Nightfall Brings Reversal of Fortune for Corvette Racing SEBRING, Fla. – With eight of the 12 hours of Sebring completed, Corvette Racing was running 1-2 in the production-based GT1 class and ranked third and fourth overall. Then just as the ninth hour began, both Corvette C6.Rs were damaged in separate incidents. The No. 3 Compuware Corvette driven by Johnny O’Connell was first to suffer misfortune when a front brake rotor failed on the long straight leading into Turn 17. O’Connell …
New C6.Rs Fourth and Fifth Overall SEBRING, Fla. – “So far, so good.” Those four words from GM Racing program manager Doug Fehan sum up the first third of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring for Corvette Racing. At the four-hour mark, Corvette Racing’s new C6.Rs were running first and second in the GT1 class. The No. 4 Compuware Corvette driven by Oliver Gavin, Olivier Beretta and Jan Magnussen had completed 112 laps, placing it fourth overall in the …
Field Set by Practice Times After Rain Cancels Qualifying SEBRING, Fla. – Corvette Racing’s new Corvette C6.R race cars will start their first race in the top two spots in the fiercely contested GT1 class at the season-opening Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. When heavy rain compelled American Le Mans Series officials to cancel qualifying for Saturday’s 12-hour race at Sebring International Raceway, the twin Corvette C6.Rs were seeded at the top of the GT1 class based on their …
American Le Mans Series 12-Hour Season-Opener Marks Corvette’s 50th Year in Racing SEBRING, Fla. – Corvette Racing’s championship-winning Corvette C5-R is a tough act to follow, but the new Corvette C6.R race car is up to the task. Introduced in 1999, the C5-R scored 35 victories in 55 American Le Mans Series events, won its class at the 12 Hours of Sebring three consecutive years, posted three 1-2 finishes in the GTS class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, …
10Mar2005
ew GM Racing Director Addresses Media
Mark Kent answers media questions as new director of GM Racing MICHAEL GARDNER, MANAGER, MOTORSPORTS, HERITAGE AND PERFORMANCE COMMUNICATIONS: “Mark is not a stranger to the motorsports scene. In the late eighties and early nineties he held engineering and program management positions for our IMSA GTU and SCCA Trans-Am programs. He spent the bulk of his 25-year career in powertrain engineering and recently led the engineering design team that was responsible for GM’s Northstar V8 engines. As you’ll see, he …
17Feb2005
New GM Racing Head Appointed
Mark Kent named director of GM Racing DETROIT – General Motors has named Mark Kent its new director of racing. Kent will oversee engineering and marketing activities for all of GM’s motorsports programs, including NASCAR, NHRA, SCCA, Grand American, American Le Mans and IRL. Kent, 44, replaces Doug Duchardt, who held the position for the last two years. Kent has experience in powertrain development both for production and race vehicles. From 1987 to 1992, he held motorsports engine engineering and …
02Feb2005
2005 Corvette Racing Partners
DETROIT – General Motors is pleased to announce the 2005 Corvette Racing corporate partners, with a special thank you to Compuware, the primary sponsor whose continued support will usher in the new era of Corvette racing with the all-new Corvette C6.R. Compuware is one of the world’s top information technology (IT) staffing firms. Founded in 1973, Compuware serves the leading IT organizations, including more than 90 percent of the Fortune 100 companies. For more information, go to: www.compuware.com “Partnering with …
10Jan2005
Corvette C6-R Race Car Launches For 2005
C5-R Successor Built upon 50+ Years of History, Three Le Mans Titles, 35 Victories and Four Championships DETROIT – The brand-new Corvette C6-R race car will debut at the 12 Hours of Sebring in March 2005 after a full year of rigorous testing and development. The two-car, factory-backed Chevrolet sports car program will compete in the production-based GT1 class (formerly GTS) of American Le Mans Series as well as the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans in France, a race …
03Nov2004
Corvette Goes Undefeated in 2004
Ron Fellows and Johnny O’Connell win season-closing race at Laguna Seca MONTEREY, Calif. – The Chevrolet Corvette C5-R closed out an historic era on Saturday night with a GTS victory at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, a circuit in which the championship-winning team had never won. Ron Fellows and Johnny O’Connell took the class victory in their #3 Compuware Corvette C5-R, seconds ahead of teammates Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta in the #4 Corvette. The successful endurance sports car racing program …
16Oct2004
Corvettes Qualify 1-2 at Laguna Seca
Beretta Ties Fellows for All-Time ALMS Qualifying Record MONTEREY, Calif. – The two factory Chevrolet Corvette C5-R race cars will start from the first and second positions in the GTS class for Saturday night’s American Le Mans Series race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Olivier Beretta set the fastest lap with a time of 1:21.679 in the #4 Compuware Corvette C5-R; Johnny O’Connell qualified second with a lap of 1:22.238. Beretta’s fast lap marks his 14th pole position of his …