DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY CORVETTE DRIVER IN-RACE UPDATES

JAN. 30-31, 2016

MAX ANGELELLI, WAYNE TAYLOR RACING NO. 10 KONICA MINOLTA CORVETTE DP: “The car was very good but I fought all the time because the cars in front of me were slower than I was and I was trying to find a way to overtake them. So it was tough, but I am pleased with the team and pleased with the car. The car is really, really strong and I am looking forward to the race. When you have a car like this, you really enjoy driving it.”

TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R: “Pretty routine start of a 24-hour race. People are finding their way and causing some trouble but all-in-all it was pretty clean in the first triple-stint there. I’m pretty happy with how the Corvette is driving right now and we are quick in our class which is obviously nice, but there is still a long way to go. That is just part one of writing a good story so to speak. So yeah, I am really happy and now we get Marcel in for his laps and get him comfortable and settled in, and then we can kind of push on from there.”

IF YOU COULD NAME ONE THING THAT YOU COULD USE A LITTLE MORE OF WHEN YOU GET BACK IN, WHAT WOULD THAT BE? “There is still some work to be done on the setup of the car a little bit. The car is not perfect by any means, but where it is good is in all the right spots. It’s a bit of a handful in the high-speed stuff and we have set ourselves up to make some passes in a straight line. It seems like that is working well, but some of the stuff in the infield isn’t quite where I would want it to be but it’s still good enough for right now. So, it’s a long race and we can still make some adjustments as the race goes on and really try and dial in the car so that we have a chance to push hard at the end.”

ANTONIO GARCIA, CORVETTE RACING NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R: “Everything ran according to plan. When Jan came in, I could see that the car was very good. He did a really fast last stint before I got in, so I felt really confident. The Corvette behaved just as I wanted. Whenever we are able to lead the race right now, we will take it. But there is still a big risk factor out there. We want to be fast but more important is saving the car as much as possible.”

CHRISTIAN FITTIPALDI, ACTION EXPRESS RACING NO. 5 MUSTANG SAMPLING CORVETTE DP: “That was a pretty solid stint. The car is good. We have some understeer but we’re not losing time on that. We’re losing the majority of our time on power-down. Overall, I’m pretty happy. We’re in the hunt and we have a lot of racing ahead of us.”

MARCEL FÄSSLER, CORVETTE RACING NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R: “It’s really close and a ton of work, actually. But it’s also great fun because we had great battles in our class against BMW, the Porsches, the Ferraris and even the other Corvette. The restarts were quite tricky because we were not on old tires all of the time. In the middle of the field and going into the first corner, you didn’t know where to brake, what was going to happen in traffic and which hole to dive in going to the corner. It was quite tricky in the beginning but then everything sorted out quite well. There is also a lot of respect from the slower cars and the faster prototypes. We try to give each other plenty of space. I enjoyed these first couple of stints very much. Everything looks good for Corvette Racing so far. There’s still a long time to go though.”

CONTACTS: Ryan Smith | Judy Kouba Dominick

Photo credit: Richard Prince

CORVETTE RACING AT DAYTONA: Going For a Rolex Repeat

•First race for 2016-spec Chevrolet Corvette C7.R

•Defending GTLM winners Garcia, Magnussen to team with Rockenfeller

•2015 pole-winner Gavin set to drive with Milner, Fässler

DETROIT (Jan. 25, 2016) – One year ago, Corvette Racing started its run to endurance racing’s Triple Crown with a victory in the Rolex 24 At Daytona. Fast-forward to today, and the team again is preparing for what it hopes is another race into the record books.

The 54th Rolex 24 At Daytona marks the beginning of Corvette Racing’s 2016 sports car season with a pair of 2016-spec Chevrolet Corvette C7.Rs. During the next 10 months, the team will race 12 times across three countries and two continents. The goals: win the biggest events in sports car racing including the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the ninth time and capture the GT Le Mans (GTLM) class championship of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

It all starts at Daytona International Speedway, where Corvette Racing is a two-time winner (2001 overall and 2015 in GTLM). A year ago, Antonio Garcia and Jan Magnussen were part of the victorious trio in the No. 3 Corvette C7.R. The winning Chevrolet-powered racecar completed 725 laps (it led 389 laps) for 2,581 miles and spent seven less minutes in the pits than the second-place finisher.

Garcia and Magnussen team this year with Mike Rockenfeller, who also is a former Rolex 24 race winner. In the No. 4 Corvette C7.R, Oliver Gavin – last year’s GTLM pole-winner – will partner with full-season teammate Tommy Milner and Marcel Fässler, who will make his first Rolex 24 start. Gavin and Milner were part of the GTE Pro-winning trio in 2015 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans; they also were third in class at the Rolex 24 last season.

All six drivers saw plenty of seat-time earlier this month during the three-day Roar Before the 24 test. Gavin was the second-fastest driver in GTLM with a best lap of 1:45.106 (121.934 mph); Garcia was fourth in class at 1:45.124 (121.913 mph).

Long-distance racing is the strength of Corvette Racing. In addition to its two victories at Daytona and eight at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the team has won the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring 10 times and the 1,000-mile/10-hour Petit Le Mans seven times.

The 2016-spec Corvette C7.R is an updated racecar due to changes in Automobile Club de l’Ouest regulations for top-level GT cars that compete in the IMSA GTLM class. There are a number of aerodynamic changes including a larger splitter at the front and diffuser at the rear of the Corvette. Side skirts and a repositioned wing also are among the most notable changes, along with updated safety features that are now mandated on all GTLM cars.

The powertrain on the Corvette C7.R is unchanged from 2015 with a 5.5-liter V-8 Chevrolet small block powering the race car. The Corvette C7.R will use E20 fuel during the IMSA season and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The Rolex 24 was the site of Corvette Racing’s debut on Jan. 31, 1999. Since that first race, the team has competed in more than 170 events around the globe with 97 victories worldwide – including three wins in 2015 – along with 10 team and manufacturer championships in the American Le Mans Series and eight victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The 54th Rolex 24 At Daytona is the start of the 2016 IMSA season and is set for 2:10 p.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 30. It will air on FOX Sports 1, FOX Sports 2 and FOX Sports Go. Live audio coverage from IMSA Radio is available on IMSA.com.

ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R: “The end of last year’s race was very tense and very difficult. Having two cars so close together after 24 hours shows how tough it is in GTLM. The Corvette Racing team executed perfectly on every stop and made all the right strategy calls. That is what it takes to win these long races. No one does it better than Corvette Racing, as we have shown over the years. We are all ready for a repeat performance.”

JAN MAGNUSSEN, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R: “Winning the Rolex 24 last year was very special. The only thing I would change is to have been in the car at the end instead of watching! But it was a great feeling to see Antonio take the checker first in our class. Going into this race we know the challenge will be even more difficult. There are new cars throughout GTLM, and we know everyone will be watching our race. You have to stay focused and not let up at any point because the competition is so strong. Whoever wins this race will have earned it. I hope it is one of our Corvettes.”

MIKE ROCKENFELLER, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R: “This is a bit of a different Rolex 24 for me now that I am with Corvette Racing. Although we may not be in the fastest class, I am sure that GTLM will be the toughest and most competitive. We had a very good test at the Roar, and I feel more comfortable in the Corvette C7.R with each lap I do. Racing in an event like Daytona is a tough task but also one that as drivers we all look forward to and enjoy. Antonio, Jan and I are hopeful to deliver another Daytona win for Corvette Racing.”

OLIVER GAVIN, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R: “By and large the test at Daytona was a great success. It definitely makes things easier in the lead up to the Rolex 24. We should be able to arrive with an established baseline and can work on fine-tuning the little things that add up to give us the greatest chance for success in this race. Although it’s a 24-hour race like Le Mans, Daytona is very different in terms of lighting, how safety car periods work and other nuances. Still it’s a grueling test and one that Tommy, Marcel and myself would love to win.”

TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R: “It’s the start of a new season for Corvette Racing at Daytona. Considering how well the Roar went for us overall in the No. 4 Corvette, we’re pretty confident that we can have a race car that can challenge for a victory. Oliver and I were able to try a lot of different settings and configurations during the test, and Marcel has gotten up to speed very quickly. We have the drivers, crew and engineers to be successful at this race. It’s up to us all to execute how I know we can.”

MARCEL FÄSSLER, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R: “I am ready for my first Rolex 24 At Daytona, and I couldn’t pick a better group to be with than Corvette Racing. It was a pleasure to drive the Corvette C7.R at the Roar and get a feel for the track and traffic conditions ahead of this race. Long-distance races are nothing new to any of us on the team. There are a lot of endurance victories in the Corvette Racing camp between the team and the drivers, so everyone has the proper mindset for what it takes to win this race. For myself, I need to continue to gain confidence and comfort in the car and not make mistakes. If that happens, I know we will have a shot at victory.”

DOUG FEHAN, CORVETTE RACING PROGRAM MANAGER: “It doesn’t get any better than to start the season with the Rolex 24. It’s the biggest race of the IMSA season and as we saw in 2015, it can set the tone for the balance of the year. As the records show, Corvette Racing has a very strong history of success in long-distance endurance races. We consider these type of events to be our specialty based on the makeup of our drivers, crew and engineers. Still, there are a number of variables that can factor into the outcome of the race. As always, you can be certain that we’ll make that ‘full-throttle’ effort for our fans in the Corvette Corral, around the track and around the world!”

Photo credit: Richard Prince

Article content: Judy Kouba Dominick and Ryan Smith

Post race inspection sends O’Connell back a position, Cooper’s impressive run cut short

LONG BEACH, Calif. -Cadillac Racing driver Johnny O’Connell was relegated to second place in post-race inspection after crossing the finish line first in today’s running of the Pirelli World Challenge Long Beach Grand Prix presented by Cadillac. Teammate Cooper had an amazing run through the field that was thwarted by fluid on the track.

O’Connell (Flowery Branch, Ga.) took the start to the 50-minute sprint race from the front row in second. Pole sitter Alvaro Parente drove his McLaren deep into Turn 1 allowing two other cars to get ahead of O’Connell. Just at the completion of lap one a full course yellow flew. On the ensuing restart O’Connell was able to pass the Porsche of Patrick Long and the McLaren of Colin Thompson to move back into second. A second full course yellow flew on lap 10. On the restart, O’Connell was once again able to put the power down in his Cadillac ATS-V.R Coupe to take the lead and the win. The victory is his second of the year and second for Cadillac at Long Beach. During post-race inspection the No. 3 Cadillac ATS-V.R Coupe was found to have two traction control induced turbo boost spikes during the race that were out of specification. The SCCA Officials thus relegated O’Connell to second handing the win to Parente.

“Of all the laps that I did today that first run into Turn 1 was the toughest,” said O’Connell. “I arrived at my braking point later than Parente and timed everything perfect while allowing him racing room. He went in deep and couldn’t get his car to turn and we had contact with the tires that allowed two cars to get by. There was not a lot of grip out there today. On the restarts I had a strong car and with my experience here I was able to get into the lead. Once there it was a matter of focus and hitting my marks. It is great to be able to showcase the athleticism of the AST-V around the streets of Long Beach. In post-race tech they found we had a few boost spikes that were not to their liking. From what I understand these were when we were in traction control situations, so not a speed advantage at all. But rules are rules. A second place finish does not take away from the accomplishment of Cadillac Racing today. I am proud of the team.”

Teammate Cooper (Syosset, N.Y.) who had a car issue in qualifying that forced him to start from the rear of field was having a career run. Using the restarts to his full advantage by lap 15 he had the No. 8 Cadillac ATS-V.R Coupe in the top ten and by lap 22 he was in fourth with his sights set on a podium finish. With eight minutes to go he rolled through fluid on the track, brushed the wall which forced him to pit and park it. He was classified in 15th and posted the fastest lap of the race.

“The Cadillac ATS-V.R Coupe proved today that we have a very strong team and very well prepared cars with my run and Johnny’s win,” Cooper said. “The Cadillac Racing team did a great job to get my car sorted out from what happened yesterday. I had a really strong run going. It was fun being able to make moves on 18 cars coming through the field. I appreciate that everyone raced me clean. The first and second restarts is where I was really able to make-up ground. Once I got into fourth and was chasing Patrick Long I got into some fluid on the track and brushed the wall. I had to pit and that was it.”

The Pirelli World Challenge series will travel directly to Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama for rounds six and seven to run next weekend, April 22-24.

-Kyle Chura

Cooper on podium in first Cadillac start

AUSTIN, TEXAS -Cadillac Racing driversMichael Cooper and Johnny O’Connell finished round one of the 2016 Pirelli World Challenge GT Series Championship season opener third and fifth respectively this afternoon at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA).

Cooper (Syosset, Ny) started on the front row, but was passed by a competitor going into the first turn with teammate O’Connell (Flowery Branch, Ga) slotting into the sixth position. The race went immediately yellow dispatching the Cadillac ATS-V.R Coupe Pace Car in front of the 34 car field. On lap four the race was restarted. Cooper was relegated to fourth when he had contact going into the first turn and more rubbing in the next two turns. For the next 19 laps the duo of Cooper and O’Connell circulated the 3.4-mile, 20 turn COTA circuit in fourth and fifth. On the last lap heading into the last turn Cooper was able to get on the inside of the Nissan GTR of JD Davison and take the final step on the podium to finish third with O’Connell coming to the

checkered flag in fifth.

“The start was pretty smooth, Pat Long (No. 31 Porsche and eventual winner) braked pretty early,” said Cooper. “I might have been a little too conservative heading into Turn 1 and Davison came flying around the side of us. On the restart after the yellow I got tagged and then he hit me again. It affected the car a little, the handling was a little funny the rest of the race. On the last lap Davison was a little too aggressive going into the final turn and I was able get inside him and put the power down in my Cadillac ATS-V.R Coupe and beat him to the checkered flag. A good start to the year for Cadillac Racing.”

O’Connell likes the start to the season.

“I didn’t have the best start at the green,” O’Connell said. “We are usually pretty good at those starts. I got freight trained around the outside by a few very ambitious guys. You always like to win, but when you have a race where you get passed and fall back and then have to battle back to the front, its fun. We worked hard, the Cadillac Racing guys did a great job. Michael put a Cadillac on the podium, so a good points day for both cars. We have a warm-up tomorrow to make a few adjustments and then we race again.”

The Pirelli World Challenge Championship will open the season at the Circuit of the America’s with a double race weekend March 3-6, 2016. The race will be broadcast on the CBS Sports Network, Sunday March 13 at 10:30 a.m. ET. Live steaming can be viewed at world-challenge.com/streamvideo, live timing and Scoring atworldchallenge.growsites.net.

O’Connell wins, Cooper second

AUSTIN, TEXAS -Cadillac Racing driver Johnny O’Connell won round two of the Pirelli World Challenge GT Series Championship race today at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA). Teammate Michael Cooper drove to his second podium finish of the weekend finishing in the runner-up position.

O’Connell (Flowery Branch, Ga) started his No. 3 Velocity Red Cadillac ATS-V.R Coupe from the third position on the grid based upon his fast lap from race one yesterday. The field took the green flag and there was contact sending yesterday’s race winner Patrick Long’s Porsche into the wall and bringing out a full course caution. On the restart O’Connell was third with teammate Cooper (Syosset, Ny) behind in fourth. On Lap 5 the leading Nissan of JD Davison was called to pit lane for avoidable contact on the first lap putting O’Connell into the second position. On lap 13 he was able to get by the leading Nissan of Bryan Heitkotter into turns 13 and 14 and take the lead. In the next five laps Cooper was engaged in a three way battle with the McLaren of Alvaro Parente and the Bentley of Andrew Palmer. Both drivers received drive thru penalties for contact putting Cooper into second behind O’Connell for a Cadillac one – two finish. The last time that Cadillac Racing went one – two was at Long Beach in 2014.

“I started the race in third and was able to stay there exiting Turn 1,” said O’Connell. “I was focused on driving my Cadillac smart and taking care of my tires. I was waiting for the opportunity to get by Heitkotter. I set him up for a couple of laps and made the pass. When you get the lead you just focus on hitting your marks and being smooth. I was able to do that and Michael was in quite a battle behind me so that allowed me a little space to take care of my car. When I saw that Patrick Long was out of the race, I thought this is a championship opportunity. You don’t want to wish ill will on a competitor, but when something like that happens to a driver as fast as Pat you have to capitalize on the points and we did that today. A great one – two finish to start the year for Cadillac Racing.”

Cooper completed a double podium finish weekend.

“It is was a great one – two finish for Cadillac Racing,” said Cooper. “A lot of guys making some big mistakes out there today and we were able to collect a lot of points on some good cars. We were able to keep our heads cool and take a great finish on the weekend. It got real hairy there in the middle of the race. After Johnny went into the lead Hietkotter backed up to me and he was slowing. Then the McLaren and the Bentley got really aggressive and got into me. They served their penalties and we finished second.”

Cadillac Racing will have little time to celebrate as they travel directly to St. Petersburg, Florida for rounds three and four next weekend, March 11-13.

O’Connell going for five, Cooper ready for debut

NEW YORK – Cadillac Racing drivers Johnny O’Connell and Michael Cooper are ready to kick-off of the 2016 Pirelli World Challenge GT Series Championship with a double race weekend at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas this weekend, March 3-6.

O’Connell (Flowery Branch, Ga) enters the 2016 World Challenge season, for a fourth year in a row, as the reigning GT driver champion. He will be making the race debut of the newly colored No. 3 Velocity Red Cadillac ATS-V.R Coupe at the 3.4-mile, 20-turn circuit located southeast of Austin.

Cooper (Syosset, Ny) will be making a debut of his own, his first racing start at the wheel of the No. 8 Cadillac ATS-V.R Coupe. The New Yorker had an impressive run last year in the rain at COTA to win the GTS race and is looking for a strong run in his first outing in the top World Challenge class.

“For some reason or another this has seemed like a long off season,” O’Connell said. “I’ve made a few appearances for Cadillac, including going to the Barrett Jackson auction where I gave hot lap rides in an ATS-V. That was pretty cool as it really allowed me to show consumers the mind blowing performance that is now Cadillac.”

Cadillac Racing tested at the COTA three weeks ago. “I think the test went well,” he continued. “We logged a ton of laps and gained a fair amount of data. It was definitely good that we went there as the circuit is no longer billiard table smooth like it used to be, so I’m sure we found some things that will help us for this weekend.”

O’Connell is going for a fifth straight World Challenge GT championship. “There are always challenges that you need to overcome throughout the season. Last year it was the development of the new Cadillac ATS-V.R race car and coming back after the fire at Barber and the wreck at Long Beach. The field has gotten more competitive with the addition of a couple of McLaren’s driven by fast drivers and two new Mercedes coming, again with top drivers. Perhaps our biggest challenge, besides the other 18 drivers, will be the unknown. However, with the Cadillac Racing team behind me we have been able to handle those unforeseen factors, overcome them and put ourselves in a position to win it all at the end of the season. I see no reason why that should change for 2016. The team, myself and everyone at Cadillac is focused on going for a fifth consecutive championship.”

Cooper is looking forward to returning to COTA, this time in GT and a Cadillac ATS-V.R Coupe.

“Last year’s season opener was my first time racing at COTA and my first time racing the Camaro Z/28,” Cooper said. “While we struggled for pace in the dry, we were lucky enough to get some rain for one of the races, which leveled the playing field. I was able to win my first GTS race by passing nine or ten cars in the first two laps. It was nice to get back there and run some laps in the Cadillac ATS-V.R. The test went very well, I was able to spend a lot of time in the ATS-V.R and gain some confidence heading into the season. We ran through countless changes and gathered a lot of data. I’m sure the guys have been spending a lot of time analyzing the data, which should aid our performance for the upcoming race weekend. “

Cooper has set high goals for his first season in GT. “I’m used to having consistent strong finishes and fighting for race wins over the course of the season. I expect no less from myself now that I am in the GT class. I am anxious to prove myself as a driver capable of competing among the best at this level of GT racing and of course helping Cadillac Racing win another manufactures championship.”

The Pirelli World Challenge Championship will open the season at the Circuit of the America’s with a double race weekend March 3-6, 2016. The race will be broadcast on the CBS Sports Network, Sunday March 13 at 10:30 a.m. ET. Live steaming can be viewed at World-ChallengeTV.com, live timing and Scoring at WorldChallenge.growsites.net.

Gavin second-quickest in GTLM during the weekend ahead of Rolex 24

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 10, 2016) – Corvette Racing ran through a three-day testing program as part of the Roar Before the 24 – the final opportunity for track time ahead of the 54th Rolex 24 At Daytona. The two Chevrolet Corvette C7.Rs completed a total of 449 laps between them on a weekend focused on development and preparation for the start of the 2016 season.

Oliver Gavin in the No. 4 Corvette C7.R set the second-fastest GT Le Mans (GTLM) time of the weekend and quickest Sunday during the morning session – a 1:45.106 (121.934 mph) lap in the car he will share with Tommy Milner and Marcel Fässler at The Rolex 24.

Gavin and Milner will drive together in the full WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with Fässler joining for Daytona and the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.

Antonio Garcia was the fastest of the drivers in the No. 3 Corvette C7.R that he shares with Jan Magnussen and Mike Rockenfeller. Like Gavin, Garcia’s best effort came Sunday morning and was a 1:45.124 (121.913 mph) lap around the 3.56-mile circuit. It was good enough for fourth on the weekend.

Garcia and Magnussen won the Rolex 24 in GTLM a year ago. It was the first leg of Corvette Racing’s Triple Crown season as it also won at Sebring and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. No team had accomplished the feat in 15 years.

The No. 4 Corvette C7.R team rebounded from an incident Friday in the morning session with Milner behind the wheel. A check valve malfunction ignited a small fire in the right-rear compartment of the race car. It was quickly extinguished, and Milner was uninjured in the incident. The car returned to the track Saturday morning after the team thoroughly checked the Corvette and made the necessary repairs.

The 2016-spec Corvette C7.R is an updated racecar due to changes in Automobile Club de l’Ouest regulations for top-level GT cars that compete in the IMSA GTLM class. There are a number of aerodynamic changes including a larger splitter at the front and diffuser at the rear of the Corvette. Side skirts and a repositioned wing also are among the most notable changes, along with updated safety features that are now mandated on all GTLM cars.

The powertrain on the Corvette C7.R is unchanged from 2015 with a 5.5-liter V-8 Chevrolet small block powering the race car. The Corvette C7.R will use E20 fuel during the IMSA season and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The Rolex 24 was the site of Corvette Racing’s debut on Jan. 31, 1999. Since that first race, the team has competed in more than 170 events around the globe with 97 victories worldwide – including three wins in 2015 – along with 10 team and manufacturer championships in the American Le Mans Series and eight victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R: “We always want more track time. But this weekend was very good. The weather gave us a chance to carry on with some things that may help us in the race. It has been a very productive Roar, which is unusual. You tend to lose a lot of time to things like red flags and weather. We have worked through a lot of things that need to be analyzed in order for us to be quicker for the race. We have a good baseline and I’m sure the Corvette engineers will make the right decisions to put us in an even better position for the Rolex 24.”

JAN MAGNUSSEN, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R: “We’re getting through a lot of items on our list that we wanted to try here. The track is probably pretty representative of what the race will be like with the amount of rubber – there have been lots of cars on the track. I think we are moving in the right direction. We’re going through our program – we’re trying to be fast all the time, but sometimes we just need to concentrate on the setup and try to learn more about the car and disregard the time. We’re very happy with the way things are going. We have more aero this year and more grip. The power is the same and these cars are never easy to drive, but they now just feel a little nicer with the added downforce.”

MIKE ROCKENFELLER, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R: “You always want to have more and more laps, especially when you are in a car like the Corvette that is fun to drive. You always want to be in the car. As we all know, we have to get our work done and I think these three days were quite productive. We were lucky with the weather so we could do a lot of work and check off our boxes. Personally, I feel quite good in the car. I’m still learning lap to lap but I’m already looking forward to the race week.”

OLIVER GAVIN, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R: “We’ve made some good progress over the weekend. It’s been good to get Marcel in the car. It’s great to have him back on the team. Tommy and I have been working away on the car – some suspension stuff and aero bits and pieces. Everything is pretty much going to plan. We recovered from the incident Friday where we lost some track time. It doesn’t appear that has set us back too much. It’s very positive. We all seem pretty happy and confident in the car. All in all, we’ve made some good steps forward.”

TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R: “The best part about this whole weekend so far is how the guys have done such a great job after the issue we had on Friday. We got it fixed and the car was basically perfect once we got back on track Saturday. 1-2 in this test is not a bad thing, but it doesn’t mean a whole lot because we are going through our laundry list of items of things to try. The fact that we are fast is a good thing – it’s better to be fast rather than being not quick and scratching our heads. We felt like we should have been quick coming here because these cars were a known quantity to us. On the outside they are a bit different with the new aero but underneath they are pretty similar. This is now year three for the C7.R and we’re fine tuning these things now rather than finding big things any more.”

MARCEL FÄSSLER, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R: “For sure, this still feels like a Corvette! The car has changed a bit since I was with the team last. For me, I’m having to learn the car and the track at the same time. It wasn’t easy to go in immediately and be on pace. I’ve progressed a bit and still have to learn a lot. It’s been really good fun to drive this weekend. I ask a lot of myself but need to be patient to continue learning to understand the car. The team organized a good test plan – mainly Olly and Tommy did some of the baseline and tuning work as I needed to keep learning about the Corvette. Now I can speak on what I’ve felt in the car. All this information will definitely help on the race weekend; you don’t want to try new things once the race gets here. The good thing is that the team knows the car so well. It gives us a lot of confidence.”

DOUG FEHAN, CORVETTE RACING PROGRAM MANAGER: “When you come into a weekend like this, there are a number of boxes you want to check off as part of the testing program. As Corvette Racing leaves Daytona, by and large we accomplished all the items on our checklist. With the regulation changes in our class, there are a number of things we needed to understand. Some of those include how our Corvettes react in traffic with the aerodynamic changes, how certain adjustments make the car behave and where we stand against our competition. I’m confident saying that based on the last three days, this will be the toughest Rolex 24 we will face but everyone at Corvette Racing is looking forward to that challenge.”

Preparations well under way for attempt at ninth class victory at 24 Hours

• Jordan Taylor part of winning Le Mans lineup in 2015 and returns for fifth straight year

• First start for Corvette Racing at Le Mans for Ricky Taylor

• Corvette Racing full-season drivers to lead charge again at Le Mans

DETROIT (Nov. 17, 2015) – Corvette Racing has confirmed its lineup for next year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans with brothers Jordan and Ricky Taylor as third drivers in the team’s two Chevrolet Corvette C7.Rs. They will join full-time Corvette Racing teammates Antonio Garcia, Jan Magnussen, Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner in the 84th running of the 24 Hours race in France.

Corvette Racing is the defending race winner in the GTE Pro class. In addition to going for a second straight victory, Corvette Racing will try for a ninth class win since 2001. Gavin, Milner and Jordan Taylor scored a victory in the No. 64 Chevrolet Corvette C7.R in June.

“The 24 Hours of Le Mans is a key part of Corvette Racing’s schedule,” said Mark Kent, Director, Chevrolet Racing. “Racing against the best teams, drivers and manufacturers in the world on the demanding 8.47-mile circuit is something that we look forward to each year. It allows us to demonstrate, on a global stage, the performance, reliability and efficiency of the Chevrolet Corvette. Corvette Racing has eight class championships at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and our goal is to repeat as champions in 2016. We hope that the addition of Ricky and the return of Jordan help us achieve our goal of a ninth class victory.”

Jordan Taylor is part of Corvette Racing’s Le Mans lineup for the fifth consecutive year. In addition to this year’s victory, he finished second with Garcia and Magnussen in 2014. Ricky Taylor will race at Le Mans with Corvette Racing for the first time; he will make his third start in the race and last competed there in 2014.

The Taylors have raced together the last two years in Wayne Taylor Racing’s No. 10 Konica Minolta Corvette Daytona Prototype. The pairing have played key roles in the development of the Corvette DP and won four races the past two years in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship – including a pair of victories this season.

Ricky Taylor claimed two pole positions in the 2015 TUDOR Championship, and Jordan Taylor is a past Driver’s Champion in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series. They will drive the Wayne Taylor Racing Corvette DP again in the 2016 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

Corvette Racing continues its preparation for the 2016 season in an open IMSA test today and Wednesday at Daytona International Speedway. Corvette Racing’s first race of the season is the 54th Rolex 24 At Daytona on Jan. 30-31.

JORDAN TAYLOR, CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R – LE MANS: “It’s always great to go back to Le Mans, especially with Corvette Racing. This time we go back looking to defend our victory from last year after one of the most mentally draining weeks that I’ve experienced. Looking back on the race, it’s amazing what the entire Corvette Racing team accomplished. I will never forget the feeling of being on the top step of the podium and I know we all are going for the same result this year. The updated Corvette C7.R looks stunning and I can’t wait to get my first laps in it. Having Ricky be part of the team also is great, and I’m confident he will fit in and perform well. We’ve been a part of many big moments racing a Corvette DP in IMSA. Hopefully we can carry that over to Le Mans.”

RICKY TAYLOR, CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R – LE MANS: “I’m honored to be chosen to represent Chevrolet and Corvette Racing at Le Mans. I’ve raced there twice but nothing compares to going there as part of this team. It means a lot to me to have this opportunity, and I fully intend to support my teammates to the best of my abilities. Getting time in the Corvette C7.R this far ahead of the race is a huge benefit. This is a great car and it’s easy to see why it has had so much success. Le Mans is like no other race in the world. It was special to see Jordan, Oliver and Tommy stand on the podium after winning last year’s race. I hope we can join them there this time around.”

Action Express Racing wins Prototype race and titles; Gavin/Milner third in GTLM

• Barbosa, Fittipaldi take second straight Prototype Driver’s Championship and Tequila Patrón Endurance Cup; win Prototype race with Sebastien Bourdais

• Garcia, Magnussen claim Tequila Patrón North American Endurance Cup in GT Le Mans

• Gavin, Milner bookend season with GTLM podium finishes in No. 4 Corvette C7.R

BRASELTON, Ga. (Oct. 3, 2015) – A damp Petit Le Mans ended Saturday with Corvette Racing and the Corvette Daytona Prototype program claiming titles in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.

Action Express Racing’s Joao Barbosa, Christian Fittipaldi and Sebastien Bourdais won the Prototype class of the rain-shortened race – it ran just shy of eight hours of its 10-hour duration. Driving the No. 5 Mustang Sampling Corvette DP, Barbosπa and Fittipaldi also captured their second straight Prototype Driver’s Championship as well as their second straight title in the Tequila Patrón North American Endurance Cup.

“Congratulations to Joao, Christian, Sebastien and the Action Express Racing No. 5 Corvette DP on their second consecutive championship,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet U.S. Vice President, Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “The drivers and crew demonstrated an absolute ‘Never-Give-Up’ approach throughout today’s rain-soaked conditions. Their perseverance and consistent performance resulted in the team also winning the Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup.

“Thank you to all the Corvette Daytona Prototype teams for their efforts to secure the Manufacturer and North American Endurance Cup championships once again for Chevrolet,” Campbell added.

Corvette Racing’s Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner placed third in GT Le Mans after leading the race overall on multiple occasions. The No. 4 Chevrolet Corvette C7.R started the season with a podium at the Rolex 24 At Daytona and ended it in like fashion.

Antonio Garcia and Jan Magnussen in the No. 3 Chevrolet Corvette C7.R also ended the season in championship style by winning the Tequila Patrón North American Endurance Cup in GT Le Mans. The competition consists of the TUDOR Championship’s four endurance races: Rolex 24 At Daytona, Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, the Sahlen’s Six Hours at The Glen and Petit Le Mans. Garcia and Magnussen won at Daytona and Sebring with Ryan Briscoe to put themselves in control of the championship.

“For the Corvette Racing Corvette C7.R teams, the 2015 season was filled with incredible successes and a few challenges along the way,” Campbell said. “The season started strong with the class win at the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona and Sebring 12 Hours, and it continued with the eighth class win in the Le Mans 24 Hours – sports car racing’s Triple Crown. And after some challenging races, it was great to have the No. 3 Corvette C7.R team clinch the GTLM title in the Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup championship. Having the No. 4 Corvette C7.R on the podium adds to a great close to our season.”

Gavin began from pole position in class and ran among the leaders for most of his double-stint. He recovered from a minor off in his second stint before handing off to Milner. He drove a storming double-stint to move into the class lead nearly the halfway mark and then the overall lead a couple laps later before handing back over to Gavin.

Not long after the pit stop, race officials threw a red flag to halt the race due to the deteriorating conditions. The stoppage lasted about 30 minutes before the race resumed under full-course yellow conditions. Two more yellows came out over the final hour before the race was called.

Garcia and Magnussen challenged for the class and overall lead at different points, as well. Magnussen led for two laps after the No. 4 Corvette pitted near the 4:15 mark. However a pair of unscheduled pit stops – one early and one with an hour to go hampered their chances.

The Prototype race was a back-and-forth affair with all four Corvette DPs battling for the lead throughout. Action Express Racing ended with two cars on the Prototype podium – the No. 5 Mustang Sampling Corvette DP in first and the No. 31 Whelen Engineering/Team Fox Corvette Daytona Prototype of Dane Cameron, Eric Curran and Max Papis placing third.

In addition the results netting another title for Barbosa and Fittipaldi, VisitFlorida.com Racing’s Richard Westbrook and Michael Valiante unofficially placed second in the Driver’s Championship with their No. 90 Corvette DP. Cameron and Curran, in their first season together in Prototypes, placed third in Driver’s points.

Barbosa and Fittipaldi also won the Prototype championship in the Tequila Patrón North American Endurance Cup for the second straight season, as well.

The VisitFlorida.com Racing No. 90 Corvette DP and pole-winner Westbrook led early and were out front for most of the first two hours. The treacherous track conditions induced a pair of spins for the VisitFlorida.com Racing Corvette DP.

The element of rain added extra drama for the other three Corvette DPs, as well. The Prototype race turned into mostly three-way battle between the two Action Express Corvette DPs and defending race winners Ricky Taylor, Jordan Taylor and Max Angelelli in the Wayne Taylor Racing No. 10 Konica Minolta Corvette DP. They eventually placed fifth in class.

The 2016 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship opens with the Rolex 24 At Daytona on Jan. 30-31 from Daytona International Raceway.

CORVETTE RACING QUOTES

OLIVER GAVIN, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R – THIRD IN GTLM: “Finishing on the podium really bookends our season. We started off the year at Daytona with pole position and finishing third. We got pole position here and ended up finishing third. About 25 minutes ago before they decided to checker the race, we were in the lead. With strategy and such, it was going to come around to us again that we were going to be in the top two. The Porsche was quick. Were we going to beat them in these conditions? Unlikely. But it was all about survival today. When I had my off early on in the race I was thinking that maybe had blown it for us and I was thinking about what I said to people before I got in the car about being smart and surviving and not doing something crazy. Then I just got into turn one a little bit too deep and just ran a little bit wide and once it was on the grass, I was a passenger. That was frustrating. But Tommy (Milner) drove really well. We had a good strategy. The guys worked really well in the pits and we marched ourselves back to the front and then we were there genuinely on pace which was nice. You can take a lot of positives from the results we had here today. We had a strong start to the season, we are having a strong finish. We can carry that over to 2016 and look forward.”

TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTTE C7.R – THIRD IN GTLM: “The end result is good. There were good fights when the track conditions were good. I’m glad we’re on the podium because I think we earned it and deserved it. Our Corvette C7.R was great, and the Michelin tires were good. Our pit stops were great all day. We did everything we needed to do to have a good race. It would have been a shame to not get a podium after the pace we showed. I’m a little unhappy with how the race ended – staying out in track conditions that were pretty much undriveable. But we made it through and here we are in third.”

ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R – SIXTH IN GTLM, TEQUILA PATRÓN NORTH AMERICAN ENDURANCE CUP GTLM CHAMPION: “My approach wasn’t quite like surviving; I was going. The car worked really good. All that I couldn’t do in qualifying yesterday I was able to do today. I had good rhythm, and everything seemed to be very good. I took every opportunity I had to pass the 25 BMW, the 62 BMW, and then closed up on Oliver (Gavin) in the 4 Corvette and the 24 BMW. Halfway through that stint, I felt something funny on the rear of the car, and I asked the team if there was something wrong with the pressures. We found out that the nut was loose and we lost track position. Thankfully it didn’t come all the way loose. I went all the way to the back again but was on the move again under green. That’s how good the car was.”

JAN MAGNUSSEN, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R – SIXTH IN GTLM, TEQUILA PATRÓN NORTH AMERICAN ENDURANCE CUP GTLM CHAMPION (Winning the Tequila Patrón North American Endurance Cup): “That’s definitely something. I am glad we came away with a championship this year. The way things were going it didn’t look like it. I’m so very happy and super proud for the whole crew to win that one.”

(On the race): “When the conditions were just a normal wet track, the car was really good and we were competitive. That’s a little bit new for us. But the conditions sometimes got so, so bad, and I don’t understand why they didn’t call a red flag or call the race earlier. At the end there I was screaming on the radio that they needed to stop this right now, it was so dangerous. They stopped the race and that was a good decision.”

DOUG FEHAN, CORVETTE RACING PROGRAM MANAGER: “Sanctioning bodies can control most everything in a racing event. What they can’t control is a team’s enthusiasm, passion and drive. Today, Corvette Racing once again demonstrated against insurmountable odds their ability to get the job done. Winning at Daytona, Sebring and Le Mans, plus the Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup, shows why Corvette Racing is renowned as the world’s best endurance team.”

CORVETTE DAYTONA PROTOTYPE QUOTES

JOAO BARBODA, ACTION EXPRESS RACING NO. 5 MUSTANG SAMPLING CORVETTE DP – PROTOTYPE RACE WINNER AND DRIVER CHAMPION: “It was just an unbelievable way to end the championship. Obviously we are super happy to win two championships in a row. This one was definitely really, really tough. It came down to checkered flag last lap. Conditions were really tough out there and very dangerous to be out there at the end. But overall it was a great effort to win the championship. Our goal in the beginning was to defend the championship, and we did it in kind of a dramatic way. It came right there at the end. I’m so proud to be a part of the Action Express guys and the commitment and passion they have for the sport. I think that is making all the difference.”

SEBASTIEN BOURDAIS, ACTION EXPRESS RACING NO. 5 MUSTANG SAMPLING CORVETTE DP – PROTOTYPE RACE WINNER: “These were very tricky conditions today for the No. 5 Mustang Sampling Corvette DP. We did the job. There were different strategies out there, but when the second part of my time in the car, we were leading the race. The good thing is once the No. 90 fell back farther than a podium, it was an Action Express that was going to win the championship. We have something to celebrate tonight.”

ERIC CURRAN, ACTION EXPRESS RACING NO. 31 WHELEN ENGINEERING/TEAM FOX CORVETTE DP – THIRD IN PROTOTYPE: “Overall it was quite a day here at Road Atlanta. The weather conditions were absolutely insane. But as usual, the Action Express guys gave us a phenomenal Whelen Corvette Daytona Prototype. We were good all day and fought through the conditions. I’m just so happy that the No. 5 guys won a championship and Chevrolet won another manufacturer championship. It is a really big deal. Obviously on the No. 31 side, we would have loved to have won the championship, but it is give and take and it was such a successful season the first year out. To be fighting for a championship at the end of the year makes us all happy. I’m just really proud for Chevrolet, Action Express and our Whelen Engineering Corvette DP team.”

MAX ANGELELLI, WAYNE TAYLOR RACING NO. 10 CORVETTE DP – FOURTH IN PROTOTYPE: “It was very, very bizarre and very unfortunate for our racing team. We race with rain, that is not a problem, we always do. What was weird were some calls that were made today, like dropping the yellows only because of crashes even though the track was bad well before the crashes occurred, and then go green well before the track was good to go green again. That’s the only thing I would have a problem with about today. Otherwise, it was a very unsatisfying way to end the race and the season after all of the hard work we did to get to the front. The way the checkered flag came out before any kind of normal procedure was followed, as far as opening the pits according to the rulebook and giving other teams the chance to execute the strategy decisions they made to pit or not during that yellow. It was all just very, very strange – very, very bizarre.”

JIM LUTZ, CORVETTE DAYTONA PROTOTYPE PROGRAM MANAGER: “To say it was a challenging day today at Road Atlanta is an understatement. But our Corvette Daytona Prototype teams performed and executed to the best of their abilities. Congratulations go to Joao Barbosa, Christian Fittipaldi, team owner Bob Johnson and everyone at Action Express Racing on another Prototype championship and class victory. It’s a great way to end the 2015 season.”

New Hudson, MI –Pratt Miller Engineering (PME) joined Northrop Grumman at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. as the global security company revealed their newest military ground vehicle, Hellhound.

Hellhound will serve as Northrop Grumman’s contender in the U.S. Army’s Light Reconnaissance Vehicle (LRV) competition. The purpose-built truck was designed to meet the requirements specific to LRV, which include providing a vehicle with a balanced mix of capabilities in the areas of mobility, lethality, protection, and C4ISR.

In partnership with Northrop Grumman, PME supported the design, engineering, and fabrication of the vehicle including the innovative chassis, suspension, and drivetrain systems. PME also performed vehicle integration, development, and testing in support of the Northrop Grumman initiative.

“Partnering with Northrop Grumman on the Hellhound effort has been a great experience for our team. Seeing the overwhelming and positive attention from everyone at AUSA, but most importantly the reaction from the men and women that Hellhound was built for, was very rewarding,” said Ray Errer, Pratt Miller Program Manager on the project.

Pratt Miller Engineering

Pratt Miller Engineering – a dominant force in professional motorsports – designs, engineers, and manufactures world-class vehicles, components and software. The company is defining the future of mobility, survivability, occupant protection, electronics, and lightweight systems for vehicles. Pratt Miller serves a global customer base including those in the Motorsports, Defense, Automotive, and Powersports industries.

For more information on Hellhound please visit Northrop Grumman Media Page