Racing faces fierce competition on the imposing Le Mans circuit with entries representing Ferrari, BMW, Porsche, Lotus, and Aston Martin. Corvette Racing relishes a challenge, and this year's edition of the 24-hour classic presents a formidable one.



Corvette Racing has won six times in the GTS/GT1 class at Le Mans since 2001. In 2010 the team moved to the GT2 category where it set the performance pace before accidents and mechanical problems sidelined both cars by the 18-hour mark. Now there is a sense of unfinished business as the team prepares for its 12th appearance at La Sarthe.



"Last year we had a great car that could compete with anybody," said Oliver Gavin, the pole winner in the GT2 category. "We were the pacesetting team, and we hope to continue that this year. Le Mans is such a special race, a race that everyone wants to win. You build your whole year on it, there's so much expectation and anticipation. The accident that we had showed the real mettle of the Corvette Racing team, how the crew fixed the car and got us back out quickly."



Gavin will be teamed with Jan Magnussen in the No. 74 Compuware Corvette C6.R at Le Mans, a pairing that won the GT1 title three consecutive years in 2004-06. Richard Westbrook will complete the trio this year as Olivier Beretta has moved to the No. 73 Compuware Corvette C6.R.



"I've won every time I've been to Le Mans with Oliver," Magnussen noted. "That's a big plus. Richard did a great job in testing and at Sebring, he's easy to get along with and very fast. We're all going there with high hopes.



"The approach has to be same as last year," the Danish driver continued. "We have to push as hard as we can. Going with a team like Corvette Racing, with all of the preparation and planning, you can feel the team's energy all week long. But Le Mans is Le Mans, and anything can happen – and probably will happen."



Joining Beretta in the No. 73 Compuware Corvette C6.R will be Tommy Milner and Antonio Garcia. The trio was third in the season-opening Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.



"I have raced in Le Mans since 1995, and every year I go there to achieve what every driver wants – to win," said Beretta, a five-time class winner at Le Mans. "Before you can think about the victory, you have to go through the week and make everything ready. I have won three years in a row, and I have lost three years in a row. Now I am looking for my sixth victory, and I hope 2011 will be the one."



The driver from Monaco has a deep reverence for the world's oldest and most prestigious endurance race. "People who have never been to Le Mans cannot understand what we are saying when we talk about it," Beretta said. "You have to be there to understand what Le Mans means. When you have the opportunity to go with a great car and you know everything is being done to win, that can give you even more motivation."



Beretta will be joined by his American Le Mans Series co-driver, 25-year-old Tommy Milner of Lake Mary, Fla., for the first time at Le Mans. This year marks Milner's third journey to Le Mans; his first two Le Mans races ended in disappointing DNFs by the Panoz team, but the combination of speed and experience in the No. 73 Corvette holds the promise of a better result this time.



"Le Mans is magical," Milner said. "You can feel the history there, the legendary drivers who have raced there, and the success of Corvette Racing. There is definitely something special about driving onto the Mulsanne Straight the first time. At the same time, we have to treat Le Mans like any other race, and we have to stick to the plan we use at every event. When I'm in the car, I won't be thinking about Le Mans, I'll be thinking about how to make the car faster."



Propelled by 100 years of history and fueled by the passion to compete at the top level of international sports car racing, the men and women of Corvette Racing are ready to take on the world's best at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.



Corvette Racing's next event is the 24 Hours of Le Mans in Le Mans, France, on June 11-12. The race will start Saturday at 3 p.m. local time (9 a.m. ET). SPEED will televise the race live, supplemented by live video streaming online at www.speedtv.com/corvette. Check local listings for broadcast times.

Corvette and SPEED Take Fans Inside the 24 Hours of Le Mans



Extensive Live TV Coverage Bolstered by Online Video Stream from Inside Corvette C6.R



LE MANS, France, June 6, 2011 – Race fans will have an all-access view of this weekend’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, with exclusive features that include “riding along” with Corvette Racing for the entire race. SPEED will televise 17 hours of live coverage on June 11-12, and via a partnership with Corvette Racing, fans can go to www.speedtv.com/corvette to view the hours not televised. Online coverage will include a special live video stream providing a constant look from inside one of the two Corvette C6.Rs that will be seeking a seventh class win at Le Mans.



The 24 Hours of Le Mans in Le Mans, France, will start at 3 p.m. local time (9 a.m. ET) on Saturday, June 11. The live web stream of the race on www.speedtv.com/corvette will air coverage without commercial interruption for hours of the race not carried on television.



“The 24 Hours of Le Mans is one of the most prestigious and demanding events in all of racing,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet U.S. Vice President for Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “We jumped at the opportunity to work with SPEED to provide fans expanded coverage from Le Mans, with an inside view of how Corvette will battle its peers, the world’s best sports cars.”



The live streaming video feed will be from the cockpit of the No. 73 Compuware Corvette C6.R piloted by Olivier Beretta, Tommy Milner and Antonio Garcia. The special web coverage will also include links to an in-depth video tour of the legendary Le Mans circuit in the No. 74 Compuware Corvette C6.R with commentary from Oliver Gavin, who will be seeking his fifth class win for Corvette at Le Mans this weekend.



“It’s not often you can work with a partner that has the ability to also create and offer a better viewing experience for our audience,” said Bobby Akin, SPEED Vice President of Advertising Sales. “SPEED and Chevrolet have been working together on Le Mans on air and online enhancements for many years, and to actually be able to reach out to our audience through a multi-platform online package is amazing.”



Corvette will compete in the renamed GTE Pro (formerly GT2) class this year at Le Mans, facing fierce competition with entries representing Ferrari, BMW, Porsche, Lotus, and Aston Martin.



The No. 73 Compuware Corvette C6.R of Beretta, Milner and Garcia finished third in the season-opening Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. Gavin will be teamed with Jan Magnussen in the No. 74 Compuware Corvette C6.R at Le Mans, a pairing that won the GT1 title three consecutive years in 2004-06. Richard Westbrook will be the third driver.

From GM:

10 Years After: Memories of Corvette Racing's First Le Mans Victory

A Look Back at Corvette Racing's Breakthrough Win in 2001

http://media.gm.com/content/product/p ... s/us/en/2011/May/RACING41

Here is a link to a nice article by corvetteblogger.com:

http://www.corvetteblogger.com/2011/0 ... ch-run-and-corvette-show/

Also, exciting news about a new TV Corvette show is in the works and they will be video taping our event!

Come on down for some fun in the sun!

Thanks! It always is, and wish you could be there!

Annual Corvette Beach Caravan

Circle CityCorvette Beach Caravan Corvettes, Inc. is having it's annual Corvette Beach Caravan, May 19-21, 2011. 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 Kirk Bennion, C6 Designer, Steve Grilli and Eric Millette, Corvette Plant Engineers, and Wendell Strode, NCM Director, and attend their seminars. Enter the Car Show or Golf Tournament, or just relax on the beach. We will have door prizes, parties, and a 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.html

UPDATE !!!!

Come see the 2012 and 2011 special GM Corvettes on display during the Circle City Corvettes Annual Beach Caravan event. We will have the 2012 Centennial Corvette, the 2011 Supersonic Blue Z06 Carbon Edition Concept car, the 2011 Inferno Orange Carbon Edition and another 2012 car from the Corvette Plant!