Local Hero Enjoys Home Field Advantage in Second Round of American Le Mans Series BRASELTON, Ga. – With hair as red as the clay soil of his adopted home and a smile as white as an antebellum mansion, Johnny O’Connell is the favorite son of race fans at Road Atlanta. Born in New York, this transplanted Yankee has found a permanent place in the sunny South – just as he’s found a home at Corvette Racing. If there is a …
05Apr2005
GM Racing Partners With PRS Guitars
DETROIT – General Motors and Corvette Racing are pleased to announce a partnership with PRS Guitars, a leading manufacturer of high-end electric and electro-acoustic guitars. The PRS name will appear on the recently introduced Corvette C6.R racecar during the 2005 race season, and PRS will craft custom designed Corvette Z06 guitars. The Corvette guitars will be available through authorized PRS guitar dealers worldwide. PRS Guitars are used by some of the world’s top musicians, including Carlos Santana, Dave Navarro of …
Corvette Racing Battles Back in Long Day’s Journey at Sebring SEBRING, Fla. – Battered but unbroken, Corvette Racing overcame adversity to finish second and third today in the GT1 class at Sebring International Raceway with the new Corvette C6.R race cars. After dominating the first eight hours of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, the final third of the 12-hour race became a test of endurance for the Corvette Racing team as both cars were damaged in accidents. The …
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 …