NEXT EVENT
May 18, 2008, 1 p.m. MT, Larry H. Miller Dealerships Utah Grand Prix, Miller Motorsports Park, Tooele, Utah
TV: SPEED live, 3 p.m. ET
New Corvette ZR1 Tops Out at 205 MPH
The Corvette Development Engineering team took the new ZR1 to
the test track in Papenburg, Germany and put the pedal to the
metal to see just how fast it could go.
Tequila Patron American Le Mans Series GT1 Results
Pos./Drivers/Car/Laps
1. O'Connell/Magnussen, Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, 70
2. Gavin/Beretta, Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, 70
O'Connell and Magnussen Win GT1 in Long Beach Street Fight
Johnny O'Connell celebrated the 30th victory of his American Le Mans Series career with an exuberant burnout that
filled the streets of Long Beach with tire smoke. O'Connell and Jan Magnussen teamed up in their No. 3 Compuware
Corvette C6.R to score a 1.374-second victory in the GT1 division over Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta in the No. 4
Compuware Corvette C6.R. O'Connell became the third driver in ALMS history to score 30 wins, and today's victory
propelled O'Connell and Magnussen to a four-point lead (66-62) in the drivers championship more »
Tequila Patron American Le Mans Series GT1 Qualifying:
Pos./Drivers/Car/Time/Speed
1. O'Connell/Magnussen, Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, 1:17.059/91.940 mph
2. Gavin/Beretta, Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, 1:17.465/91.458 mph
Magnussen Takes GT1 Pole in Long Beach ALMS
Jan Magnussen will start on the pole in the GT1 division for Saturday's Tequila Patron American Le Mans
Series race on the Long Beach street circuit. Magnussen shattered the track qualifying record with a fast lap at
1:17.059 (91.940 mph) in the No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R. Oliver Gavin also eclipsed the mark he set last year
at 1:18.145 with a quick lap at 1:17.465 (91.458 mph) in the No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R, but ultimately came
up .406 seconds short of Magnussen's mark. more »
GT1 Championship Standings (unofficial after three of 11 events)
Manufacturer/Points
1. Chevrolet 70
2. Aston Martin 23
Driver/Points
1. Jan Magnussen 66
Johnny O'Connell 66
2. Oliver Gavin 62
Olivier Beretta 62
3. Ron Fellows 30
4. Max Papis 26
5. Terry Borcheller 23
Chapman Ducote 23
Antonio Garcia 23
Gavin Races from the Streets of London to the Streets of Long Beach
The question has endured for decades: Are race car drivers athletes? If the driver is Corvette Racing's Oliver
Gavin, the answer is an emphatic yes. On Sunday, April 13, Gavin ran the 26-mile, 385-yard London Marathon in three
hours, nine minutes and 31 seconds. On Saturday, April 19, he'll compete in a street race of another type: a 100-minute
sprint on the boulevards of Long Beach, Calif. more »
Pratt & Miller Corvette C6RS Shines in Sunny St. Petersburg
Corvette Racing's twin C6.R race cars were joined by a third bright yellow Corvette on the streets of St. Petersburg
during the American Le Mans Series street race on April 5. Pratt & Miller's first convertible C6RS supercar was
featured in the ALMS Vitesse ("Speed") program, giving special guests and VIPs a taste of the machines that
compete in America's premier road racing series. The limited-edition C6RS was the center of attention as it made dozens
of laps around the 1.8-mile temporary circuit on Tampa Bay and drew crowds of enthusiasts in the ALMS paddock. more »
Acura Sports Car Challenge of St. Petersburg GT1 Results
Pos./Drivers/Car/Laps 1. Gavin/Beretta, Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, 79 2. O'Connell/Magnussen, Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, 79
3. Borcheller/Ducote, Aston Martin DBR9, 48 (accident)
Gavin and Beretta Repeat in St. Pete
Corvette Racing made motorsports history today, scoring the first victory with E85R ethanol racing fuel in American
Le Mans Series competition. On a sultry, sunny day, Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta sailed to their second consecutive
class victory on the waterfront street circuit in St. Petersburg, Fla. The reigning champions won the GT1 division in
the Acura Sports Car Challenge of St. Petersburg with a 4.754-second margin of victory in their No. 4 Compuware
Corvette C6.R over Johnny O'Connell and Jan Magnussen in the No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R. more »
Corvette Racing's roster of championship-winning drivers will return in 2008 to race the Chevrolet factory team's
twin Compuware Corvette C6.R race cars in the 12-race American Le Mans Series and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Johnny
O'Connell and Jan Magnussen will drive the No. 3 Corvette C6.R, joined by Ron Fellows for three endurance races
(Sebring, Le Mans and Petit Le Mans). Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta will drive the No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R,
teamed with Max Papis in long-distance events. more »
Olivier Beretta, Compuware Corvette No. 4
Birthdate: Nov. 23, 1969
Residence: Monte Carlo, Monaco
Notes: Five-time ALMS GTS/GT1 champion, five class wins in 24 Hours of Le Mans, holds ALMS records for most career
wins (37) and most career poles (20), two FIA championships, overall victory in 2000 Rolex 24 at Daytona
Ron Fellows, Compuware Corvette No. 3
Birthdate: Sept. 28, 1959
Residence: Mississauga, Ont., Canada
Notes: Four-time ALMS Most Popular Driver award (2004-07), three-time ALMS champion, two 24 Hours of Le Mans class
wins, 19 SCCA Trans-Am wins, five NASCAR wins (two NCTS, three NNS)
Oliver Gavin, Compuware Corvette No. 4
Birthdate: Sept. 29, 1972
Residence: Yardley Hastings, England
Notes: Three-time ALMS GT1 champion, 28 career ALMS class victories, four class wins in 24 Hours of Le Mans
Jan Magnussen, Compuware Corvette No. 3
Birthdate: July 4, 1973
Residence: Roskilde, Denmark
Notes: Three class wins in 24 Hours of Le Mans, 14 career ALMS wins, former Formula 1 driver, twice voted "Most
Popular Driver" in ALMS, 2005 Danish Racing Driver of the Year
Johnny O'Connell, Compuware Corvette No. 3
Birthdate: July 24, 1962
Residence: Flowery Branch, Ga.
Notes: Two-time ALMS GT1 champion, 28 career ALMS wins, six Sebring 12-hour class victories, holds ALMS records for
most starts (84), most podium finishes (63), most top-five finishes (76) and most top-10 finishes (82)
Max Papis, Compuware Corvette No. 4
Birthdate: Oct. 3, 1969
Residence: Mooresville, N.C.
Notes: Daytona 24-hour winner, two Sebring 12-hour victories, three CART wins, 2004 Grand-Am Daytona Prototype
champion
2008 Corvette Racing Schedule
DATE
VENUE
TV
March 15
Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Sebring, FL
April 5
Acura Sports Car Challenge of St. Petersburg St. Petersburg, FL
April 19
Grand Prix of Long Beach Long Beach, CA
May 18
Utah Grand Prix Salt Lake City, UT
June 14-15
24 Heures du Mans Le Mans, France
July 12
American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix Lakeville, CT
July 19
Acura Sports Car Challenge of Mid-Ohio Lexington, OH
August 9
Generac 500 at Road America Elkhart Lake, WI
August 24
Grand Prix of Mosport Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada
August 30
Detroit Sports Car Challenge Detroit, MI
October 4
Petit Le Mans Braselton, GA
October 18
Monterey Sports Car Championships Salinas, CA
2008 Corvette Racing Overview
Since Corvette Racing made its competition debut in 1999, the factory Chevrolet team has emerged as America's
premier production sports car racing team. Corvette Racing has won 63 of the 90 races it contested through the 2007
season. The team's list of accomplishments includes 45 1-2 finishes, five class victories in the 24 Hours of Le Mans
and Petit Le Mans endurance races, five class wins in the Sebring 12-hour enduro, six class titles in the
1,000-mile/10-hour Petit Le Mans, and an overall victory in the Daytona 24-hour race. America's favorite sports car
now stands at the pinnacle of international road racing after winning seven consecutive American Le Mans Series GT1
manufacturers and team championships and six straight drivers championships.
The Corvette C6.R race program continues Chevrolet's tradition of racing production-based vehicles to improve the
breed. It is a commitment that has taken Chevy's two-seater from the runways of Sebring in the '50s to Le Mans in the
21st century. The continuous exchange of information and the constant transfer of technology between the racing and
production programs ensure that lessons learned on the track benefit every Corvette on the highway.
Corvette Racing has followed the strategy first mapped out by legendary racer/engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov to put
Corvette in the racing spotlight. Duntov launched Corvette on a motorsports odyssey that has taken the marque to race
tracks around the world. It is a plan that still inspires those who have followed in Duntov's footsteps.
"Fifty years ago, Zora Arkus-Duntov, the godfather of Corvette Racing, conceived the Corvette SS race car to
put Corvette squarely in the arena of international endurance racing," Chevrolet general manager Ed Peper said at
the conclusion of Corvette Racing's championship season in 2007. "As we reflect on Corvette Racing's record of
success over the years, it's clear that the Corvette C6.R has realized Zora's dream."
"Corvette Racing sets the standard for engineering excellence, preparation and commitment in the American Le
Mans Series," Peper said. "The team came prepared to race at every event, and ran with all of the passion
and skill that have made Corvette Racing America's premier production sports car racing team. The drivers, mechanics,
engineers, support personnel and team managers of Corvette Racing have made everyone at Chevrolet proud."
Corvette Racing has also won accolades away from the track. In February 2006, the championship-winning Corvette
C6.R race car was named the "North American Car of the Year" over marques such as Audi, Aston Martin and
Maserati by dailysportscar.com, a noted online magazine that provides in-depth coverage of sports car and GT series
worldwide. In November 2006, Corvette Racing's LS7.R small-block V-8 was honored as the "Global Motorsport Engine
of the Year" at the inaugural Professional Motorsport World Expo in Cologne, Germany. The award was voted by an
expert panel of 50 key race engine engineers representing the spectrum of motorsports.
Continuity is one of the keys to Corvette Racing's long-term success, and the team is retaining its roster of
championship-winning drivers in 2008. Johnny O'Connell and Jan Magnussen will drive the No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R
in all ALMS events, and they will be joined by Ron Fellows for endurance races. Defending GT1 champions Oliver Gavin
and Olivier Beretta will drive the No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R, teamed with Max Papis in the long-distance
events.
The Corvette C6.R race car is the most technically advanced sports car ever developed by GM, combining
sophisticated chassis, powertrain and aerodynamic technology developed by GM Racing with the advanced engineering of
the sixth-generation Corvette and Corvette Z06 production models. The Corvette C6.R has strong links to its showroom
counterpart, as required by the ALMS and Le Mans rules that mandate close adherence to production specifications. For
example, the same hydroformed steel frame rails used in production Corvette coupes and convertibles provide a strong
foundation for the race cars. The race-prepared LS7.R engine shares its architecture with the production
505-horsepower LS7 small-block V-8 that powers the Corvette Z06.
"We have a saying that we race around the clock and win around the world," explained Corvette marketing
manager Gary Claudio. "The coverage that the Corvette Racing team receives has propelled Corvette and Chevrolet
onto the world stage. The people who own Corvettes are very aware of the product, and they understand how racing
enhances the cars they drive."
For more than 50 years, racing has played a key role in defining Corvette as America's performance icon. Corvette's
first class victory at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1956 was the first step onto the world stage that established its
reputation as a contender in top-level competition. Now, with seven ALMS manufacturers championships, six drivers
championships and five GT1 class victories in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, America's favorite sports car now stands at the
pinnacle of international endurance racing.
Corvette Racing Fast Facts
Corvette Racing is America's premier production sports car racing team. Through 2007, Chevrolet's factory team has
won 63 races, seven consecutive American Le Mans Series GT1 manufacturers and team championships, and six straight
drivers championships. Corvette Racing has enjoyed international success in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the world's
biggest sports car race, with five class victories since 2001.
24 Hours of Le Mans class wins: five (2001-02, 2004-06)
Sebring 12-hour class wins: five (2002-04, 2006-07)
Petit Le Mans class wins: six (2000-02, 2004-05, 2007)
American Le Mans Series records: Most race wins by entrant (57); most 1-2 finishes by entrant (40);
longest winning streak in GT1 (12, 2005 Road Atlanta/2006 Mid-Ohio; 2007 Sebring/Laguna Seca - tied with Team
Oreca); most poles in GT1
ALMS From the Fans awards: Gary Claudio, Corvette marketing manager, 2002; Doug Fehan,
Corvette Racing program manager, 2004
ALMS Most Popular Driver awards: Ron Fellows, 2004-07
Special awards: Corvette C6.R named "North American Car of the Year" by dailysportscar.com (February
2006); Corvette LS7.R engine named "Global Motorsport Engine of the Year" at the Professional Motorsport World
Expo (November 2006); Corvette Racing awarded Michelin Energy Endurance Challenge trophy for most efficient use of
fuel in GT1 class at 24 Hours of Le Mans (June 2007)
Corvette Racing Firsts
First race: Daytona 24-hour, Feb. 5, 1999
First GTS win: Texas Motor Speedway, Sept. 2, 2000, drivers Ron Fellows and Andy Pilgrim
First overall win: Daytona 24-hour, Feb. 3, 2001; Fellows/Kneifel/Freon/O'Connell
First Le Mans class win: 2001 (Fellows/O'Connell/Pruett)
First ALMS drivers championship: Ron Fellows, 2002
First ALMS manufacturers championship: 2001
First undefeated season: 2004 (9 ALMS races and 24 Hours of Le Mans)
Corvette Racing Notes
The C6.R is the most technically advanced sports car ever developed by GM, combining sophisticated chassis,
powertrain and aerodynamic technology developed by GM Racing with the advanced engineering of the sixth-generation
Corvette and Corvette Z06 production models.
Corvette Racing is powered by E85 ethanol, a high-octane, renewable alternative fuel, in the 2008 American Le
Mans Series. As part of the series' "green racing" initiative, the most successful team in ALMS history
is using a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline to demonstrate the benefits of a fuel that helps to
reduce dependence on petroleum, helps to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, and helps to create greater
diversity in energy supplies.
2008 marks Corvette's 52nd year in international road racing. John Fitch and Walt Hansgen drove a Corvette to a
ninth-place finish overall and a Class B victory at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1956, the first step onto the world
stage that established Chevy's sports car as a contender in top-level competition.
The rulebook requires close adherence to production specifications, and the Corvette C6.R's roots reach to the
Corvette assembly plant in Bowling Green, Ky. The same hydroformed frame rails used in production Corvette coupes
and convertibles provide the foundation for the racing version.
Corvette Racing's C6.R race cars are powered by race-prepared 7.0-liter LS7.R small-block V-8 engines. Technology
developed in racing inspired the production 7.0-liter/505-hp LS7 small-block V-8 that powers the production
Corvette Z06.
The GM small-block V-8 is America's most popular and most successful production-based racing engine. Total
production of GM small-block-based engines is approaching 90 million units. This engine has powered more winning
race cars and won more championships than any other engine in American motorsports.