Corvette Racing 2009

GM Press Releases

Corvette Racing 2009 Review: Doug Fehan Q&A

Corvette Racing Second in Wild Finish to ALMS Season Finale

Magnussen Claims First GT2 Pole for Corvette Racing

Corvette Racing Will Wrap Up GT2 Test Program in ALMS Season Finale

Corvette Racing Splashes to Fourth and Sixth in Rain-Shortened Petit Le Mans

Corvette Racing to Start Third and Seventh in GT2 at Petit Le Mans

Petit Le Mans Is First Endurance Test for GT2 Corvette C6.R

Corvette Racing Wins GT2 in Grand Prix of Mosport

Corvette Racing Qualifies Fourth and Fifth for Mosport ALMS

Corvette Racing to Rock Toronto Financial District

Corvette Racing Takes Third at Road America

Corvette Racing Qualifies Fourth and Fifth for Road America ALMS

Corvette Racing to Pedal in Tour de Road America Bike Ride 
to Fight Cancer

High-Speed Road America Track Is Next Test for Corvette Racing

Corvette Racing Finishes Second and Fourth in First GT2 Race

Corvette Racing Qualifies Third and Sixth in GT2 Debut

Corvette Racing Teleconference Transcript

Corvette Racing to Introduce Corvette C6.R in GT2 Class at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

Corvette Racing Wins GT1 in 24 Hours of Le Mans

Corvette Racing Continues GT1 Battle in Le Mans 

Corvettes Lead GT1 at Six-Hour Mark in Le Mans 

Corvette Racing 1-2 in GT1 at Midpoint of 24 Hours of Le Mans

Corvette Racing Qualifies One-Two in GT1 for 24 Hours of Le Mans

Corvette Racing Sets the GT1 Pace in Practice for 24 Hours of Le Mans

Corvette Racing Aims for Sixth Le Mans Title in Final GT1 Race

Tequila Patron American Le Mans Series at Long Beach

Gavin and Beretta Take Final ALMS GT1 Victory in Long Beach

Beretta Captures Final ALMS GT1 Pole in Long Beach

American Le Mans Series Salutes Corvette Racing in Final U.S. 
GT1 Race

Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring

O'Connell, Magnussen, Garcia and Corvette Racing Make History in Sebring

Chevrolet Introduces 2009 Corvette GT1 Championship 
Edition at Sebring 12-Hour Race

Gavin Kicks Off Corvette Racing's 10th Anniversary with 
GT1 Pole in Sebring Season-Opener

Season-Opening Sebring Race Marks Corvette Racing's 10th Anniversary

2009 Driver Lineup

Corvette Racing 2009 Review: Doug Fehan Q&A

The First in a Series of Conversations with Corvette Racing

DETROIT – Corvette Racing program manager Doug Fehan has seen it all in motorsports, and he had to rely on every element of that hard-earned experience to navigate through a tumultuous 2009 season. In the midst of a global economic storm, Fehan steered Corvette Racing to the team's sixth win in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the successful mid-year introduction of the GT2 version of the Corvette C6.R in the American Le Mans Series.

Corvette Racing's 10th anniversary season was a year of transition. The championship-winning GT1 Compuware Corvettes secured a seventh win in the season-opening Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring on March 21, and made their farewell appearance in the ALMS in Long Beach, Calif., on April 18. The curtain fell on the GT1 era on June 13-14 with a GT1 victory in Le Mans, France, as Johnny O'Connell, Jan Magnussen and Antonio Garcia stood on the top step of the podium. Seven weeks later, two new-generation Corvette C6.Rs made their competition debut in the GT2 class at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

As the team conducted a five-race test program in preparation for a unified GT class in 2010, Corvette Racing posted five podium finishes and notched its first GT2 win at Mosport International Raceway on August 30. In the series' final five rounds, Corvette Racing scored more team and manufacturer points than any other GT2 entry, and O'Connell and Magnussen tallied the most points in the GT2 drivers championship. The season ended with fireworks at Laguna Seca as Magnussen walked away from his battered race car after a high-speed crash on the final lap of the season.

Under Fehan's leadership, Corvette Racing has become one of the world's premier production sports car teams. An ardent advocate for the Corvette cause and an icon for legions of faithful Corvette fans; Fehan received the ALMS "From the Fans" award in 2004, 2008, and 2009. In the following Q&A, he looks back at the 2009 season and looks ahead to 2010.

Q: Looking in the rearview mirror, what stands out in 2009?

Fehan: "There were really two parts to the season – our final races in GT1 leading up to Le Mans, followed by the debut of the GT2 program. Our focus was and will always be the 24 Hours of Le Mans. When GM was going through its restructuring, our greatest concern was that some might not understand the importance and significance of that event. It was a heartening moment when we were able to get past that point.

"In spite of many uncertainties, the team focused its energy on running the first round at Sebring, which we knew would be a great test of the engineering improvements we'd made in the race cars. And then going to Long Beach, we fulfilled the second half of our mission, which is marketing the Corvette and Chevrolet brands and representing our team sponsors.

"Everyone felt the importance of writing the final chapter of GT1 at Le Mans. They dedicated themselves to succeed, and it was absolutely amazing to see them embrace that idea. It fueled their fire because they knew the team was undergoing its most significant challenge, and concurrently they were designing, planning and building the GT2 cars. The preparation was almost as much fun as the race."

Q: And the highlight of the GT2 portion?

Fehan: "The win at Mosport. Watching the new cars' first laps at Mid-Ohio and knowing that we'd be competitive was certainly exciting, but the victory at Mosport was overwhelming. It happened much sooner than we expected, and it showed ALMS fans what they have to look forward to in 2010 with competition between Corvette, Ferrari, Porsche, Jaguar, BMW, and Ford.

"I think by any measure, the GT2 Corvette introduction was successful. Our objective was to focus on Corvette Racing's core strengths: preparation, durability and reliability. We've learned that is what scores points – it's not always the fastest car that wins races and championships. In five events, we had zero mechanical issues, and the cars were on pace. That was very encouraging."

Q: Surely one of the highlights of 2009 was your stunning victory over Jan "The Flying Viking" Magnussen in the Tour de Road America Bike Ride to Fight Cancer?

Fehan: "That certainly ranks right at the top, but in a different category (laughs). We had some fun, and the race benefited a good cause, the Lance Armstrong Foundation. I challenge the pit crews to improve continuously, and the bike race demonstrated to our drivers that there is going to be continuous improvement in their level of physical preparation as well. I mean, they ought to be able to keep up with the program manager!"

Q: On a serious note, what were the lessons learned in Jan's last-lap crash at Laguna Seca?

Fehan: "Unfortunately the hardest lessons you learn in this sport are always safety related. You never want to put your safety systems to the test, but when that moment arrives, it's very reassuring to know that they are validated. That's what we learned at Laguna Seca.

"Initially we had concerns about running an aluminum chassis, and we had concerns about how the roll cage was integrated into the chassis. The force of the impact exceeded 50 g's, and yet Jan walked away. When we analyzed the chassis after the crash, the safety systems worked just as they were designed, and the aluminum chassis did a marvelous job of absorbing the energy and protecting Jan from serious injury.

"The extent of Jan's injuries was a broken tailbone, which we attribute to the seat design. We have redesigned that part to prevent a reoccurrence in the future, so that is the upside of the incident. Despite the severity of the crash, the crew had the No. 3 Corvette repaired and fully operational within a couple of weeks."

Q: What is the status of the GT-spec Corvette customer car program for 2010?

Fehan: "We currently have two customer cars under construction, but we don't yet have confirmed buyers for them. There has been tremendous interest in the GT-spec Corvette C6.Rs, and we think with continued improvement in the global economy, the interested parties will be able to make a commitment. We'd be delighted to see more Corvettes racing in the ALMS or overseas."

Q: While there will be a single GT class in the ALMS in 2010, GT1 will continue in the FIA series and at Le Mans. What's your perspective on the two classes?

Fehan: "A year ago, there was general agreement regarding a unified GT class, which we will see in the ALMS in 2010. The intention at that time was to base the FIA GT1 class on GT cars, with limited modifications to the engine and aerodynamics. Since then, however, Europe has encountered the same economic issues that we have faced in the U.S., and many members of the racing community understandably wish to retain their current cars for financial reasons. Consequently some of the older GT1 cars will now be converted to the new regulations, including several privately owned Corvette C6.Rs, and the ACO has invited these cars to participate at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. As the economic climate improves, I hope that the decision makers will recognize the benefits of running one GT class at Le Mans and other venues."

Q: Corvette Racing will introduce a production-based 5.5-liter small-block V-8 engine in 2010 in place of the 7.0-liter and 6.0-liter engines used previously. What's the outlook for the engine program?

Fehan: "GM Powertrain has completed the initial dynamometer tests of the 5.5-liter small-block V8, and the race team has conducted the first track test with the new engine. We are quite satisfied with its performance level at this point. We plan to continue development and introduce the 5.5-liter engine package in competition at Sebring."

Q: What are Corvette Racing's goals for 2010?

Fehan: "The ALMS GT championship and victory at Le Mans."









Corvette Racing’s next event is the season-opening Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring at Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Fla., on March 20, 2010. The classic 12-hour endurance race will be televised live on SPEED starting at 10 a.m. ET.

About General Motors: General Motors, one of the world’s largest automakers, traces its roots back to 1908. With its global headquarters in Detroit, GM employs 209,000 people in every major region of the world and does business in some 140 countries. GM and its strategic partners produce cars and trucks in 34 countries, and sell and service these vehicles through the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM’s largest national market is the United States, followed by China, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Canada, Russia and Germany. GM’s OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. General Motors acquired operations from General Motors Corporation on July 10, 2009, and references to prior periods in this and other press materials refer to operations of the old General Motors Corporation. More information on the new General Motors can be found at www.gm.com.

FOR RELEASE: 2009-08-30

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Corvette Racing Second in Wild Finish to ALMS Season Finale

MONTEREY, Calif. - Corvette Racing teammates Jan Magnussen and Johnny O'Connell finished as runners-up in the season-ending Monterey Sports Car Championships at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The race ended as Magnussen spun across the track and hit the wall on the pit straight in the No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R. The Danish driver was examined and released from the trackside medical center after his encounter with the concrete barrier as the Corvette's safety systems and energy-absorbing structure performed as designed in the impact.

The wild finish capped an intense battle between the No. 3 Corvette and the No. 45 Flying Lizard Porsche driven by Patrick Long and Joerg Bergmeister. Magnussen had relentlessly cut down the lead of the class-leading Porsche from 14 seconds to mere inches in the final 50 minutes of the four-hour race. Magnussen took the lead with a pass on the front straight with two minutes to go, but ceded the point back to Bergmeister after officials ruled that he made the pass on the pit exit. With the checkered flag already displayed for the overall winner, the Corvette and Porsche had contact in the final corner and raced side-by-side to the finish line.

"It was really good, hard racing," said Magnussen. "I didn't think I even had a chance after I had to give the position back. Going into the last corner I was too far away to make a proper attack, but Joerg parked the car. I didn't see that, so I slid up and hit him a little - he went sideways and I managed to get on the inside. It was a drag race up the hill, and I managed to get ahead of him. Then he turned me into the wall, and he kept turning in. Then I spun around the nose of his car."

The No. 45 Porsche was credited with a 1.037-second victory over the No. 3 Corvette C6.R as Corvette Racing scored its fifth podium finish in five races since moving to the GT2 category. The No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R of Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta finished 10th, 12 laps down to the leader after hard contact in a restart at the one-hour mark. The crew replaced the Corvette's damaged front bodywork and a lower control arm.

After qualifying first and third, the twin Corvettes were running one-two until the first round of pit stops during the race's second caution period.

"Jan and I were working the traffic really well and managed to open up a gap over the third-place Ferrari," said Gavin. "When we got to the first pit stop, the guys did a fantastic job and we got out in front of the sister car. Then on the restart, I came down the inside of the first turn and was trying to see if I could get ahead of the BMW. I went too far to the inside and got on the dirt. The BMW was squeezing me and I got on the brakes too late. I didn't want to hit the prototype ahead of me, so I then went even farther left onto the sand, and at that point I was just a passenger. I started to spin and started hitting people.

"It's embarrassing for me - I don’t think I make many mistakes, but I made a big one today," Gavin said. "I'm sorry for the crew - I think we had a car that was fast enough to win today. They've done a fantastic job all year, and this is not the way you want to repay them."

O'Connell took over from Magnussen at 1:50, and had to contend with a trio of Porsches throughout his stint. He took second position from the No. 18 Porsche at 2:22, and then gradually cut the No. 45 Porsche's lead to six seconds before the third round of pit stops. After a short delay to reattach the side safety net during the driver change, Magnussen took off in pursuit of the class-leading Porsche.

"I had to wait for the No. 18 Porsche to make a mistake, and when he did, we went by him and started eating away the No. 45's lead," said O'Connell. "The No. 3 Corvette was running great, and we look at this as a test for next year. We've learned a lot about the GT2 car, and we'll come back next year even stronger."

The No. 4 Corvette's misfortunes continued as it had to serve two penalties and then suffered a punctured tire with Olivier Beretta at the wheel after contact with a prototype.

Corvette Racing program manager Doug Fehan reflected on the finish of the race and the conclusion of the team's five-race development program with the GT2 version of the Corvette C6.R: "Those last six laps were as exciting as I've seen in motor racing in a long time - two great teams, two great cars, two great drivers," Fehan said. "It's unfortunate it ended the way it did. I think we're going to review the videotapes and see what we can do to ascertain what went wrong there. I'm sure we'll be working with the sanctioning body to address it and put into place safeguards to make sure incidents like this won't happen again."

"Corvette Racing's transition to the GT2 class has been wildly successful," Fehan said. "We had told our management and our fans that our objective was to be able to qualify on the pole and to win a race before the season ended, and we met those expectations. In fact, we came within one incident today of a second victory for Corvette. Now we'll go back to the shop, get this car repaired, start our fall test program, and get ready to race at Sebring."

Corvette Racing’s next event is the season-opening Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in Sebring, Fla., on March 20, 2010.

Monterey Sports Car Championships GT2 Results:
Pos./Drivers/Car/Laps
1. Bergmeister/Long, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 155
2. O'Connell/Magnussen, Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, 155
3. Henzler/Ehret, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 154
4. Farnbacher/James, Panoz Esperante GTLM, 154
5. Van Overbeek/Neiman, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 153
6. Mueller/Milner, BMW E92 M3, 153
7. Westbrook/Stuck, Porsche 9111 GT3 RSR, 153
8. Sellers/Cicero, Porsche 9111 GT3 RSR, 150
9. Sutherland/Drissi/Gigliotti, Corvette, 150
10. Gavin/Beretta, Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, 143
11. Robertson/Robertson/Murry, Ford GT MK 7, 139
12. Melo/Kaffer, Ferrari 430 GT, 49
13. Gentilozzi/Goosens, Jaguar XKR, 46
14. Hand/Auberlen, BMW E92 M3, 3

NEXT EVENT
March 20, 2010, Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, Sebring International Raceway, Sebring, Fla.

Release Date: October 10, 2009

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Magnussen Claims First GT2 Pole for Corvette Racing

MONTEREY, Calif. - Corvette Racing's development curve for the new-generation GT2 Corvette C6.R continued its upward trajectory today when Jan Magnussen won the pole for Saturday's Monterey Sports Car Championships at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Magnussen claimed Corvette Racing's first GT2 pole when he topped the class with a lap of 1:23.053 (97.008 mph) in the No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R. Oliver Gavin qualified the No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R third in GT2 at 1:23.283 (96.740 mph).

The two Corvette C6.Rs sandwiched Risi Competizione's Ferrari 430 GT driven by Pierre Kaffer, which start second on the GT2 grid in the American Le Mans Series season finale. Corvette Racing's previous best qualifying performance in the GT2 category was third place at Mid-Ohio and Road Atlanta.

"The Michelins came in really quickly and I kept going faster and faster," said Magnussen, who notched his 10th career ALMS pole and his third straight at Laguna Seca (two in GT1 and one in GT2). "In practice I didn't expect to be fighting for the pole, but we expected to be up near the front. It seemed at the end of every session, the Porsches or Ferrari would do a very fast lap and put us down the order a little bit. To be on pole is just fantastic."

Magnussen and Gavin went out immediately at the start of the 20-minute qualifying session and both drivers completed six flying laps. In cool and windy conditions (64-degree air temperature and 79-degree track temperature) the cars went quicker on virtually every lap. Magnussen recorded his best time on his sixth and final circuit, while Gavin posted his quickest time on his fifth lap before encountering traffic on his final flyer.

Magnussen muscled his way past the No. 87 Porsche of Wolf Henzler at the start of the session to avoid traffic. "A clear track is really important in qualifying," the Dane explained. "Even if someone is a good ways ahead of you, they can take off that little bit of downforce that we need."

"The way that we set up the Corvette C6.R, it's not a qualifying setup - it's a race setup," he said. "It's made to go faster every lap. Obviously we cannot run this fast in the beginning of the race because we will have a lot more fuel, and we'll expect the car to behave a little differently, but it should go faster and faster. We've had a history of doing that."

Gavin jumped from fifth to third on the qualifying list with his final effort.

"The car was going faster and faster as the tires were coming in," Gavin said. "The car felt very good, but not absolutely perfect, with a touch of mid-corner understeer. Catching traffic on the final lap was a bit frustrating, but Jan had to pass him as well. You always want to be quick, and we're in the hunt, but not on the pole. Well done to Jan, he did a great job."

Last season's ALMS race at Laguna Seca was marked by numerous caution periods. It's hoped that additional paving on the runoff areas of several corners will reduce the number of yellow-flag laps in tomorrow's four-hour race.

"This track gets sandy and slippery when the wind is blowing," Gavin noted. "It's a challenge because it seems like every time you go into a corner, it's different. The good thing is that we're up at the front and it looks like we'll be able to fight for the lead."

The four-hour Monterey Sports Car Championships at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is scheduled to start at 2:45 p.m. PDT on Saturday, October 10. SPEED will broadcast the race tape-delayed on Sunday, October 11, at 2:30 p.m. EDT.

Monterey Sports Car Championships GT2 Qualifying:
Pos./Drivers/Car/Time/Speed
1. O'Connell/Magnussen, Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, 1:23.053/97.008
2. Melo/Kaffer, Ferrari 430 GT, 1:23.220/96.813
3. Gavin/Beretta, Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, 1:23.283/96.740
4. Henzler/Ehret, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 1:23.347/96.666
5. Bergmeister/Long, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 1:23.391/96.615
6. Hand/Auberlen, BMW E92 M3, 1:23.552/96.429
7. Farnbacher/James, Panoz Esperante GTLM, 1:23.640/96.327
8. Mueller/Milner, BMW E92 M3, 1:23.745/96.206
9. Sutherland/Drissi/Gigliotti, Corvette, 1:23.991/95.925
10. Robertson/Robertson/Murry, Ford GT MK 7, 1:23.993/95.922
11. Westbrook/Stuck/Arnold, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 1:24.307/95.565
12. Sellers/Cicero, Porsche 9111 GT3 RSR, 1:25.455/94.281
13. Van Overbeek/Neiman, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 1:28.798/90.732
14. Gentilozzi/Goossens, Jaguar XKR, no time

Release Date: October 9, 2009

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Corvette Racing Will Wrap Up GT2 Test Program in ALMS Season Finale

MONTEREY, Calif. - While most teams in the American Le Mans Series are looking to Saturday's Monterey Sports Car Championships at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca as the end to a long season, Corvette Racing will go to the scenic California circuit to wrap up its test and development program for the GT2 version of the Compuware Corvette C6.R race car.

After retiring the championship-winning GT1 Corvette C6.Rs with the Chevy team's sixth victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June, Corvette Racing has used the second half of the ALMS season to refine the performance and reliability of its new-generation GT2-spec race cars. The four-hour race at Laguna Seca on October 10 will be the final step in a five-race testing program that began with the debut of the GT2 Corvette C6.Rs in early August at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Since then the twin Corvette C6.Rs have tallied a victory at Mosport International Raceway, a runner-up finish at Mid-Ohio, and a pair of third-place finishes (Road America and Mosport). The lessons learned in the final five races of 2009 will provide a strong foundation for Corvette Racing's run for the championship in the series' unified GT class in 2010.

"By any standard, it's clear that Corvette Racing's GT2 development plan has been successful," said Corvette Racing program manager Doug Fehan. "It's not only our results on the race track - although that is certainly important - but the fact that at each successive event we've learned more about the GT2 Corvette C6.R race cars. They have been more consistent, quicker, and more competitive. That is exactly what we would have expected if we'd conducted a test program in private."

In the midst of a tumultuous year for the automotive industry, Corvette Racing managers made the decision to conduct the GT2 testing program in the public eye at ALMS events. The series' final five rounds provide a variety of circuits, surfaces, and formats to hone the cars' performance. Rain at Mosport and a deluge at Road Atlanta presented unexpected opportunities to evaluate the Corvette's wet-weather characteristics.

"We knew we would have a variety of race tracks on which to test in the second half of the season, and that played a key role in our decision," Fehan said. "It's not possible to conduct a private test at Laguna Seca, so participating in the race this weekend is a win-win for us. I think our cost-effective approach to testing has demonstrated that Corvette Racing is a fiscally responsible race team."

Corvette Racing has scored four wins previously at Laguna Seca in the GT1 category (2004-05, 2007-08). Adding a victory in the GT2 class to that list will require the engineers, crew and drivers to come to terms with the sandy Laguna Seca circuit.

"Laguna Seca is something of a mystery for us, as it is for many teams," Fehan explained. "The track surface can vary greatly from day to day, so there is always a question of grip. We've engineered more mechanical grip into the GT2 Corvette than in any previous Corvette race car, so we're very eager to see whether that proves to be an advantage. This race will be our only opportunity to test at Laguna Seca before we return next year in earnest, so it is important to gather as much data as possible."

Team manager Gary Pratt sees tires as a key to success at Laguna Seca. "Laguna has traditionally been a low-grip track, and I expect it to be the same this year," he said. "The lack of grip there was a problem for us until we partnered with Michelin. Michelin has always brought tires that suit the track, and that could be an advantage for us in a four-hour race. Most of the corners are medium-speed, with hard braking in Turn 11 before the pit straight. Consequently Laguna Seca is a momentum track where the drivers need to carry their speed through the corners. I think the GT2 Corvettes will do that very well."

"We've been able to find a good balance with the GT2 Corvette's aero package so it is not as 'edgy' as the GT1 car," Pratt continued. "This makes the GT2 Corvette more predictable and the drivers more confident in traffic. We've always been a little anxious about running in wet conditions, but the GT2 Corvette has proven to be very good in the rain with its wide track and good balance. The drivers like it, and I'm not so hesitant about practicing on a wet track."

Based on the production Corvette ZR1 supercar, the GT2 Corvette C6.R introduced several new components that are being tested in the heat of competition.

"The ZR1's aluminum frame was a question mark when we initially designed the GT2 Corvette C6.R," Pratt said. "The engineering analysis looked good, but you never really know until you test under race conditions. So far we've run the cars hard at various tracks with different loads, and it's all been good."

"Working with GM Powertrain on the 6.0-liter GT2 engines also has been a good experience," Pratt added. "Katech did a tremendous job with the GT1 engines, but the move to GM's in-house engine program has been seamless so far. The change from direct injection to port fuel injection before Petit Le Mans was not in our original plan, but the GM Powertrain engineers worked very hard in a very compressed timeframe to make the conversion. That has actually moved us forward in the development of a 5.5-liter small-block engine for next year."

While some teams will celebrate ALMS championships when the checkered flag falls at Laguna Seca, Corvette Racing will savor different rewards.

"Racing in GT2 has been a great experience so far," said Pratt. "I realize now how much everyone on this team enjoys having good competition. We have been able to carry over everything we learned in previous programs to GT2, and we were competitive right out of the box. That underlines the importance of the people and the continuity of the program."

Corvette Racing's next event is the season-ending Monterey Sports Car Championships at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif. The four-hour race is scheduled to start at 2:45 p.m. PDT on Saturday, October 10. SPEED will broadcast the race tape-delayed on Sunday, October 11, at 2:30 p.m. EDT.

Release Date: October 7, 2009

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Corvette Racing Splashes to Fourth and Sixth in Rain-Shortened Petit Le Mans

Corvette C6.Rs Run One-Two Before Early Finish to Rain-Soaked Race

BRASELTON, Ga. - The torrential rain that has inundated Georgia returned today, forcing officials to red flag the scheduled 10-hour Petit Le Mans after four hours and 50 minutes of racing. With heavy rainfall and runoff continuing to drench the Road Atlanta circuit and no hope of drying the track, the event was declared official at 8:44 on the race clock. When the race ended with the cars parked in the pit lane, Corvette Racing's No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R was fourth in the GT2 class, one lap behind Risi Competizione's GT2-winning No. 62 Ferrari 430. The No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R was classified sixth, two laps down.

The two Corvette C6.Rs dominated the first three hours of the race, running first and second consistently until a flurry of pit stops mixed the running order just as the heavy rain arrived. Starting with rain tires on a wet track, the Corvettes quickly asserted themselves at the start with Oliver Gavin taking the No. 4 Corvette to second and O'Connell slotting the No. 3 Corvette into fourth on the opening lap. Gavin made a move on the pole-winning Ford GT of David Murry in the Turn 10 chicane on the second lap, but lost grip and fell to fourth. O'Connell immediately applied more Chevrolet pressure to the Ford, taking the lead on the third lap with an inside pass going into the high-speed first turn. On the fourth lap, Gavin passed the championship-leading Flying Lizard Porsche of Patrick Long to take third, and one lap later he overtook Murry in Turn 1 to make it a Corvette Racing one-two in the GT2 class.

"I knew this morning we had a good car in the wet," said O'Connell. "Everyone was being a little tentative at the start, but I felt confident with my Michelins. Olly got in a little too deep and went off trying to pass the Ford GT, so then it was my turn to take care of business."

With a dry line emerging, the Corvette crew made the decision to switch from rain tires to slicks on the first pit stop. Gavin was the first to pit at the 45-minute mark, taking on four slick tires and a tankful of E85R ethanol. O'Connell pitted two laps later and also made the change to dry tires. Following the exchange of pit stops, Gavin emerged at the front of the GT2 class with O'Connell comfortably in second.

"I thought I was being super careful with the Ford, but obviously I wasn't being careful enough and went across the grass in Turn 10," Gavin said. "Fortunately the car wasn't damaged and I got going again and passed the Porsche and the Ford GT. The track was drying and I thought it had to be time for slicks. I could see it was going to be nasty in several turns, but thought that if I could build enough heat in the tires, it should be good for the rest of the track. As soon as I went out on slicks, I knew we'd made the right choice."

The Corvettes made their first driver changes during a full-course caution at 1:34 (62 laps) with Jan Magnussen replacing O'Connell and Olivier Beretta replacing Gavin. A second full-course caution period closed up the field, producing a pack of six GT2 cars representing Corvette, BMW, Porsche, and Ferrari all running within 20 seconds of each other in the third hour. The Corvette team took advantage of the third yellow flag to make another change of drivers at 2:49 (109 laps) with Antonio Garcia taking over the class-leading No. 3 Corvette C6.R and Marcel Fassler getting into the second-ranked No. 4 Corvette C6.R.

Marc Lieb in the No. 45 Porsche took second in the GT2 class on a restart following the fourth full-course caution and then closed to within half a second of Garcia. The two drivers waged a fierce battle until their duel was interrupted by the fifth caution period at 3:33. The Corvettes suffered a setback during their yellow-flag pit stops, ceding track position to Lieb and to Joerg Mueller in the No. 92 BMW. Rejoining the race after the pit stop exchange, Fassler was third and Garcia fourth.

"It was difficult because the two cars in front of me, the Risi Ferrari and No. 87 Porsche, were fighting for position and didn't want to lose a lap," said Garcia. "They were defending their position very hard. I think our pace was faster, so I took it easy and was waiting for an opportunity."

With the weather deteriorating and rain in the air, the No. 62 Ferrari pitted for wet tires just after the four-hour mark under the race's sixth full-course caution. Racing resumed at 4:24, but four minutes later a downpour began. Both Corvettes pitted for rain tires at 4:29, with O'Connell getting back into the No. 3 and Gavin returning to the No. 4. As he completed his out lap, O'Connell aquaplaned off the track in the downhill Turn 12 and was beached in the gravel trap. Quick work by the IMSA safety team had the No. 3 Corvette back on the circuit after losing only one lap. However, the No. 62 Ferrari's timely pit stop resulted in a one-lap advantage on the rest of the GT2 field.

"The rain was unbelievable," O'Connell said. "I came underneath the bridge like I've done a thousand times before and suddenly hit a stream of water. I wasn't pushing hard at all, just trying to get around and catch up with the field. When something like that happens you feel awful for the guys."

"It was quite difficult because the tires were cold running behind the safety car, and as soon as I tried to accelerate the car moved around and it was very tricky to stay on the track," Fassler said. "I was following a BMW, thinking he would show me the grip level, but then he went directly into the pit so I was on my own. Out of the first corner I had a big moment with oversteer. When I saw the rain coming, I was happy to hear the pit call for a driver change."

The downpour intensified, and race officials displayed the red flag, stopping the race at 4:50. The clock continued while the cars were parked in the pit lane. The rain continued, and the race was terminated three hours and 55 minutes later.

"It was a very unusual event, and in some respects a disappointing one," said Corvette Racing program manager Doug Fehan. "Rain is a perfect environment to race the GT2 Corvette C6.R - the engineering that has gone into this chassis provides tremendous mechanical grip. Coupled with Michelin's exceptional rain tires, we certainly would have liked the opportunity to finish the race with a good result. But safety is always paramount at GM Racing, and we applaud the officials in making the decision to call the race. Safety must always prevail."

Corvette Racing's next event is the Monterey Sports Car Championships at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif. The four-hour race is scheduled to start at 2:45 p.m. PDT on Saturday, October 10. SPEED will broadcast the race tape-delayed on Sunday, October 11, at 2:30 p.m. EDT.

Petit Le Mans GT2 Results:
Pos./Drivers/Car/Laps
1. Melo/Kaffer/Salo, Ferrari 430 GT, 170
2. Mueller/Milner/Mueller, BMW E92 M3, 169
3. Henzler/Werner, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 169
4. Gavin/Beretta/Fassler, Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, 169
5. Bergmeister/Long/Leib, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 169
6. O'Connell/Magnussen/Garcia, Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, 168
7. Law/van Overbeek/Neiman, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 162
8. Bell/Sutherland/Drissi, Corvette, 157
9. Farnbacher/James, Panoz Esperante GTLM, 152
10. Robertson/Robertson/Murry, Ford GT MK 7, 142
11. Sellers/Cicero, Porsche 9111 GT3 RSR, 136
12. Hand/Auberlen/Priaulx, BMW E92 M3, 133
13. Feinberg/Hall, Dodge Viper, 129

Release Date: September 26, 2009
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Corvette Racing to Start Third and Seventh in GT2 at Petit Le Mans

Beretta Knocked Off GT2 Pole in Closing Minutes of Qualifying at Road Atlanta

BRASELTON, Ga. - Corvette Racing drivers Olivier Beretta and Johnny O'Connell qualified third and seventh respectively for Saturday's 1,000-mile/10-hour Petit Le Mans, the ninth round of the American Le Mans Series. Today's 25-minute GT2 qualifying session was held in hot and humid conditions, but with a 90 percent probability of rain in the weather forecast for race day, the rolling Road Atlanta circuit could be dramatically different when the green flag falls.

Both Corvette C6.Rs began the qualifying session with installation laps following scheduled service for their race gearboxes, and then completed five flying laps in their qualifying runs. Beretta took the provisional pole in the No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R with a quick lap at 1:20.912 (113.012 mph) on his fourth circuit, while O'Connell posted his fastest time at 1:21.491 (112.209 mph) on his fifth lap. Beretta held the top spot for four minutes before being bumped to third by .093 seconds late in the session. David Murry put the Robertson Racing Ford GT on the GT2 class pole with a lap at 1:20.819 (113.882 mph).

"I was just warming up, picking my spots to brake and accelerate," said Beretta. "Then when I felt everything was ready, including the driver, I decided to push. I had a clean lap and a good qualifying time. My main concern was that Olly must start the race on these tires, so I didn’t want to overheat them. Qualifying is important, but the target is the race."

O'Connell, a resident of nearby Flowery Branch, Ga., enjoyed the vocal support of his legions of fans at Road Atlanta. "Maybe it was the track conditions, but we had more understeer in qualifying than we've had in practice, and there is only so much you can do to overcome that," O'Connell said. "A 10-hour race isn't going to be won in qualifying, and when you look at the qualifying times, there are several very fast cars behind us. One of the reasons that Corvette Racing is successful is our ability to adapt to different conditions and situations. We'll be tested tomorrow and we usually rise to the occasion."

The GT2 Corvette C6.Rs are running with a revised engine specification at Petit Le Mans with port fuel injection instead of the direct injection used previously.

"We had homologated the GT2 Corvette C6.R with a 6.0-liter GM small-block V8 engine for 2008 until new rules go into effect next year," said Doug Fehan, Corvette Racing program manager. "Essentially the engine is a destroked version of the 7.0-liter GT1 engine, which had direct injection. While there is nothing in the rules that precludes direct injection, Corvette Racing was the only GT2 team using it. Some of the competitors expressed their concerns about that situation, and the sanctioning body requested that we remove the direct injection system. We agreed that if it was in the best interest of good racing and in the best interest of the series, we would honor that request.

"Consequently GM Powertrain has made a monumental effort to prepare the engines for this race," Fehan said. "In less than three weeks, they completely disassembled the engines, reconfigured the cylinder heads, and changed the fueling systems. The change from direct injection to port injection affects our fuel mileage to some extent, but it has had a negligible impact on performance. Among the top-five GT2 qualifiers, Corvette Racing has the only car that hasn't been granted a larger restrictor, a bigger splitter, or a larger wing under performance balancing. We offer our congratulations to our rivals for their qualifying performances today, and we salute the job that the GM Powertrain staff has done for Corvette Racing."

The prospect of rain on race day adds to the drama of endurance racing. "Rain at Road Atlanta is never a good thing because of the hills and valleys, and there could be standing water on the circuit," said Beretta. "This is an endurance race, and we are used to doing 24 hours and 12 hours. This one will be 10 hours, and if it rains, we will deal with it."

O'Connell agreed: "It's been a long time since we've had a wet race at Petit Le Mans," he said. "Racing in the rain is difficult at any track, but at Road Atlanta it's particularly difficult because there is no passing from Turn 3 to Turn 5. The difference in speeds between the GT2 cars and the prototypes is significant, so I hope that everyone is smart. We'll just take the situation as it comes and adjust to it."

Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Ga., is scheduled to start at 11:15 a.m. EDT on Saturday, September 26. The race will conclude when the overall leader completes 1,000 miles or 10 hours, whichever comes first. SPEED will broadcast live flag-to-flag coverage starting at 11 a.m. EDT.

Petit Le Mans GT2 Qualifying:
Pos./Drivers/Car/Time/Speed
1. Robertson/Robertson/Murry, Ford GT MK 7, 1;20.819/113.142 mph
2. Bell/Sutherland/Drissi, Corvette, 1:20.877/113.061
3. Gavin/Beretta/Fassler, Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, 1:20.912/113.012
4. Mueller/Milner/Mueller, BMW E92 M3, 1:20.981/112.915
5. Hand/Auberlen/Priaulx, BMW E92 M3, 1:21.219/112.584
6. Bergmeister/Long/Lieb, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 1:21.299/112.474
7. O'Connell/Magnussen/Garcia, Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, 1:21.491/112.209
8. Farnbacher/James, Panoz Esperante GTLM, 1:21.648/111.993
9. Henzler/Werner, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 1:21.760/111.840
10. Melo/Kaffer/Salo, Ferrari 430 GT, 1:22.718/110.544
11. Sellers/Cicero, Porsche 9111 GT3 RSR, 1:23.081/110.061
12. Feinberg/Hall, Dodge Viper, 1:23.121/110.008
13. Law/van Overbeek/Neiman, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 1:25.601/106.821

Release Date: September 25, 2009
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Petit Le Mans Is First Endurance Test for GT2 Corvette C6.R

Roller Coaster Road Course to Challenge New-Generation Corvettes in the Long Run

BRASELTON, Ga. - The GT2 version of the Corvette C6.R will face its sternest test yet at Road Atlanta on Saturday, September 26, in the 1,000-mile/10-hour Petit Le Mans, the ninth round of the 10-race American Le Mans Series. The grueling race on the Georgia road course will be the first test of endurance for Corvette Racing since the debut of the second-generation C6.R in the GT2 category. Although the new-generation Corvette race car has finished on the podium in the last three sprint races - including its maiden win three weeks ago at Mosport International Raceway - Petit Le Mans will be the longest race yet for the Corvette ZR1-based machines.

Corvette Racing has seven wins in the GT1 category at Petit Le Mans, scoring victories in 2000-02, 2004-05, and 2007-08. Now the team is making its transition to the ultra-competitive GT2 category to test and develop the second-generation Corvette C6.R race cars in anticipation of a run for the championship in 2010.

"Petit Le Mans is always a formidable challenge because anything can happen in a 10-hour race," said Corvette Racing program manager Doug Fehan. "The fact that the team will be competing in the GT2 class means that it's going to be a tremendous battle. In addition to the endurance factor there will be the competition factor. We'll continue to focus on the priorities that have made Corvette Racing successful in the past: durability, reliability, race strategy, and pit stop execution."

Johnny O'Connell, a resident of nearby Flowery Branch, Ga., will be in the spotlight in his hometown race. O'Connell and teammate Jan Magnussen notched the Corvette C6.R's first GT2 victory at Mosport on August 30 in O'Connell's record-setting 100th career ALMS start. The red head knows the challenges he will face in his 101st ALMS race.

"Petit Le Mans is definitely a race you want to win, and we have a team that knows how to win long-distance races," O'Connell said. "That experience is definitely a plus. On the other hand, there could be periods of rain according to the weather forecast, and we have very little experience with these new cars in the wet. GM Powertrain has done an amazing job with the GT2 engines, but this will be the longest run so far with the 6.0-liter motors. So between the dicey weather and the longer distance, this will be our first true test of endurance in GT2.

"The GT2 Corvette is a little less edgy than the GT1 version, but the drivers still have to push just as hard," O'Connell explained. "With a smaller engine, we no longer have the horsepower to drive away from the GT2 cars. With steel brakes, we don't have the stopping power that we had with carbon brakes in GT1. It's going to be interesting to see where we stand relative to the competition in the fast and slow corners at Road Atlanta. We'll also have to contend with some very fast and impatient prototype drivers. It will be a challenge, but history shows that Corvette Racing is very good at doing long races without making mistakes."

Petit Le Mans will be the first race for the team's third drivers in the GT2 specification cars. Antonio Garcia will rejoin O'Connell and Magnussen in the No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R, and Marcel Fassler will again be teamed with Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta in the No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R. Garcia is riding a streak of endurance racing victories in the Daytona 24-hour, Sebring 12-hour, and the 2008 and 2009 Le Mans 24-hour races.

"Antonio and Marcel are true professionals and they will adapt to the car and to the circuit quickly," O'Connell said. "Both of them have been racing in other series, so they're already sharp. They're going to show up at Road Atlanta and get dialed in quickly."

The Corvettes will have an honorary seventh driver at Road Atlanta - Bibendum, the Michelin Man. With special graphics for Petit Le Mans, Bib will be riding shotgun with the drivers in both cars.

"Putting Bibendum on the GT2 Corvettes for their first endurance race is our salute to Michelin," said Fehan. "Corvette Racing wanted to thank Michelin for the exceptional work that the entire Michelin organization has done to ensure our long-term success. None of that could have been achieved without the close relationship and technical partnership we enjoy with Michelin. Their dedication and commitment mirrors the Corvette Racing team's goals and objectives. It's a relationship that extends from the race track to the highway, with Michelin tire technology on both the Corvette C6.R race cars and the production Corvette ZR1 supercar."

Corvette Racing’s next event is the 1,000-mile/10-hour Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Ga., on September 26. The race is scheduled to start at 11:15 a.m. EDT. SPEED will broadcast live flag-to-flag coverage starting at 11 a.m. EDT.

Release Date: September 22, 2009

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Corvette Racing Wins GT2 in Grand Prix of Mosport

Magnussen and O'Connell Score First Victory for New-Generation Corvette, 
Gavin and Beretta Take Third

BOWMANVILLE, Ont., Aug. 30, 2009 – Corvette Racing returned to the American Le Mans Series winner's circle with the first victory for the GT2 Corvette C6.R at the Grand Prix of Mosport. In only the third race for the production-based GT2 race car, Johnny O'Connell and Jan Magnussen scored a .331-second victory in the No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R over the No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 430 GT of Jamie Melo and Pierre Kaffer. Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta finished third in the No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R, one lap behind their sister car. The winning Corvette C6.R completed 117 laps on the 2.459-mile Mosport International Raceway road course and finished sixth overall.

Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport GT2 Results:

Pos./Drivers/Car/Laps

2. Melo/Kaffer, Ferrari 430 GT, 117

4. Henzler/Werner, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 116

5. Bergmeister/Long, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 115

6. Farnbacher/James, Panoz Esperante GTLM, 115

7. Law/van Overbeek, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 115

8. Feinberg/Hall, Dodge Viper, 113

9. Hand/Auberlen, BMW E92 M3, 110

10. Robertson/Robertson/Murry, Ford GT MK 7, 105

11. Mueller/Milner, BMW E92 M3, 71

September 26, Petit Le Mans, Road Atlanta, Braselton, Ga.

TV: SPEED live, 11 a.m. EDT

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FOR RELEASE: 2009-08-29

Corvette Racing Qualifies Fourth and Fifth for Mosport ALMS

Gavin and O'Connell Continue Top-Five Qualifying Streak with New GT2 Corvette C6.Rs

BOWMANVILLE, Ont., Aug. 29, 2009 – Corvette Racing drivers Oliver Gavin and Johnny O'Connell qualified fourth and fifth respectively in the GT2 category for Sunday's Grand Prix of Mosport, the eighth round of the American Le Mans Series. This is the third straight race that Corvette Racing has placed at least one car in the first five grid positions since the debut of the GT2 version of the Corvette C6.R.

Changing weather conditions at Mosport International Raceway brought rain, fog, clouds, and sun to the classic Canadian circuit. Today's morning practice was run in the rain, giving the team an opportunity to test the new-generation Corvette race cars in wet conditions. When the 20-minute qualifying session began this afternoon, the track was dry and Gavin and O'Connell went out immediately to begin their qualifying runs. Gavin turned his fastest lap in the No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R at 1:17.959 (113.552 mph) on his fourth and final flying lap, while O'Connell posted his best time of 1:18.309 (113.044 mph) on his fifth lap in the No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R. Dirk Mueller won the GT2 pole at 1.17.528 in Rahal-Letterman Racing's BWM M3 as the BMW team qualified one-two for the second consecutive race.

"Qualifying was relatively straightforward," said Gavin. "I didn't have any traffic and managed to get straight out there. I passed the Flying Lizard Porsche on my out-lap, and from then on I was just trying to work with the car.

"We made some adjustments just before the start of the qualifying session and it was better, but it still had a bit of understeer so I didn't really maximize the potential of the car in the first two turns," Gavin explained. "Perhaps there were a couple of more tenths in the car and in me, but we're still working hard to develop this new Corvette C6.R, and we're up against some very strong competition."

O'Connell will become the first driver to start 100 ALMS races when the green flag flies tomorrow. "It's a cool milestone, and it means I'm halfway to 200!" O'Connell quipped. "I'm proud that most of those starts came with Corvette Racing. Tomorrow will be a fun day.

"I'd certainly like to be starting closer to the front, but considering that this is our first time at Mosport with these new Corvette race cars, I think everyone is pleased," O'Connell continued. "We've been this side of oversteer and that side of understeer, so we're still not quite where we want to be. But I've been here so many times when I hated my car after qualifying and then had an awesome race car, so a thousand things can still change."

The Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport at Mosport International Raceway in Bowmanville, Ont., is scheduled to start at 3:05 p.m. EDT on Sunday, August 30. SPEED will televise the two-hour, 45-minute race live at 3 p.m. EDT.

Pos./Drivers/Car/Time/Speed

1. Mueller/Milner, BMW E92 M3, 1:17.528/114.183

2. Hand/Auberlen, BMW E92 M3, 1:17.657/113.994

3. Henzler/Werner, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 1:17.788/113.802

6. Bergmeister/Long, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 1:18.361/112.969

7. Farnbacher/James, Panoz Esperante GTLM, 1:18.778/112.371

8. Robertson/Robertson/Murry, Ford GT MK 7, 1;19.208/111.761

9. Law/van Overbeek, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 1:19.475/111.386

10. Feinberg/Hall, Dodge Viper, 1:19.746/ 111.007

11. Melo/Kaffer, Ferrari 430 GT, no time

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FOR RELEASE: 2009-08-25

Corvette Racing to Rock Toronto Financial District

Pit Stop Demonstration at Brookfield Place Will Showcase American Le Mans Series 
in Downtown Toronto

TORONTO – Corvette Racing will bring the sound and fury of international road racing to Canada's financial center as a prelude to the Grand Prix of Mosport, the eighth round of the American Le Mans Series to be held at Mosport International Raceway in Bowmanville, Ont., on Sunday, August 30. The clatter of air guns will echo through Brookfield Place, the heart of Toronto's financial district, when the Corvette Racing crew stages a pit stop demonstration at midday on Wednesday, August 26.

The steel and glass towers of Canada's "Wall Street" are a stark contrast to the rolling green hills of Mosport, the fastest track on the ALMS circuit. The Corvette team's pit stop demonstration will showcase ALMS road racing in front of a blue chip list of tenants and more than 100,000 visitors who pass through the Brookfield Place complex daily. Canadian ace Ron Fellows will attend the event in his role as Corvette Racing ambassador.

"The people who work at Brookfield Place understand the importance of return on investment, and a special event such as this one is an example of the tremendous return on investment that Corvette Racing delivers to GM," said Corvette Racing program manager Doug Fehan. "Many of the men and women who work in the financial district are influential decision makers who make things happen, and they are all potential Corvette and GM customers. It will be a newsworthy promotion that increases awareness of the Mobil 1-sponsored Grand Prix of Mosport. We take the business of racing very seriously at Corvette Racing, and it always pays dividends for us to participate in these activities both on and off the race track."

After back-to-back podium finishes in the two ALMS races contested since the debut of the GT2 version of the Corvette C6.R, Corvette Racing will continue its testing and development program with the new production-based race cars on the high-speed Mosport circuit. Johnny O'Connell, who has six previous victories at the Canadian track with teammates Ron Fellows and Jan Magnussen, is scheduled to make his milestone 100th start in ALMS competition on Sunday in the No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R.

"Mosport doesn’t have long straights like Road America, but the corners are very fast and flow together very well to keep the average speed high," said Magnussen, who won with O'Connell at Mosport in a prototype in 1999 and with Corvettes in 2007-08. "Although we haven't tested the new cars at Mosport, I think the GT2 Corvette C6.R is going to suit any track."

Oliver Gavin, driver of the No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R that he shares with Olivier Beretta, foresees another hard-fought race at Mosport. "The GT2 Corvette C6.R is very stable at high speed, which is what a driver wants at a track like Mosport," said the Briton. "We saw at Road America that the competition among the auto manufacturers and the tire companies is intense. It's been a battle at every race, and it's going to be more of the same when we get to Mosport."

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Corvette Racing Takes Third at Road America

Magnussen and O'Connell Repeat Podium Finish with New GT2 Corvette C6.R

ELKHART LAKE, Wis., August 16, 2009 – The battle raged over hill and dale at one of America's great racing circuits. When the smoke cleared, Corvette Racing was on the podium for the second consecutive American Le Mans Series race with the new GT2 Corvette C6.R.

Johnny O'Connell and Jan Magnussen finished third in the GT2 division of the Time Warner Cable Road Race Showcase at Road America in their No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R, one lap down to the winning No. 90 Rahal-Letterman Racing BMW of Joey Hand and Bill Auberlen. Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta finished sixth in the GT2 class in the No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R after an unscheduled pit stop following contact with another car.

The GT2 race was essentially decided when the first full-course caution period began at 15 minutes into the two-hour, 45-minute race. The race-leading prototype was between the Nos. 90 and 92 BMWs and the rest of the GT2 entries. When officials started a wave-by to regroup the field, the BMWs effectively gained a one-lap advantage on their rivals. At that point, it became a race for third among Corvette, Porsche, Ferrari, Panoz, Ford and Viper.

O'Connell was fifth with 20 minutes to go when he passed Pierre Kaffer's Ferrari 430 GT in the first turn to take fourth in GT2. Then he pulled off a pass on Patrick Long in the championship-leading Porsche 911 RSR with two minutes remaining to capture the third spot on the podium.

"It's fun to have Corvettes racing again!" O'Connell exclaimed. "Kaffer was doing a great job, but I could see that he was struggling on used tires. He had a wiggle exiting Turn 1 and that allowed me to get by him. Then I had to chase down Patrick in the Porsche. There were a couple areas where we were faster, so I was thinking about setting him up there. Then going into Turn 5, he carried a little too much speed and missed the apex, so I had to throw it in there. There was some contact, but it only happened because he opened the door. We had a great race."

Magnussen started the No. 3 Corvette C6.R from fourth on the GT2 grid. After the BMWs gained a lap as a result of the safety car, Magnussen found himself in the middle of an intense four-car fight for third with Joerg Bergmeister (Porsche), Jaime Melo (Ferrari) and his teammate Beretta all within 1.33 seconds of each other. Magnussen passed Bergmeister at the 47-minute mark to take third, and seven minutes later Beretta passed Melo for fifth.

"I had a good fight with Bergmeister," Magnussen said. "The Corvette was a little faster in some places, and he was faster in other places. It was a matter of picking my place to go for it, and it came at Turn 5. The Corvette C6.R really stops well, so that was a good place to pass. I couldn't open a gap, but I could control the pace."

Beretta had a front-row view of the action. "Where I was sitting, it was a great show," he said. "It's nice for the fans, for the drivers, for the teams, and for the manufacturers. Everyone wants that. I'm really happy about Corvette Racing's work. This is the second race with the GT2 Corvette and we are already in the hunt. The main target is to finish the race and have a good pace, and I'm happy about what we have done so far."

Both Corvettes pitted under caution at 1:14 for fuel, tires and a driver change. O'Connell replaced Magnussen in the No. 3 Corvette and Gavin replaced Beretta in the No. 4 Corvette. After the pit stop exchange, Gavin was fourth and O'Connell fifth. The No. 92 BMW was penalized for a pit infraction, leaving the No. 90 BMW a lap ahead of the field.

O'Connell then passed Gavin for fourth at 1:26. Six minutes later the No. 4 Corvette pitted for a new right-side door, losing a lap.

"On the second restart there were some slower cars at the front of the pack and we all bunched up behind them," Gavin said. "I managed to work my way through and into fourth place behind the Ferrari. Then coming down through Canada Corner, a prototype clipped the mirror off my right door. At that point Johnny got by me and I was told I had to pit because the rules require a right-side mirror. That kind of ruined our race. We were going to be able to run all the way to the finish, but then there were two more full-course cautions and we were a sitting duck. It really just wasn't our day."

The No. 3 Corvette with O'Connell on board pitted again at 2:11 for tires and fuel, while Kaffer's Ferrari took fuel only. With four fresh Michelin tires, O'Connell was able to overtake the red F430 on a restart at 2:27, and then pass Long's Porsche in the final minutes.

"It's been a long time since I've been this excited about racing for third," said Corvette Racing program manager Doug Fehan. "We look at this as a victory for Corvette Racing. The unfortunate part is that we were beaten by three cars – two BMWs and the pace car. Nonetheless it was a great show, a tremendous duel to the finish, and a fantastic effort by the Corvette Racing team to bring both cars home."

Corvette Racing’s next event is the Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport at Mosport International Raceway in Bowmanville, Ont., on August 28-30. The two-hour, 45-minute race is scheduled to start at 3:05 p.m. EDT on Sunday, August 30. SPEED will televise the race live at 3 p.m. EDT.

Time Warner Cable Road Race Showcase GT2 Results:
Pos./Drivers/Car/Laps
1. Hand/Auberlen, BMW E92 M3, 69
2. Mueller/Milner, BMW E92 M3, 68
3. O'Connell/Magnussen, Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, 68
4. Bergmeister/Long, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 68
5. Melo/Kaffer, Ferrari 430 GT, 68
6. Gavin/Beretta, Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, 67
7. Robertson/Robertson/Murry, Ford GT MK 7, 66
8. Law/Neiman, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 65
9. Feinberg/Hall, Dodge Viper, 63
10. Henzler/Miller, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 56
11. Farnbacher/James, Panoz Esperante GTLM, 54

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FOR RELEASE: 2009-08-15

Corvette Racing Qualifies Fourth and Fifth for Road America ALMS

Magnussen and Beretta Secure Top-Five Spots in GT2 Qualifying at 
Fast Road America Circuit

ELKHART LAKE, Wis., August 15, 2009 – On a steamy August afternoon in America's dairyland, Corvette Racing drivers Jan Magnussen and Olivier Beretta qualified their new-generation Corvette C6.R race cars fourth and fifth respectively in the GT2 category for Sunday's Time Warner Cable Road Race Showcase at Road America. Magnussen turned his fastest time at 2:07.387 (114.398 mph) on his fourth and final flying lap in the No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R. Beretta notched his quickest time at 2:07.619 (114.190 mph) on his third lap around the 4-mile, 14-turn road course in the No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R. Magnussen and Beretta were .437 and .669 seconds respectively behind the pole-winning BMW of Joey Hand, who set the Road America GT2 qualifying record at 2:06.950.

Cloud cover moved over the Wisconsin countryside just as the 20-minute qualifying session began, cooling the track to 96 degrees. The Corvettes, which had been sixth and eighth in the final practice session, picked up their pace in qualifying, as did the rest of the 11-car GT2 field. Six manufacturers are represented in the category at Road America.

"It was a tough qualifying session, and we had to dig really, really deep to stay up near the front," said Magnussen. "The pace picked up immensely from the practice. I was taking big risks with the car, but it's so cool when it works. Maybe the cloud cover helped with the lap times, but it didn't really affect my car's balance.

"We always want more than P4 in qualifying, but we're within five tenths of the leader," said Magnussen. "Both Corvettes are within a couple of tenths, which shows the strength of this team. The BMWs may be strong at the beginning of the race, but I think we can be stronger at the end of the stints with our Michelin tires."

Beretta, the American Le Mans Series' most prolific qualifier with 23 career poles, was fifth fastest today.

"I had a free lap without any traffic, but I just didn't choose the perfect setup when it was time to go," Beretta said. "We are still on the learning curve in our second race with the new GT2 Corvette. The car is very good, but we still have to learn how to get the best out of it."

Corvette Racing tested the new GT2 cars at Road America, but today was the first opportunity for a side-by-side comparison with the competition on the high-speed circuit.

"We made some very good progress with the cars in the afternoon practice session and that, combined with the cloud cover, really brought down the lap times," said Corvette Racing engineering director Doug Louth. "We knew some of the characteristics of the GT2 Corvette C6.R might not be as suited to Road America as they were at Mid Ohio, but we’re confident in the long-run performance of our Michelin tires. The GT2 race should be very exciting with so many cars close in performance."

Friday saw the second running of the Corvette Challenge, an all-out, no-holds-barred bicycle race held in conjunction with the Tour de Road America Bike Ride to Fight Cancer. This year's charity fundraiser saw Corvette Racing program manager Doug Fehan take on Corvette Racing driver Jan Magnussen and SPEED TV commentator Calvin Fish in a one-lap grudge race. Fans pledged donations to benefit the Lance Armstrong Foundation, the Austin Hatcher Foundation, the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, and the Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic.

Fehan avenged last year's loss to marathon runner Oliver Gavin, but this year's edition was not exactly a straightforward race. Fish veered off course at Turn 5 to visit the Tequila Patron hospitality tent. He then returned on a motorbike and towed Magnussen up the painfully steep hill to the finish line. Fehan would have none of it, and put the Magnussen/Fish duo in the grass while pedaling to victory.

"I finally realized I'm way too old for this competition, so I had to cheat," Fish revealed. "I thought I would give Mags a hand there at the end, but it wasn’t enough and the Doctor came through."

Fehan finally experienced the thrill of victory on two wheels. "It once again proves that old age and treachery overcomes youth and exuberance," he said. "I think that Calvin saw that 'The Fighting Viking' was struggling and gave him a tow. I moved over on them a little bit – just to take away their momentum, of course – and then I buried them in the last 300 yards."

Magnussen was gracious in defeat, noting that it's never a good idea to beat the boss. "I don't want to end up looking for a ride," he confided. "I gave it my best, and luckily Calvin was there to help me up the hill because my legs were about finished. I had no idea how steep the hills are at this track. It's a lot easier in a Corvette C6.R."

The Time Warner Cable Road Race Showcase at Road America is scheduled to start at 2:05 p.m. CDT on Sunday, August 16. SPEED will televise the two-hour, 45-minute race live at 3 p.m. EDT.

Pos./Drivers/Car/Time/Speed

1. Hand/Auberlen, BMW E92 M3, 2:06.950/114.792

2. Mueller/Milner, BMW E92 M3, 2:07.073/114.681

3. Bergmeister/Long, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 2:07.362/114.420

6. Henzler/Miller, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 2:07.740/114.082

7. Melo/Kaffer, Ferrari 430 GT, 2:07.740/114.082

8. Robertson/Robertson/Murry, Ford GT MK 7, 2:08.188/113.683

9. Farnbacher/James, Panoz Esperante GTLM, 2:08.800/113.143

10. Feinberg/Hall, Dodge Viper, 2:08.822/113.124

11. Law/Neiman, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 2:13.501/109.159

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Corvette Racing to Pedal in Tour de Road America Bike Ride 
to Fight Cancer

Corvette Challenge II to Feature Doug Fehan, Jan Magnussen, and Calvin Fish in Charity Fundraiser

ELKHART LAKE, Wis.

The Tour de Road America – Bike Ride to Fight Cancer presented by Delta Dental will return for its sixth year to the Road America circuit on Friday, August 14, at 6:15 p.m. CDT. The annual charity fundraiser is held in conjunction with the Time Warner Cable Road Race Showcase featuring the American Le Mans Series at the scenic Wisconsin track.

More information and online registration is available at www.pelotonride.org, www.roadamerica.com, or at the track at the Tour de Road America booth on Friday.

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FOR RELEASE: 2009-08-13

High-Speed Road America Track Is Next Test for Corvette Racing

Successful Debut of GT2 Corvette C6.Rs Buoys Team's Confidence for Upcoming Race

ELKHART LAKE, Wis. – Fresh from a successful launch of the next-generation Corvette C6.R in the GT2 category last weekend in Ohio, Corvette Racing is ready to take the next step in the development cycle of its new production-based race cars. The seventh round of the American Le Mans Series on Sunday, August 16, will see the GT2 Corvette C6.Rs in action on the daunting 4.048-mile, 14-turn Road America circuit carved into the rolling hills of Wisconsin's Kettle Moraine forest.

Corvette Racing Finishes Second and Fourth in First GT2 Race

Magnussen and O'Connell Put New GT2 Corvette C6.R on Mid-Ohio Podium

LEXINGTON, Ohio, - It was the dawn of a new day for Corvette Racing at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course as the next-generation Corvette C6.R finished second and fourth in the hard-fought GT2 category in the sixth round of the American Le Mans Series. On an overcast and rainy day, the twin Corvettes shined as Johnny O'Connell and Jan Magnussen finished as runners-up in the No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R, 21 seconds behind the class-winning Porsche 911 RSR of Patrick Long and Joerg Bergmeister. Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta finished fourth in the No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R, one lap down after getting caught out by the safety car during a full-course caution.

"It was a really good run and we didn't have any issues," said Magnussen. "It's very difficult in traffic, even more difficult than with the GT1 cars. You really have to be smart and aggressive - this wasn't the race to risk the cars, so I lost a little time being too cautious. The GT2 Corvette C6.R is a fantastic race car, and very easy to drive fast. We still have a few minor things to sort out, but I think we're already there."

O'Connell took over from Magnussen at 1:27 into the two-hour, 45-minute race on the first pit stop for fuel and tires. He stopped again for five seconds of fuel at 2:02, while the class-leading Porsche team gambled on making it to the finish without a second pit stop. They won that bet, and O'Connell settled for second.

"Today was such an impressive debut for the new GT2 Corvettes, but I wouldn't expect anything less from this team," O'Connell said. "We've gained so much experience in GT1 over the years, and Corvette Racing sets the standards for car construction and preparation. It's great to be back, showing what Corvette and Chevrolet are all about."

As the race began under the threat of rain, the first start was waved off by officials. The field got the green flag on the next lap, and Magnussen quickly slotted into second, gaining a position on the No. 62 Ferrari. Farther back in the pack, Gavin was shuffled back to seventh. Gavin then methodically improved his position, gaining the third spot on the 20th lap. By the 22nd lap, the two Corvettes were running nose-to-tail in a familiar formation.

"Those first few laps were frantic," Gavin said. "The first start was waved off, we were forming up again, and it all got rather confusing. A BMW got by me, and then the Ford GT, so I had to hustle my way past them. We had a bit of contact, a little rubbing and banging. I got a few shoves, and I gave them back. GT2 is a great class to race in!"

As the sprinkles continued and the track became damp, the pace never slowed.

"It got a little loose sometimes, but because we had so much heat in the Michelin tires, it wasn't an issue for me," Magnussen explained.

The No. 4 Corvette pitted at 1:26 with Beretta replacing Gavin, and the No. 3 pitted one lap later with O'Connell replacing Magnussen. The decisive moment came at 1:50 when a full-course caution began when the No. 19 LMP2 prototype went off the track. The race leader was between the two Corvettes, which were four seconds apart on the track. Consequently the leading No. 45 Porsche and the second-place No. 3 Corvette gained nearly a full lap on the rest of the GT2 entries when officials began a wave-by to reform the field.

"There was a small gap between the Corvettes, and I could hear the excitement in (crew chief) Dan Binks' voice on the radio when he said, 'Don't let him by! Don't let him by!'" O'Connell recalled. "I already had that figured out, because it's happened to us enough over the years when we lost out on a safety car wave-by."

When racing resumed, a pack of five GT2 cars were fighting furiously for third place, separated by just 3.5 seconds. Beretta's No. 4 Corvette C6.R and the No. 92 BMW driven by Dirk Mueller eventually broke free, and Mueller took the third place on the podium with a pass going into the first turn with five minutes remaining.

"It's not our usual result, but nonetheless today was a great victory for Corvette Racing," said Corvette Racing program manager Doug Fehan. "To come out here with only a few days of testing on two brand-new race cars, run with the leaders, demonstrate our pit stop prowess and race strategy, and finish second is a testament to how hard this team works. I think every fan of sports car racing now knows there is going to be some spectacular GT racing in the American Le Mans Series."

The ethanol-powered Corvette C6.Rs also swept the top two spots in the MICHELIN GREEN X Challenge with the best overall scores among the 26 GT and prototype entries based on energy used, greenhouse gases emitted, and petroleum fuels displaced.

"Not only did we see a tremendous display of great planning and execution today, but also we saw Corvette win the MICHELIN GREEN X Challenge yet again," Fehan said. "That is emblematic of the new General Motors - fast, mean, lean, and green."

Corvette Racing’s next event is the Time Warner Cable Road Race Showcase featuring the American Le Mans Series at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis., on August 14-16. The two-hour, 45-minute race is scheduled to start at 2:05 p.m. CDT on Sunday, August 16. SPEED will televise the race live at 3 p.m. EDT.

Acura Sports Car Challenge of Mid-Ohio GT2 Results:
Pos./Drivers/Car/Laps
1. Bergmeister/Long, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 108
2. O'Connell/Magnussen, Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, 108
3. Mueller/Milner, BMW E92 M3, 107
4. Gavin/Beretta, Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, 107
5. Melo/Kaffer, Ferrari 430 GT, 107
6. Henzler/Ragginger, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 107
7. Farnbacher/James, Panoz Esperante GTLM, 107
8. Hand/Auberlen, BMW E92 M3, 106
9. Law/Neiman, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 104
10. Robertson/Robertson/Murry, Ford GT MK 7, 102

NEXT EVENT
August 16, Time Warner Cable Road Race Showcase featuring the American Le Mans Series, Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis. TV: SPEED live, 3 p.m. EDT

Release Date: August 8, 2009

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Corvette Racing Qualifies Third and 
Sixth in GT2 Debut

Magnussen Qualifies Next-Generation Corvette C6.R in Top Three in First GT2 Session

LEXINGTON, Ohio, - Corvette Racing drivers Jan Magnussen and Oliver Gavin qualified their next-generation Compuware Corvette C6.Rs third and sixth respectively in the team's first appearance in the GT2 category of the American Le Mans Series. The new GT2 Corvettes, which are based on the production Corvette ZR1 supercar, were in the midst of a tight field of GT2 qualifiers for Saturday's Acura Sports Car Challenge at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Less than sixth tenths of a second separated the seven fastest qualifiers, a group that included two Porsches, a Ferrari, two BMWs, and the two new Corvette C6.R race cars.

The twin Corvette C6.Rs waited patiently in their pit boxes for the first five minutes of the 20-minute qualifying session. When they finally ventured onto the track, both drivers recorded their quickest times on their fourth flying laps around the 2.25-mile, 13-turn circuit - Magnussen at 1:21.454 (99.796 mph) in the No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R and Gavin at 1:21.571 (99.653 mph) in the No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R. Joerg Bergmeister claimed the GT2 pole with a lap at 1:21.022 in a Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, and Jaime Melo was second in a Ferrari 430 GT at 1:21.287.

"We're third, and ordinarily we wouldn't be very happy with that, but I'm quite pleased," said Magnussen. "The cars worked well and the team has built a fantastic car with real potential. Of course we would have liked the pole, but one will come eventually, I'm sure."

"We worked qualifying well by waiting a little while to let some of the other guys finish off their runs so there was less traffic when I was out there," he explained. "My quickest lap was completely clear. My second fastest lap was close in time, but I lost a little time passing a car at the end of the straight. We're four tenths away from the pole - it's a good chunk of time, but I'm confident we can find it."

Gavin was also enthusiastic after his first qualifying run in the GT2 Corvette C6.R.

"It was a lot of fun, and I enjoyed it," Gavin said. "We're just trying to bed ourselves in. It's a new class, we're racing different cars, and I'm finding that where we were accustomed to just blowing by the GT2 cars, now we've got to really think about how we're going to get around them."

"The qualifying session went pretty well for me," he reported. "I had some slow traffic on my quickest lap and passed a couple of slower ALMS Challenge cars at Turn 8, which sucks up a little time. The balance of my car was very good and I felt comfortable. Being half a second off the pole on our first time out is a really good showing for everybody here at Corvette Racing. Bring on the race, I'm really looking forward to it!"

The sixth round of the ALMS will be Corvette Racing's first event in the GT2 category after a decade in the GTS/GT1 classes and eight consecutive ALMS championships.

"I don’t have any firm expectations for the race - let's just see what happens," Gavin said. "At the moment it's a huge learning experience for us. Corvette Racing has always been smart in the past with strategy and pit stops, and if we get a good result from being smart in the race, that will be fantastic. It's going to be tough, because the Porsches and Ferraris are quick, as we knew they would be. It looks like the BMWs have stepped up their game, so it looks to be a four-way fight between the four manufacturers. It's going to be cracking!"

Magnussen was straightforward in his prediction for the race: "I think we'll be swapping more paint than usual," the Dane deadpanned.

The Acura Sports Car Challenge at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. EDT on Saturday, August 8. NBC Sports will televise the race tape-delayed at 2:30 p.m. EDT on Sunday, August 9.

Acura Sports Car Challenge GT2 Qualifying:
Pos./Drivers/Car/Time/Speed
1. Bergmeister/Long, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 1:21.022/100.328 mph
2. Melo/Kaffer, Ferrari 430 GT, 1:21.287/100.001
3. O'Connell/Magnussen, Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, 1:21.454/99.796
4. Mueller/Milner, BMW E92 M3, 1:21.516/99.720
5. Henzler/Ragginger, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 1:21.557/99.670
6. Gavin/Beretta, Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, 1:21.571/99.653
7. Hand/Auberlen, BMW E92 M3, 1:21.607/99.609
8. Robertson/Robertson/Murry, Ford GT MK 7, 1:22.092/99.021
9. Farnbacher/James, Panoz Esperante GTLM, 1:22.259/98.820
10. Law/Neiman, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 1:26.003/94.518

Release Date: August 7, 2009

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FOR RELEASE: 2009-08-04

Corvette Racing Teleconference Transcript

Corvette Racing Provides Details on GT2 Corvette C6.R

DETROIT – Corvette Racing released information on the GT2 version of the Corvette C6.R race car in a media teleconference today. The following are highlights of the teleconference. The next-generation Corvette C6.R will make its competition debut in the GT2 class at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in the sixth round of the 2009 American Le Mans Series on August 6-8.

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FOR RELEASE: 2009-08-04

Corvette Racing to Introduce Corvette C6.R in GT2 Class at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

Next-Generation Race Cars Strengthen Links Between Competition and Production Corvettes

DETROIT – Corvette Racing will open a new chapter with the competition debut of the next-generation Corvette C6.R at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on August 6-8. In anticipation of a single GT class in 2010, Corvette Racing will test and develop the latest Corvette C6.R in the GT2 category in the final five rounds of the 2009 American Le Mans Series. With the upcoming move to a unified GT category, the twin Compuware Corvette C6.R race cars will compete against rivals representing Ferrari, Porsche, BMW, Aston Martin, Jaguar, Viper, Panoz, and Ford.

FOR RELEASE: 2009-06-14

Corvette Racing Wins GT1 in 24 Hours of Le Mans

Chevrolet Team Scores Sixth Victory in Legendary Endurance Race



(Above) Corvette Racing, 24 Hours of Le Mans, June 13-14, 2009, Corvette Racing program manager Doug Fehan, crew chief Dan Binks, and chief engineer Doug Louth on the podium with GT1 class winners Johnny O'Connell, Jan Magnussen, and Antonio Garcia, drivers of C6.R #63 
(photo credit Richard Prince/GM Racing).

LE MANS, France, June 14, 2009 – Corvette Racing brought down the curtain on the GT1 era with a victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Johnny O'Connell, Jan Magnussen and Antonio Garcia scored Corvette Racing's sixth class victory in the world's biggest sports car race with the No. 63 Compuware Corvette C6.R. The winning Corvette completed 342 laps, racing to a six-lap margin of victory over the No. 73 Luc Alphand Aventures Corvette C6.R of Yann Clairay, Julien Jousse and Xavier Maassen. The No. 64 Compuware Corvette C6.R of Oliver Gavin, Olivier Beretta, and Marcel Fassler retired from the lead in the 22nd hour with an apparent gearbox problem.

FOR RELEASE: 2009-06-14

Corvette Racing Continues GT1 Battle in Le Mans

Flawless Runs Keep Corvettes Close at 18-Hour Mark

FOR RELEASE: 2009-06-13

Corvettes Lead GT1 at Six-Hour Mark in Le Mans

Routine Race So Far for Corvette Racing; Safety Cars Play Key Role in First Quarter of Race

FOR RELEASE: 2009-06-13

Corvette Racing 1-2 in GT1 at Midpoint of 24 Hours of Le Mans

Corvette C6.Rs Two Minutes Apart after 12 Hours

FOR RELEASE: 2009-06-11

Corvette Racing Qualifies One-Two in GT1 for 
24 Hours of Le Mans

Magnussen Wins Second Straight GT1 Pole for Classic 24-Hour Race

FOR RELEASE: 2009-06-10

Corvette Racing Sets the GT1 Pace in Practice for 
24 Hours of Le Mans

Magnussen Runs Fast Time in Wet and Dry Six-Hour Session

FOR RELEASE: 2009-06-05

Corvette Racing Aims for Sixth Le Mans Title in Final GT1 Race

24 Hours of Le Mans to Mark the End of GT1 Era for Corvette Racing

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Tequila Patron American Le Mans Series at Long Beach

Gavin and Beretta Take Final ALMS GT1 Victory in Long Beach

Corvette Racing Duo Brings Down the Curtain on GT1 Era with Record-Setting Win

LONG BEACH, Calif., April 18, 2009 – Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta left their stamp on the American Le Mans Series record book with a victory in Corvette Racing's final GT1 race in the series. The three-time Corvette GT1 champions had a trouble-free run in the 100-minute Tequila Patron American Le Mans Series at Long Beach in their No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R. Beretta extended his record for ALMS victories with his 41st career win, while Gavin notched his 32nd ALMS victory. With a total of 73 wins, the pair is the most successful driving duo in ALMS history.

Tequila Patron American Le Mans Series at Long Beach GT1 Results:

Pos./Drivers/Car/Laps

1. Gavin/Beretta, Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, 73

2. O'Connell/Magnussen, Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, 42

June 13-14, 24 Hours of Le Mans, Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans, Le Mans, France

TV: SPEED live, see local listings

FOR RELEASE: 2009-04-18

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Beretta Captures Final ALMS GT1 Pole in Long Beach

American Le Mans Series Salutes Corvette Racing's Decade of Dominance in GT1

LONG BEACH, Calif., April 17, 2009 – Corvette Racing driver Olivier Beretta affirmed his standing as the most prolific pole winner in American Le Mans Series history by taking the final GT1 pole. Beretta extended his ALMS record with his 23rd career pole in qualifying for Saturday's 100-minute Tequila Patron American Le Mans Series at Long Beach.

Beretta was the quickest qualifier with the No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R, turning a lap in 1:17.952 (90.887 mph) on the 1.966-mile temporary circuit through the streets of Long Beach. He edged Johnny O'Connell in the No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R by .192 seconds after O'Connell had set the pace in the first two timed laps. The two Corvette drivers recorded their fastest times before qualifying was briefly interrupted by a red flag. Both subsequently completed two additional laps when qualifying resumed, but did not improve their times.

"I ran my best time and thought that my next lap would be even better, and then we had the red flag," Beretta said. "After I restarted, the times were not so quick because the tires had cooled down and on a street course you have to regain the momentum.

"Now the most important thing is to bring the two cars home safely in the race, and that is our first priority," Beretta continued. "We need to win the race, that is the second goal. It will be the last ALMS race in GT1, and I hope we win.

"I'm happy for the crew and everyone at Corvette Racing," he said. "They have worked hard for 10 years to bring us to where we are today. Our mechanics, engineers, and drivers are a very strong package."

O'Connell's best lap was timed at 1:18.144 (90.663 mph). "We changed our setup pretty drastically from this morning so I wasn't really certain what we'd get in qualifying," O'Connell explained. "We improved in some areas but not as much as we needed. I'm not disappointed – Olivier has proven himself to be one of the best qualifiers in sports car racing. You're never happy when you don't get the pole, but qualifying has never been my forte. We've improved our car and that's the most important thing.

"This is a very significant event for us," he said, "saying goodbye to these cars and letting the fans in California see them race for the last time in the States."

At the conclusion of qualifying, American Le Mans Series officials paid tribute to Corvette Racing's accomplishments in the GT1 division.

"This is a celebration of a decade of dominance," said ALMS President/CEO Scott Atherton. "This is literally the end of an era as Corvette Racing, one of the true pillars of the American Le Mans Series, is about to close a chapter of their racing history. The best news is that this simply opens the next chapter with much more history still to be written.

"There are a lot of people who recognize what Corvette Racing has accomplished," Atherton said. "The last couple of years have been difficult for all of us without the level of competition this program has known in the past – but no one has forgotten the Viper era, the Aston Martin era, Ferrari era, and the Saleen era. I've been in many meetings with executives of car companies as I tried to attract GT1 competition into the series, and I wish I had a dollar for every time it was explained to me that there is such a dominant organization in GT1 that it's just not feasible to compete. While it was hard to take at the time, it's an incredible compliment that never gets written about in the papers or comes across on TV, but I can tell you that it's absolute fact.

"To everyone at Corvette Racing, a heartfelt thanks for a decade of involvement," Atherton concluded. "I can't tell you how much we're looking forward to the debut of the Corvette in GT2 at Mid-Ohio in a very competitive environment."

The Tequila Patron American Le Mans Series at Long Beach is scheduled to start at 4:15 p.m. PT on Saturday, April 18. The one-hour, 40-minute race will be televised by ABC on April 19 at 12:30 p.m. ET.

Pos./Drivers/Car/Time/Speed

1. Gavin/Beretta, Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, 1:17.952/90.887 mph

2. O'Connell/Magnussen, Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, 1:18.144/90.663 mph

FOR RELEASE: 2009-04-17

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American Le Mans Series Salutes Corvette Racing in Final U.S. GT1 Race

Long Beach Street Race Marks the End of an Era for GT1 Corvettes in ALMS Competition

LONG BEACH, Calif., April 14, 2009 – The streets of Long Beach are a stage where motorsports history has been made since the inaugural race was held on the city's bayside course in 1975. On April 18, Corvette Racing will mark the end of an era with the final U.S. appearance by the Corvette C6.Rs in the GT1 category. The 100-minute Tequila Patron American Le Mans Series at Long Beach will bring down the curtain on the team's record-setting run in the GT1 division.

The series will give a send-off to the GT1 Corvettes in a special post-qualifying ceremony in the Long Beach winner's circle showcasing the championship-winning Corvette C6.R race cars and the production GT1 Championship Edition Corvette they inspired. Later this season, the most successful sports car team in ALMS history will begin its transition to an eagerly anticipated global GT class based on current GT2 regulations as the GT1 category passes into racing's record books.

"The best sports car teams in the world have competed in the American Le Mans Series over the last 11 years, but it is impossible to think of one that has generated more success than Corvette Racing – both on and off the track," said ALMS President and CEO Scott Atherton. "The countless people at Corvette Racing, GM and Pratt & Miller who have made this program the most popular among our fans and dominant among its competitors have every reason to be proud as they have made history and rewritten the record book in GT1.

"Corvette Racing has been a benchmark example of developing technology on the race track that gets transferred to the road car," Atherton said. "It has succeeded with every challenge, the latest being the pioneering use of cellulosic E85 in the American Le Mans Series. While this marks the end of one era, it signals the start of another with Corvette’s imminent GT2 program. The fight and might it will bring to what already is the most competitive class in the American Le Mans Series will make it even more of a spectacle for fans – especially the legions of Corvette fans – around the world."

While this year's event marks the ALMS' third appearance in Long Beach, Corvette Racing has previously raced 18 times in California, an important Corvette market. Since the team's debut in 1999, two generations of Corvette race cars have turned laps and turned heads at Golden State road courses such as Infineon Raceway and Laguna Seca.

"Long Beach is a great place to say goodbye to GT1 in the United States," said Corvette Racing program manager Doug Fehan. "The race is a hugely successful event attended by thousands of fans, so it's a very fitting place to finish the GT1 program by taking the Corvettes to the people.

"When the checkered flag falls at Long Beach, I think it will be a moving experience for everyone on the team," Fehan said. "It will mark the closing of one chapter, the likes of which will never be written again in Corvette history. At the same time, it will mark the opening of another chapter that will eventually see Corvette competing in a global GT class under the international regulations that will come into effect next year. That is one of the most exciting challenges that this team has undertaken, and it will be the culmination of a decade of development and continuous improvement that has made Corvette the standard by which GT cars are now measured."

Driver Johnny O'Connell agreed: "I've been there for all but two years of competition in GT1, so there will certainly be some sadness when we finally say goodbye to such an amazing car," O'Connell noted. "There is a huge Corvette following in Southern California, so to let them see the Corvette C6.Rs in their last GT1 race in the U.S. is very special.

"The GT1 Corvettes are among the coolest cars in racing history, and they've left their mark in the record books for Corvette, for Chevrolet and for sports car racing," O'Connell continued. "Over the years we've had great battles and rivalries with Viper, Ferrari, Saleen, Maserati, and Aston Martin. But we're moving to an even more competitive arena, and that's another example of Chevrolet taking on challenges. The commitment to compete on the world stage is something that everyone at Chevrolet can be proud of."

Winner of the last eight ALMS GT1 team and manufacturer championships, Corvette Racing has posted 75 class wins worldwide – including a record 69 ALMS victories. Corvette Racing drivers have won a total of 13 ALMS class championships since 2002. Since its debut in 2005, the Corvette C6.R has won 38 races, the most of any GT1 car and second all-time in ALMS history regardless of class.

The Tequila Patron American Le Mans Series at Long Beach is scheduled to start at 4:15 p.m. PT on Saturday, April 18. The one-hour, 40-minute race will be televised by ABC on April 19 at 12:30 p.m. ET.

FOR RELEASE: 2009-04-14

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Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring

O'Connell, Magnussen, Garcia and Corvette Racing Make History in Sebring

Corvette Racing Sets Records in Final GT1 Appearance in Sebring 12-Hour Race

SEBRING, Fla., March 21, 2009 – The 57th running of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring was a history-making event for Corvette Racing. For Johnny O'Connell, it was a record-setting eighth Sebring class victory. For Jan Magnussen, it was his milestone 100th career victory in the American Le Mans Series' landmark 100th race. For Antonio Garcia, it was his first win with Corvette Racing. And for Corvette Racing, it was a perfect performance that included an ALMS record for laps completed in the GT class at Sebring to jump start the 10th anniversary of America's premier production sports car racing team.

Pos./Drivers/Car/Laps

1. O'Connell/Magnussen/Garcia, Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, 349

2. Gavin/Beretta/Fassler, Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, 348

April 18, Tequila Patron American Le Mans Series at Long Beach, Long Beach, Calif.

TV: ABC tape delay, April 19, 12:30-2:30 p.m. ET

FOR RELEASE: 2009-03-22

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Chevrolet Introduces 2009 Corvette GT1 Championship 
Edition at Sebring 12-Hour Race

Chevrolet and Corvette Racing introduce a limited edition to commemorate a decade of success

SEBRING, Fla., March 20, 2009 – Today Chevrolet introduced the limited production GT1 Championship Edition Corvettes at Sebring International Raceway. The GT1 Championship Edition (Regular Production Option GT1) commemorates the success of Corvette Racing and the Corvette C6.R:

• Optional MX0 6-speed paddle shift automatic on coupe and convertible
• Optional C2L dual roof package on coupe
• Optional U3U Navigation System on all models

FOR RELEASE: 2009-03-20

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Gavin Kicks Off Corvette Racing's 10th Anniversary with 
GT1 Pole in Sebring Season-Opener

Gavin Edges Magnussen for Top Starting Spot in Classic 12-Hour Endurance Race

SEBRING, Fla., March 19, 2009 – Three-time American Le Mans Series GT1 champion Oliver Gavin posted the fastest time in the GT1 category in qualifying for Saturday's Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. Gavin piloted the black No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R to a 1:57.882 (112.994 mph) lap around the 3.7-mile, 17-turn road course. The Englishman edged Jan Magnussen's best time in the yellow No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R by.321 seconds, denying the Dane his third straight GT1 pole in Sebring.

Gavin has previously started at the head of the GT1 class three times in Sebring, most recently in 2005 when the grid was set by practice times after rain cancelled qualifying. This year he put together a quick time on the second of his three timed laps to claim the 18th pole of his ALMS career, tying him for second on the series' list of pole winners.

"It's great to come away with a pole as we begin the 10th anniversary for Corvette Racing," Gavin said. "Anytime you manage to beat Jan in qualifying, you've earned your money.

"Sebring is a tough event, very hard on the cars and the drivers, and great preparation for Le Mans," Gavin continued. "Everyone is very mindful of the fact that Le Mans is the goal, but all of us would like to have the first 10th anniversary victory here in Sebring."

Magnussen was quicker as the two Corvettes completed their first flying laps, but slowed slightly on his second lap. He cut Gavin's margin on his final lap with a 1:58.203 time, but not enough to unseat the polesitter.

"We've been trying a lot of different things throughout the week, and it looks like we took a step in the wrong direction for qualifying," Magnussen said. "The car is good and we know what we have to do to get back on track with just a small adjustment. I think these were the warmest conditions we've had so far this week, and that definitely played into what we were doing."

Gavin agreed that track conditions were difficult today: "The track seems a little light on grip, and if someone runs off the racing line and gets some sand on the track, then it's a real effort to get the tires cleaned off for the next few corners," he said. "In fact, on my third timed lap I ran through some sand, ran a bit wide, and made a mess of the lap time. Fortunately my second lap was quick enough to get the pole. Ben Brady and Jason Trompeter, the new engineers for the No. 4 Corvette C6.R, worked their magic and came up with a car that was very, very good."

The Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring is scheduled to start at 10:30 a.m. ET on Saturday, March 21. The race will be televised live on SPEED from 10 a.m. to noon and from 2 to 11 p.m. ET.

Pos./Drivers/Car/Time/Speed

1. Gavin/Beretta/Fassler, Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, 1:57.882/112.994 mph

2. O'Connell/Magnussen/Garcia, Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, 1:58.203/112.687 mph

FOR RELEASE: 2009-03-19

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Season-Opening Sebring Race Marks Corvette Racing's 10th Anniversary

GT1 Championship Edition Corvettes Commemorate Corvette Racing's Decade of Success

SEBRING, Fla. – The Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, the season-opening race of the 2009 American Le Mans Series to be held on March 21, will mark the start of Corvette Racing's 10th anniversary in international road racing. The team made its competition debut in February 1999 at Daytona, and competed in its first Sebring 12-hour race the following month, finishing fourth in the GTS class. Since that modest beginning, Corvette Racing has become one of the world's premier production sports car teams, winning eight consecutive ALMS GT1 manufacturers and team championships, seven straight drivers' titles, and five class victories in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Chevrolet is commemorating Corvette Racing's decade of success with the introduction of the GT1 Championship Edition Corvette. These limited edition vehicles (designated Regular Production Option GT1) will be available in coupe, convertible, and Z06 models in yellow or black livery. With graphics packages inspired by the championship-winning Corvette C6.R, the GT1 Championship Edition Corvettes will make their public debut at Sebring International Raceway. Production is scheduled for spring.

"There have always been strong ties between production and racing Corvettes," said GM Racing manager Mark Kent. "Technology developed by Corvette Racing is applied to improve the efficiency, performance, handling, aerodynamics and safety of production vehicles. Now with the introduction of the GT1 Championship Edition Corvettes, the link between the race and street versions is apparent at a glance. Corvette enthusiasts will be able to purchase cars that celebrate the remarkable history of Corvette Racing. The GT1 Championship Edition program is another example of how racing helps Chevy sell cars and trucks and provides a solid return on investment."

The ALMS season-opener also will mark the final appearance of the Corvette C6.Rs in the GT1 class in the Sebring 12-hour endurance classic. The twin Corvette C6.R race cars (chassis Nos. 5 and 6) are beginning their third season, and are scheduled to be retired in preparation for new global GT class rules that will take effect in 2010. These two cars have accounted for 23 of the team's 74 wins.

Corvette Racing has scored six class victories in Sebring, and Johnny O'Connell, driver of the No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R, notched his record-setting seventh Sebring win in last year's event. O'Connell and Jan Magnussen, the reigning GT1 champions, will be joined by Antonio Garcia at Sebring, while three-time GT1 champions Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta will be teamed with Marcel Fassler in the No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R. The addition of Garcia and Fassler for long-distance races will bring the total number of Corvette Racing drivers to 19 since the team's inception.

Corvette Racing will be powered by cellulosic E85R ethanol fuel at Sebring for the first time. The team adopted the renewable fuel made from wood waste after last year's Sebring race, and used E85R throughout the remainder of the 2008 ALMS season. Cellulosic ethanol was one of the key ingredients in the team's overall victory in the inaugural ALMS Green Challenge in the 1,000-mile Petit Le Mans held at Road Atlanta in October 2008. The winning No. 3 Corvette C6.R achieved the best overall score based on performance, fuel efficiency and environmental impact under criteria developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Energy, and SAE International. Corvette Racing's use of an alternative fuel on the race track reflects GM's commitment to producing fuel-efficient vehicles for customers – there are 3.5 million E85-capable GM FlexFuel vehicles on the road today.

The Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring is scheduled to start at 10:30 a.m. ET on Saturday, March 21. The race will be televised live on SPEED from 10 a.m. to noon and from 2 to 11 p.m. ET.

FOR RELEASE: 2009-03-12

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2009 Driver Lineup

Corvette Racing Announces 2009 Driver Lineup

Marcel Fassler and Antonio Garcia to Join Corvette Racing Roster 
for Three Endurance Events

Photo Credit Richard Prince/GM Racing

DETROIT – Corvette Racing will have a new driver lineup for the 2009 American Le Mans Series and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Antonio Garcia will join defending ALMS GT1 champions Johnny O'Connell and Jan Magnussen in the No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R for the Sebring 12-hour, Le Mans 24-hour, and 1000-mile Petit Le Mans endurance races. Marcel Fassler will be teamed with 2005-07 GT1 champions Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta in the No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R in the three long-distance races. Canadian Ron Fellows, a member of Corvette Racing since its inception, will continue with the team in an advisory and ambassadorial role.

The new additions to Corvette Racing's driver roster have extensive experience in world-class GT competition. Garcia, 28, of Barcelona, Spain, has raced with distinction in the European Touring Car Championship, the World Touring Car Championship, and the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series. He was part of the winning GT1 team in the 2008 24 Hours of Le Mans, and recently shared in an overall victory in the 2009 Rolex 24 at Daytona.

Fassler, 32, of Einsiedeln, Switzerland, has competed in the DTM, the European Le Mans Series, A1 Grand Prix, and the FIA GT championship. Driving a Corvette for the Phoenix Carsport team in the FIA GT series, Fassler won the prestigious Spa 24-hour race in 2007, and continued that success in 2008 with five pole positions and a win in Adria, Italy, finishing fourth in the championship.

"Antonio and Marcel have the ability, the experience, and the mindset that we look for in a Corvette Racing driver," said GM Road Racing Group manager Steve Wesoloski. "We've seen their speed on the track, and we know they have the discipline and team-oriented attitude that's essential for success in endurance racing. Our international driver lineup reflects the global marketing objectives of the Corvette Racing program."

Corvette Racing will run in the GT1 class in the season-opening Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring and the Grand Prix of Long Beach in preparation for its 10th participation in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Following its return from France, Corvette Racing will begin its transition to the GT2 category at the Mid-Ohio round of the ALMS as the team prepares for a full-season GT2 program in 2010.

FOR RELEASE: 2009-02-04

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