No. 5 Action Express Corvette DP leads Chevrolet contingent in testing for Rolex 24

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 5, 2014) – The final on-track preparations for Chevrolet’s Corvette Daytona Prototype teams are complete ahead of the opening round of the inaugural TUDOR United SportsCar Championship. Christian Fittipaldi in Action Express Racing’s No. 5 Corvette DP set the fastest time for the three-day Roar Before the 24 at Daytona International Speedway – the annual test that serves a dress rehearsal for the Rolex 24 At Daytona.

Fittipaldi’s best time of 1:38.630 (129.940 mph) came in the Roar’s opening session Friday morning. The Brazilian led a contingent of Corvette DPs that held five of the six fastest speeds during the three days.

“We applied everything that we learned in the sessions we had prior to today – once in November and twice in the beginning of December,” said Fittipaldi, who drove with full-season teammate Joao Barbosa and Sebastien Bourdais. “The car felt pretty good. I think that the track conditions were a little bit strange (with the changing weather). We need to make the best of it because when it comes down to race time, maybe we are going to have exactly the same stuff out there. I have raced here before where we have had even colder weather. So we pretty much need to be prepared for all kinds of stuff out there.”

Richard Westbrook was second-quickest on the weekend in the No. 90 Spirit of Daytona Corvette DP with a 1:38.989 (129.549 mph) lap. He drives with full-season teammate Michael Valiante and Mike Rockenfeller.

“It has been a very productive three days at Daytona for the Corvette Daytona Prototype teams in preparation for the Rolex 24 Hour race, said Jim Lutz, Chevrolet TUDOR Championship Daytona Prototype Program Manager. “All of the teams had the opportunity to work with the latest technical regulations IMSA has put in place thus far for the class. Every driver for each of the teams was able to get ample seat time throughout the three-day test.

“Additionally, the varying weather conditions have allowed the teams to work on setup for the numerous scenarios that can occur during the race. We know we will have to adjust to the final set of regulations prior to the race, but our Chevrolet teams made great progress during the weekend, and we feel like we have the reliability and preparation necessary for the race.”

Chevrolet enters this year’s Rolex 24 off two consecutive DP engine manufacturer titles in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series. The championship merged with the American Le Mans Series to create the TUDOR Championship, which features DPs as part of the top-level prototype class.

As the season continues following the Rolex 24 Hours the Corvette DP teams – Action Express, Spirit of Daytona, 2013 DP team champion Wayne Taylor Racing, GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing and Marsh Racing – will lead Chevrolet’s fight for additional victories and championships. Chevrolet ended Rolex Series competition with 20 Daytona Prototype victories – 16 by Corvette DPs since it debuted in 2011 – and nine in GT. The Bowtie brand also captured DP engine manufacturer championships in both 2012 and 2013, plus the 2011 GT title.

EDITORS: High-resolution images of Corvette Racing are available on the Team Chevy media site for editorial use only.

RICHARD WESTBROOK, NO. 90 SPIRIT OF DAYTONA CORVETTE DP

HOW DO YOU FEEL THE THREE DAYS OF TESTING HAVE GONE? “We have turned up with a really good car, and the team is working just great. I just have to really thank all the boys on the team. The new staff as well. Everything seems to be clicking into place. We’ve just kept our head down, fine-tuned and the results seem to be coming toward us. We have a really nice, comfortable car to drive that seems to be quick. Just really nice working with the two Michaels – Mike (Rockenfeller) and Michael (Valiante). There is a great atmosphere in the team. Looking forward to the 24 (Hours).”

IS IT GOOD FOR THE TEAM WHEN YOU TEST IN SUCH VARYING TEMPERATURES AND WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR THE RACE? “What was very encouraging is normally in our car, we’re not very good in the heat. The hotter it gets, the worse we get. The car felt really good when it got hot. That is really encouraging.”

JORDAN TAYLOR, NO. 10 WAYNE TAYLOR RACING CORVETTE DP

TALK ABOUT THE PROGRESS MADE WITH THE CAR HERE DURING THE THREE-DAY ROAR: “This is our first test really with all the updates. We did a test in December with half of the updates for the car, so now these three days we’ve really spent a lot of time getting to know what the car is going to be like this year. For the drivers, there is a little bit to get used to – mainly with braking. But for the engineers and the crew, they had a lot more to do just to understand the car; how it works and how to prepare for a 24-hour race. I think we did learn a lot. All the drivers are now comfortable in the cars. I think the crew has a much better understanding of what it is going to do for 24 hours and I think it makes us a lot more excited now that we know what to expect going into the 24 Hour.”

MENTALLY WHAT DO YOU DO BETWEEN NOW AND WHEN YOU JUMP IN THE CAR FOR THE FIRST PRACTICE OF THE RACE WEEKEND? “We have data to go over. I think the biggest thing is mentally preparing for the long race. Obviously physical training. We have a lot of data to go over for drivers to get to know: maybe I am losing a little bit here; maybe I’m a little bit better there. On-board cameras to study. I always like to watch the previous year’s race so every time I am around the TV, I’ll turn it on to watch it and learn interesting passing places that you wouldn’t really think of – where people are usually going off; where they are making passes in traffic. You can learn a lot from historical races.”

RICKY TAYLOR, NO. 10 WAYNE TAYLOR RACING CORVETTE DP

TALK ABOUT THE CHANGING WEATHER DURING THE TEST AND HOW THAT HELPS PREPARING THE CAR FOR POSSIBILITIES DURING THE RACE: “It has helped the drivers I think. The team focuses on mostly the weather conditions that are going to be related to the race conditions. But the drivers through the 24 Hour go from daytime when it is normally warm, to nighttime and it is freezing cold, then to daytime when it warms up again. No matter what the car is setup to do, we have to be able to deal with all the conditions. We got a bit of everything this weekend, so if we have a car setup for the cold, we know what that is going to be like in the cold and then to the hot. And vice versa; if we have a car setup for the hot, we know what it is going to be like in the cold. So we know how to drive a good car and a bad car.”

THERE ARE FOUR DRIVERS, ALL WITH DIFFERENT STYLES, PREFERENCES ETC. HOW HARD IS IT AND WHAT COMPROMISES DO YOU HAVE TO MAKE AS A DRIVER TO GET A CAR THAT WORKS FOR EVERYBODY? “There has been a little bit of compromise here and there – a little bit of differences in what we all want. But I don’t think there has been much sacrifice. I think we still are improving the car more and more. We haven’t taken any steps backward to suit a driver particularly. We are moving down a good road, and making the car a better race car.”

Start of TUDOR Championship sees strong contingent of Corvette Daytona Prototypes prep for Rolex 24

DETROIT (Dec. 31, 2013) – Chevrolet is ready for a landmark season of sports car racing in North America with a strong complement of Corvette Daytona Prototypes that will compete in the inaugural year of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship. Six Corvette DPs are set to compete this season at some of the continent’s top road courses starting with the 52nd Rolex 24 At Daytona on Jan. 25-26.

Prior to that however, Corvette DP teams will take part in the annual Roar Before the 24 three-day test at Daytona International Speedway from Jan. 3-5.

The sports car landscape has changed significantly since Wayne Taylor Racing’s Jordan Taylor and Max Angelelli won in September at Lime Rock Park to clinch the Rolex Series’ DP driver’s championship. The Rolex Series and American Le Mans Series officially merged with DPs in the new top-level prototype class. In order to balance the cars in the prototype category, the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) has made a number of technical adjustments to Daytona Prototype cars including new aerodynamics and brake systems, and additional horsepower from 2013.

“This is one of the most highly anticipated and exciting starts to a season of sports car racing in many years,” said Mark Kent, Director of Chevrolet Racing. “We are looking forward to another year of close racing in the prototype class as our strong lineup of teams compete to defend Chevrolet’s Manufacturers Championship.”

Six Daytona Prototype entries from five teams will take to Daytona International Speedway for this week’s three-day test: Wayne Taylor Racing, Action Express Racing (with two Corvette DPs), GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing and newcomer Marsh Racing – stepping up from running a GT Corvette to the Corvette DP.

Those efforts will lead Chevrolet’s fight for additional victories and championships in the top level of North American sports car racing. Chevrolet ended Rolex Series competition with 20 Daytona Prototype victories – 16 by Corvette DPs since it debuted in 2011 – and nine in GT. The Bowtie brand also captured DP engine manufacturer championships in both 2012 and 2013, plus the 2011 GT title.

“There are been a huge amount of work and cooperation between our teams, IMSA and our technical partners in advance of this season,” said Jim Lutz, Chevrolet TUDOR Championship Daytona Prototype Program Manager. “Headed into the Roar Before the 24, we feel like our DP teams are good positions to make their final preparations for the start of the season. As always, Daytona International Speedway presents a significant challenge given the track’s banking and high speeds. Given the new technical regulations and adjustments for 2014, reliability will take on added importance. That will be a key focal point for this year’s Roar.”

2014 Corvette DP Lineup – Roar Before the 24 – TUDOR United SportsCar Championship

Car No. / Team / Drivers / Owner

5

Action Express Racing

Joao Barbosa/Christian Fittipaldi/Sebastien Bourdais

Bob Johnson

9

Action Express Racing

TBA

Bob Johnson

10

Wayne Taylor Racing

Jordan Taylor/Ricky Taylor/Max Angelelli/Wayne Taylor

Wayne Taylor

31

Marsh Racing

Boris Said/Eric Curran/Max Papis/Bradley Smith

Ted Marsh

90

Spirit of Daytona

Richard Westbrook/Michael Valiante/Mike Rockenfeller

Troy Flis

99

GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing

Jon Fogarty/Alex Gurney/Memo Gidley/Darren Law

Bob Stallings

Roar Before the 24 (all times ET)

Friday, Jan. 3

• • Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, Practice 1: 9-10 a.m.
• • TUDOR Championship, Practice 1: 10:15 a.m.-noon
• • Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, Practice 2: 1:30-2:30 p.m.
• • TUDOR Championship, Practice 2: 2:45-5:15 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 4

• • TUDOR Championship, Practice 3: 9-10:45 a.m.
• • Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, Practice 3: 11 a.m.-noon
• • TUDOR Championship, Practice 4: 1-2:30 p.m.
• • Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, Practice 4: 2:45-3:45 p.m.
• • TUDOR Championship, Practice 5: 4-5 p.m.
• • TUDOR Championship, Practice 6: 6:30-8 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 5

• • Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, Practice 5: 9-10 a.m.
• • TUDOR Championship, Practice 7: 10:15 a.m.-noon
• • Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, Practice 6: 1:30-2:15 p.m.
• • TUDOR Championship, Practice 8: 2:30-3:30 p.m.

 http://automatemichigan.org/

NEW HUDSON, Mich., Nov. 25, 2013 — Pratt Miller Engineering is proud to announce their support of the Michigan Automated Systems Collaborative (MASC). The MASC officially launched its website that will serve as meeting place for industry, academia and professional associations, and government to share information relating to collaborative technologies. The vision of the MASC is to make Michigan the national leader in design, development, and manufacturing of automated systems and related robotic technologies.

Pratt Miller Engineering was approached earlier this year by the Macomb County Department of Planning and Economic Development in hopes of the Pratt Miller team joining forces in the planning and generating of ideas on what a collaborative could look like in the State of Michigan. The team at Pratt Miller was quick to jump at the opportunity along with several other Michigan based technology companies including Soar Technology, Inc and Quantum Signal, LLC.

Pratt Miller’s Director of Government Markets, Sara Blackmer, sits on the MASC committee and recently spoke on the importance of the collaborative, “We’re excited about a robotics cluster finally gaining traction in the State of Michigan. The density of robotics enabling capability found here is impressive and we are looking forward to automating present and future technologies together.”

It is clear that robotics and autonomy are technologies that will continue to see rapid growth in the defense, automotive, agriculture, and commercial industries. Participation in the MASC aligns well with Pratt Miller’s growth objectives which include expanding on the company’s competencies in mobility, lightweight structures, control systems, and vehicle integration to develop innovations in ground robotics and autonomous mobility platforms.

About MASC

Michigan Automated Systems Collaborative (MASC) is a strategic partnership consisting of industry, academia, research and professional associations, and government. Our mission is to promote, attract, and grow the robotic and automated system industries in the State of Michigan.

About Pratt Miller

Pratt Miller Engineering is an advanced vehicle engineering services firm founded in the highly technical and fast paced world of motorsports. With its design, modeling and simulation, electrical, low volume and prototype manufacturing, and testing and development capabilities among the most sophisticated in the world, Pratt Miller is revolutionizing the way vehicles perform and products behave. Servicing the defense, automotive, powersports, and commercial markets, its client base consistently relies on Pratt Miller to deliver superior and innovative solutions in highly accelerated time frames.

For more information on the Michigan Automated Systems Collaborative, please visit:

 http://www.topworkplaces.com/frontend.php/regional-list/list/freep

New Hudson, MI 11/20/2013 – For the second consecutive year, Pratt Miller Engineering has been named in the Detroit Free Press’ Top 100 Places to Work in the mid-sized business category. The surveys, provided by Workplace Dynamics, are completed by each employee and the feedback is completely anonymous. Employees are asked a series of questions focusing on their overall level of happiness relating to their work environment, including their ability to be heard by management, schedule flexibility, and the company’s support on community involvement and volunteering.

“It is such an honor to be on this list again,” said Dena Callahan, Pratt Miller’s human resources manager. “The survey’s completed by our team provided us with honest, thoughtful insights on what we are doing right and areas that we can improve on. This information is vital to attracting future talent but most importantly it helps us retain the incredible team we currently have place.”

Pratt Miller takes great pride in this recognition because of its ongoing commitment to employee satisfaction. The company’s unique work environment includes providing employees with challenging and exciting projects using state-of-the-art technology and opportunities for advancement.

About Pratt Miller Engineering

Pratt Miller Engineering is an advanced vehicle engineering services firm founded in the highly technical and fast paced world of motorsports. With its design, modeling and simulation, electrical, low volume and prototype manufacturing, and testing and development capabilities among the most sophisticated in the world, Pratt Miller is revolutionizing the way vehicles perform and products behave. Servicing the defense, automotive, powersports, and commercial markets, its client base consistently relies on Pratt Miller to deliver superior and innovative solutions in highly accelerated timeframes.

New Hudson, MI – October 28, 2013 – Pratt Miller was recently named Technology Company of the Year by Automation Alley, Michigan’s largest technology business association. The 13th Annual Awards Gala was held last month at The Henry in Dearborn Michigan. Four different award categories were announced that evening, however, this particular award recognizes Pratt Miller as having introduced new products or systems that have made significant impact on Southeast Michigan’s economy. The products and systems submitted by Pratt Miller for the award selection focused on the company’s recent success in global motorsports and product innovations in the automotive, defense, space, powersports, and medical industries.

Pratt Miller’s vice president of engineering services, Lynn Bishop, graciously accepted the award.

“It was a true honor to be selected as the Automation Alley Technology Company of the Year alongside the other candidates and nominees. We would like to thank Automation Alley for all their help and support over the years by assisting us in developing a plan to diversify our business. We also have to thank our loyal customers for giving us the opportunity to work with them in creating these innovative technologies. But, this award is really a tribute to our 200+ team members at Pratt Miller Engineering who come to work every day with such enthusiasm, pride, and passion to deliver technical excellence to our customers.”

The product innovation examples developed over the past year included racing vehicles that have won multiple racing championships around the globe; a motorsports collision avoidance system; a prototype medium assault vehicle for Special Operations Command; advanced survivability and mobility concept vehicles for defense; autonomous vehicle and robotic space technologies; advanced lightweight automotive and space systems; and portable medical devices – innovations that are winning races, helping to save lives on our roads – in our hospitals – and on the battlefield, and helping to discover new frontiers in space.

About Pratt Miller Engineering

Pratt Miller Engineering is a world-class engineering company and a respected industry leader in motorsports, defense, automotive, powersports, aerospace, and commercial industries. Our range of design, engineering, low-volume manufacturing, and testing and development capabilities are among the most sophisticated in the world.

Magnussen voted ALMS’ Most Popular Driver, Chevrolet wins Green Challenge award

BRASELTON, Ga. (Oct. 22, 2013) – Chevrolet and Corvette Racing had ample reason to celebrate at the American Le Mans Series’ annual Night of Champions awards banquet. The two organizations took home seven awards on the evening at Chateau Elan, the night after the ALMS’ finale – Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta.

Chevrolet received the GT manufacturers’ championship, and Corvette Racing won the GT team trophy – the second consecutive season for both. Antonio Garcia and Jan Magnussen, drivers of the No. 3 Compuware Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, were the recipients of the GT drivers’ championship – the second for Magnussen and first for Garcia. Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner, last year’s GT champions, walked away with third-place championship trophies in the driving category.

It was a doubly special night for Magnussen. The Dane won the ALMS’ Most Popular Driver award for the second time in his career. American Le Mans Series fans voted on the honor through alms.com, the series’ website.

Chevrolet also won the Green Challenge GT championship, which goes to the manufacturer that races the fastest while being the most efficient with its petroleum use combined with cleanest emissions. The No. 3 Chevrolet Corvette C6.R won the MICHELIN GREEN X Challenge – an award that goes to leading GT and prototype teams using the same criteria as the manufacturer trophy.

Corvette Racing will open the 2014 TUDOR United SportsCar Championship with the Corvette C7.R race car at the Rolex 24 At Daytona on Jan. 25-26.

EDITORS: High-resolution images of Corvette Racing are available on the Team Chevy media site for editorial use only. Attached photo is courtesy of Richard Prince.

ALMS GT Championship Standings

Driver Standings

1. 1. Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen – 135
2. 2. Dirk Muller – 129
3. 3. Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 105
4. 4. Bill Auberlen – 102
5. 5. Dominik Farnbacher/Marc Goossens – 101

Team Standings

1. 1. Corvette Racing – 171
2. 2. BMW Team RLL – 140
3. 3. SRT Motorsports – 121
4. 4. Risi Competizione – 73
5. 5. CORE autosport – 55

Manufacturer Standings

1. 1. Chevrolet – 174
2. 2. BMW – 154
3. 3. SRT – 137
4. 4. Ferrari – 126
5. 5. Porsche – 119

Ahead of Round 10 of the American Le Mans Series

What: Petit Le Mans, final round of the American Le Mans Series. The race airs live starting at 11 a.m. on FOX Sports 2 with alternating live broadcasts on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2.

No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R – Antonio Garcia, Jan Magnussen and Jordan Taylor

• • Starting fourth in GT. Antonio Garcia posted a lap of 1:19.128 (115.560 mph) in qualifying.
• • History at Road Atlanta
• o Antonio Garcia – Three ALMS starts. Best finish: 2nd (2012)
• o Jan Magnussen – 15 ALMS starts. Best finish: 1st (2004, 2005, 2008, 2010). One fastest race lap (2008).
• o Jordan Taylor – One ALMS start. Best finish: 2nd (2012)

No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R – Oliver Gavin, Tommy Milner and Richard Westbrook

• • Starting seventh in GT. Oliver Gavin posted a lap of 1:19.440 (115.106 mph) Friday in qualifying.
• • History at Road Atlanta
• o Oliver Gavin – 15 ALMS starts. Best finish: 1st (2002, 2003 – spring race, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2010). One pole position (2004) and four fastest race laps (2004-07)
• o Tommy Milner – Two ALMS starts. Best finish: 2nd (2012)
• o Richard Westbrook – Two ALMS starts. Best finish: 4th (2011)

Corvette Racing at Road Atlanta

• • Number of races: 16
• • Victories: 10
• • Podiums: 20
• • Pole positions: 7
• • Fastest race laps: 8
• • First race: 1999 (4th and 5th in GTS)
• • First 1-2 team finish: 2004

EDITORS: High-resolution images of Corvette Racing are available on the Team Chevy media site for editorial use only.

Petit Le Mans (all times ET)

• • Warmup: 9:15 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 19
• • Race: 11:30 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 19

Petit Le Mans: Watch It!

Saturday, Oct. 19 (all times ET)

• • Race (TV): 11 a.m.-noon, 2:30-6:30 p.m. (FOX Sports 2); 6:30-8 p.m. (FOX Sports 1); 8-9:30 p.m. (FOX Sports 2)
• • Race (Web): 11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 19 (ALMS.com)

ALMS GT Championship Standings

Driver Standings

1. 1. Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen – 125
2. 2. Dirk Muller – 109
3. 3. Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 100
4. 4. Dominik Farnbacher/Marc Goossens – 93
5. 5. Bill Auberlen – 82

Team Standings

1. 1. Corvette Racing – 161
2. 2. BMW Team RLL – 120
3. 3. SRT Motorsports – 109
4. 4. Risi Competizione – 56
5. 5. CORE autosport – 48

Manufacturer Standings

1. 1. Chevrolet – 164
2. 2. BMW – 134
3. 3. SRT – 123
4. 4. Ferrari – 109
5. 5. Porsche – 95

Corvette Racing History at Road Atlanta

Year Class Drivers Result Car Notes

1999 GTS Fellows/Kneifel/Paul Jr. 5th Corvette C5-R

Pilgrim/Collins/Sharp 4th Corvette C5-R

2000 GTS Fellows/Kneifel/Bell 3rd Corvette C5-R Fellows pole

Pilgrim/Collins/Freon 1st Corvette C5-R

2001 GTS Fellows/O’Connell 9th Corvette C5-R

Collins/Pilgrim/Freon 1st Corvette C5-R Pilgrim pole

2002 GTS Fellows/O’Connell/Gavin 1st Corvette C5-R

Collins/Pilgrim/Freon 3rd Corvette C5-R Pilgrim fastest race lap

2003* GTS Fellows/O’Connell 3rd Corvette C5-R

Collins/Gavin 1st Corvette C5-R

2003 GTS Fellows/O’Connell/Freon 5th Corvette C5-R

Collins/Gavin/Pilgrim 3rd Corvette C5-R

2004 GTS Fellows/O’Connell/Papis 2nd Corvette C5-R

Beretta/Gavin/Magnussen 1st Corvette C5-R Gavin pole, fastest race lap

2005* GT1 Fellows/O’Connell 1st Corvette C6.R O’Connell pole, fastest race lap

Beretta/Gavin 2nd Corvette C6.R

2005 GT1 Fellows/O’Connell/Papis 6th Corvette C6.R

Beretta/Gavin/Magnussen 1st Corvette C6.R Beretta pole, Gavin fastest race lap

2006 GT1 Fellows/O’Connell/Papis 4th Corvette C6.R O’Connell pole

Beretta/Gavin/Magnussen 3rd Corvette C6.R Gavin fastest race lap

2007 GT1 Magnussen/O’Connell/Fellows 3rd Corvette C6.R

Beretta/Gavin/Papis 1st Corvette C6.R Gavin fastest race lap

2008 GT1 Magnussen/O’Connell/Fellows 1st Corvette C6.R O’Connell pole, Magnussen fastest race lap

Beretta/Gavin/Papis 2nd Corvette C6.R

2009 GT2 Magnussen/O’Connell/Garcia 6th Corvette C6.R

Beretta/Gavin/Fassler 4th Corvette C6.R

2010 GT Beretta/O’Connell/Garcia 6th Corvette C6.R

Gavin/Magnussen/Collard 1st Corvette C6.R Magnussen fastest race lap

2011 GT Beretta/Milner/Garcia 17th Corvette C6.R

Gavin/Magnussen/Westbrook 4th Corvette C6.R

2012 GT Garcia/Magnussen/Taylor 2nd Corvette C6.R

Gavin/Milner/Westbrook 12th Corvette C6.R

* Denotes two-hour, 45-minute race

Six-time ALMS winner at the circuit gives the inside secrets

With six victories in 15 American Le Mans Series starts at Road Atlanta, Oliver Gavin certainly knows his way around the circuit. Corvette Racing’s superstar Englishman has hundreds of laps under his belt around the 2.54-mile, 12-turn circuit and is immensely qualified to speak on the challenges the track presents as well as keys to quickly getting around. He hopes to taste victory again in the No. 4 Compuware Chevrolet Corvette C6.R with Tommy Milner and Richard Westbrook.

Turn 1: A Thrill

“Turn 1 for me – if you get that right – is a really, really good corner. You come down the frontstraight, are braking on the bumps and go down one gear. Then you try to carry as much speed through the apex. The car tends to slide a little bit just as you apex, but the track starts going uphill and that catches you a bit. It helps with your line and gives the car a little extra grip. Then as you come out of there you have to line yourself up for braking into Turn 3.

“Should you get it right, it builds your confidence for the rest of the lap. If you’re on a qualifying lap, you have to make sure you get that corner right. It’s so important.”

The Esses: Biggest Challenge

“The most difficult section of the track is the combination through turns 3, 4 and 5.

“As you come into Turn 3, you’re braking up and over a blind crest, and you know you have to start turning into the corner before you see the apex. It’s all about repetition and getting that knowledge of where you need to turn in and how much speed you need to carry in there. You need to get over the curb on the inside in a way that the car floats over it. Then when you land on the other side you’re not bottoming out the car and you’re giving it as much speed through there to get down the hill – but not so much that you’re going on the curb at the exit. If you do that, the car gets out of shape and it can be difficult going down the hill.

“Then you’re hugging the curb tightly at Turn 4, and the end of the complex is almost always flat out in our car. Maybe in qualifying we will be flat. But on full tanks and worn tires, it’s harder to do. It’s right on the ragged edge. It’s an area where a lot of prototype cars have caught you out of Turn 1 and they are waiting for you to go through Turn 3 and to go by through 4A. That is a real challenge – either breathe and let them go by or keep them behind you going down the hill.

“It’s difficult then to get the braking point for Turn 5 right. That is a corner where you need to carry speed in and maximize the apex speed. Getting off the corner, you want to be able to use some of the curb on the exit but not too much. If you use too much the car will start leaping and bouncing around and can easily spin or go into the wall. But it’s critical to set up the run to Turn 6.”

Turn 7: Key to the Lap

“Whenever people talk about Road Atlanta, they usually talk about Turn 12, Turn 1 or maybe the Esses. But for me the most important corner is Turn 7 – going to the backstraight. If you get that right, you can make up so much time on everybody. You’re carrying all that speed through and out of the corner and all the way down the backstraight. It’s the longest section of straightaway on the whole circuit. It’s vital to get that right because it can really impact your lap time.”

EDITORS: High-resolution images of Corvette Racing are available on the Team Chevy media site for editorial use only.

Petit Le Mans (all times ET)

Thursday, Oct. 17-Saturday, Oct. 19

• • Practice 1: 10:45 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 17
• • Practice 2: 2:45 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 17
• • Practice 3: 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 17
• • Practice 4: 10:20 a.m., Friday, Oct. 18
• • GT Qualifying: 2:05 p.m., Friday, Oct. 18
• • Warmup: 9:15 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 19
• • Race: 11:30 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 19

Petit Le Mans: Watch It!

Friday, Oct. 18-Saturday, Oct. 19 (all times ET)

• • Qualifying: 1:50 p.m., Friday, Oct. 18 (ALMS.com)
• • Race (TV): 11 a.m.-noon, 2:30-6:30 p.m. (FOX Sports 2); 6:30-8 p.m. (FOX Sports 1); 8-9:30 p.m. (FOX Sports 2)
• • Race (Web): 11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 19 (ALMS.com)

ALMS GT Championship Standings

Driver Standings

1. 1. Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen – 125
2. 2. Dirk Muller – 109
3. 3. Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 100
4. 4. Dominik Farnbacher/Marc Goossens – 93
5. 5. Bill Auberlen – 82

Team Standings

1. 1. Corvette Racing – 161
2. 2. BMW Team RLL – 120
3. 3. SRT Motorsports – 109
4. 4. Risi Competizione – 56
5. 5. CORE autosport – 48

Manufacturer Standings

1. 1. Chevrolet – 164
2. 2. BMW – 134
3. 3. SRT – 123
4. 4. Ferrari – 109
5. 5. Porsche – 95

Corvette Racing History at Road Atlanta

Year Class Drivers Result Car Notes

1999 GTS Fellows/Kneifel/Paul Jr. 5th Corvette C5-R

Pilgrim/Collins/Sharp 4th Corvette C5-R

2000 GTS Fellows/Kneifel/Bell 3rd Corvette C5-R Fellows pole

Pilgrim/Collins/Freon 1st Corvette C5-R

2001 GTS Fellows/O’Connell 9th Corvette C5-R

Collins/Pilgrim/Freon 1st Corvette C5-R Pilgrim pole

2002 GTS Fellows/O’Connell/Gavin 1st Corvette C5-R

Collins/Pilgrim/Freon 3rd Corvette C5-R Pilgrim fastest race lap

2003* GTS Fellows/O’Connell 3rd Corvette C5-R

Collins/Gavin 1st Corvette C5-R

2003 GTS Fellows/O’Connell/Freon 5th Corvette C5-R

Collins/Gavin/Pilgrim 3rd Corvette C5-R

2004 GTS Fellows/O’Connell/Papis 2nd Corvette C5-R

Beretta/Gavin/Magnussen 1st Corvette C5-R Gavin pole, fastest race lap

2005* GT1 Fellows/O’Connell 1st Corvette C6.R O’Connell pole, fastest race lap

Beretta/Gavin 2nd Corvette C6.R

2005 GT1 Fellows/O’Connell/Papis 6th Corvette C6.R

Beretta/Gavin/Magnussen 1st Corvette C6.R Beretta pole, Gavin fastest race lap

2006 GT1 Fellows/O’Connell/Papis 4th Corvette C6.R O’Connell pole

Beretta/Gavin/Magnussen 3rd Corvette C6.R Gavin fastest race lap

2007 GT1 Magnussen/O’Connell/Fellows 3rd Corvette C6.R

Beretta/Gavin/Papis 1st Corvette C6.R Gavin fastest race lap

2008 GT1 Magnussen/O’Connell/Fellows 1st Corvette C6.R O’Connell pole, Magnussen fastest race lap

Beretta/Gavin/Papis 2nd Corvette C6.R

2009 GT2 Magnussen/O’Connell/Garcia 6th Corvette C6.R

Beretta/Gavin/Fassler 4th Corvette C6.R

2010 GT Beretta/O’Connell/Garcia 6th Corvette C6.R

Gavin/Magnussen/Collard 1st Corvette C6.R Magnussen fastest race lap

2011 GT Beretta/Milner/Garcia 17th Corvette C6.R

Gavin/Magnussen/Westbrook 4th Corvette C6.R

2012 GT Garcia/Magnussen/Taylor 2nd Corvette C6.R

Gavin/Milner/Westbrook 12th Corvette C6.R

* Denotes two-hour, 45-minute race

 http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20131004/AWARDS4013/310069986/brandon-widmer-38

Pratt & Miller Engineering is proud to announce that Brandon Widmer, Director of Business Development, has earned the prestigious Crain’s Business Detroit “40 under 40” award. This award honors 40 of Southeast Michigan’s best and brightest who have launched companies, helped grow established firms, created products, swung international deals, improved health care and aided nonprofits before the age of 40. This year’s honorees were selected from over 300 nominees.

For more information on Crain’s Detroit Business Top 40 under 40 please visit

As Director of Business Development, Brandon helped develop Pratt & Miller’s revenue and customer diversification strategies which facilitated the tremendous growth of its Engineering Services business. As a result, Pratt & Miller has grown its Engineering Services business from just under $1 million in sales in 2007 to over $15 million in sales in 2013 providing innovations to defense, automotive, powersports, and medical industries.

“Brandon was the catalyst in helping us grow our business and achieve our diversification goals during the recession” said Gary Pratt, co-founder of Pratt & Miller Engineering. “The leadership, strategies, and relationships that Brandon brought to Pratt & Miller were instrumental in accelerating our business in the defense industry, which came at a critical time when our motorsports business saw significant reductions during the recession. We congratulate Brandon on this achievement and thank him for the many contributions he has made in helping Pratt & Miller to grow and become the success that it is today”

“This is a great honor to be recognized by Detroit Crain’s for the 40 under 40 award and I am humbled to represent Pratt & Miller in this capacity.”, said award recipient Brandon Widmer, “Pratt & Miller is a company who’s success was built on teamwork. I hope my teammates feel this award is as much theirs as it is mine, as without them none of this success would be possible.”

Last year may have been the first race for the American Le Mans Series at VIR, but it wasn’t the first visit there for Antonio Garcia. Corvette Racing’s speedy Spaniard raced there twice in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports car Series’ Daytona Prototype class, and he parlayed that experience into the fastest GT race lap in the ALMS’ debut last season – 1:47.389 (109.620 mph).

Garcia, who leads the ALMS GT championship with Jan Magnussen in the No. 3 Compuware Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, tells you what he looks for during a lap at VIR.

“VIR is a race track that I’ve always liked since I went there for the first time in 2010. Overall, the track has a lot of momentum and flow. The backstraight is the only place where you are not turning and are just going straight. Everywhere else, you need to place the car well – especially in the first bit where there is a little combination of some slow-speed corners. As you go toward the Oak Tree Corner, which sadly is missing the Oak Tree now – and the other side of the track, you have a section of very, very fast corners. The first time you go through there can be a little scary. No matter what car you are driving, you are flat or just breathing a little on the throttle at the last corner. The track is very challenging and very narrow with no room for even little mistakes.

“Braking is very important into Turn 1 and also at the end of the backstraight. You need to be able to brake very late because both of the entries are rather bumpy. You really need to nail the curbing where you shift just to make the line smooth. Through the esses, drivers – like Jan! – run over all the curbing. The esses give you the chance to do that although I’m not really keen on working on the curbs. I have a line through there where I don’t use a lot of curbing. But going through there really is the moment of your lap. Everyone tries to take a line to get through there as flat as possible until the last right-hander before the downhill toward Oak Tree. I don’t think there is much to be gained by going flat versus breathing a little bit. Another point is the Oak Tree corner. In the past, the Oak Tree would not really let you see the apex because it would be right behind the tree. I don’t know how it will be now, but for sure the corner is one where you need to give away the entry a little in order to go back on power early because the backstraight is so long. From Turn 4 up until Oak Tree are the key points of the race track.

“If you’re running in a group or in traffic, for sure the most difficult section would be the esses. Really it’s Turn 3 up until Oak Tree is the most important. If you are in a group, chasing traffic or traffic is catching you, that does give you a chance to make up time on your competition if you get through there cleanly. It’s important that if someone is coming on you that you let him know where you are going to go and where you want to be passed. Otherwise there can be a misunderstanding between drivers and that’s when big crashes happen.”

Saturday’s race is set for 2:15 p.m. ET with live coverage on ESPN3 beginning at 2 p.m. ESPN2’s coverage airs at 5:30 p.m. ET on Sunday.

EDITORS: High-resolution images of Corvette Racing are available on the Team Chevy media site for editorial use only.

Oak Tree Grand Prix (all times ET)

• • GT Testing: 3:30-5 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 3
• • Practice 1: 10:25 a.m., Friday, Oct. 4
• • Practice 2: 2:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 4
• • GT Qualifying: 4:05 p.m., Friday, Oct. 4
• • Warmup: 9:35 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 5
• • Race: 2:15 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 5

VIR: Watch It!

Friday, Oct. 4-Sunday, Oct. 6 (all times ET)

• • Qualifying: Live – 3:35 p.m., Friday, Oct. 4 (ESPN3)
• • Race (Web): Live – 2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 5 (ESPN3)
• • Race (TV): 5:30 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 6 (ESPN2)

Corvette Racing at VIR

Year: 2012

Class: GT

Drivers: Garcia/Magnussen; Gavin/Milner

Result: 8th; 1st

Car: Corvette C6.R

Notes: Garcia fastest race lap; Gavin/Milner clinch ALMS GT title

ALMS GT Championship Standings

Driver Standings

1. 1. Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen – 112
2. 2. Dirk Muller – 99
3. 3. Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 94
4. 4. Dominik Farnbacher/Marc Goossens – 89
5. 5. Bill Auberlen – 74

Team Standings

1. 1. Corvette Racing – 148
2. 2. BMW Team RLL – 110
3. 3. SRT Motorsports – 105
4. 4. Paul Miller Racing – 44
5. 5. Risi Competizione – 36

Manufacturer Standings

1. 1. Chevrolet – 151
2. 2. BMW – 124
3. 3. SRT – 115
4. 4. Ferrari – 89
5. 5. Porsche – 79