Corvettes Overcome Adversity to Take Checkered Flag in GTE Pro LE MANS, France, June 17, 2012 – Corvette Racing finished the grueling 24 Hours of Le Mans for the 12th time in 13 attempts as both the No. 73 and No. 74 Compuware Corvette C6.R race cars

LE MANS, France, June 17, 2012 – Corvette Racing finished the grueling 24 Hours of Le Mans for the 12th time in 13 attempts as both the No. 73 and No. 74 Compuware Corvette C6.R race cars were running at the finish of the world’s most demanding sports car race.

The No. 73 Corvette C6.R driven by Jan Magnussen, Antonio Garcia, and Jordan Taylor completed 326 laps and finished fifth in the GTE Pro category. The No. 74 Corvette C6.R of Oliver Gavin, Tommy Milner, and Richard Westbrook completed 215 laps and was sixth across the finish line, but was not classified because the car did not complete the minimum race distance. The No. 51 AF Corsa Ferrari won the GTE Pro class by a three-lap margin with 336 laps completed.

The No. 73 Corvette crew was relentless as the drivers and mechanics clawed their way back into contention after losing time to a steering rack replacement and electrical problems. With four hours to go, the crew replaced the alternator and then made a series of battery replacements to cope with a problem in the charging system. Le Mans rookie Jordan Taylor did a triple stint at dawn, followed by doubles by Jan Magnussen and a triple by Antonio Garcia. Magnussen drove the car to the checkered flag.

The No. 74 Corvette suffered extensive damage in a crash in the Porsche Curves in the 18th hour. Tommy Milner nursed the battered car back to the garage, where the Corvette crew virtually rebuilt the back half of the chassis. After a 2 hours and 12 minute pit stop, Oliver Gavin had the No. 74 back on track. With no possibility of advancement in the final standings, the star-crossed car was held in its garage until the final 40 minutes of the race. Gavin drove the car to the finish in his 12th appearance at Le Mans.

Doug Fehan, Corvette Racing Program Manager: “Sometimes in motorsports, the greatest battles that are waged are not against a competitor, but rather against the challenges that one faces. Today was one of those days for both the No. 73 and No. 74 Corvettes. When we got to the 12-hour mark, it became clear that it would be difficult to leave Le Mans with a victory. At that point we engaged the enemy head on, which was adversity. I think by any measure, anyone who watched this event saw us emerge victorious against that enemy as we brought both cars home once again to a finish in one of the most brutal, hard-fought battles in our Le Mans history. I think we can all be proud of the passion, the dedication, and that never-say-die attitude of Corvette Racing. Hopefully, our fans enjoyed every minute of it.”

Antonio Garcia, No. 73 Compuware Corvette C6.R: “All I could do was push, push, push, but in the end it’s not down to us whether we finish on the podium or not. It’s a shame, of course, because the car was really good throughout the race, except for the problems with the steering rack and the alternator. Some years ago you could maybe still hope to make up a five-lap deficit over 12 hours, but nowadays the competition is so tough that the slightest problem puts you out of contention. We’ll have to come back next year for some suitable revenge.”

Jan Magnussen, No. 73 Compuware Corvette C6.R: “The car was fantastic, very fast and very consistent. My double stint in the morning was the best double I had in the entire race. It’s a shame we lost some time by changing the alternator. Other than that I’m feeling fine when I’m in the car as the adrenaline takes over and I then don’t suffer from my cold and fever.”

Jordan Taylor, No. 73 Compuware Corvette C6.R: “It was great to race at Le Mans, every stint I’ve done has been better and better. It was a relief to get through those stints safely, without any mistakes and keeping the car on the track. That’s the name of the game here. We didn’t make any mistakes, although we did have mechanical problems. It was just beginning to get light when I started, and it was really cool to go through the Porsche Curves at sunrise and then down the Esses at Dunlop, to remember the footage and photos from the old days and to think that I was in the same position as those cars. I’m glad I got to do that kind of stint and feel the history while I was driving.”

Doug Louth, Engineering Director: “We had the drivers, cars, and team to compete for a win this weekend. It was a pleasant surprise to find our lead increasing at night as the cool conditions are the most challenging for us. It’s unfortunate we weren’t able to leverage our warm weather performance on Sunday afternoon – we expected to gain performance as the temperature increased and for our competitors to drop off. What we ended up with is a fresh reminder of the scope of the undertaking that is the 24 Hours of Le Mans. There are so many details, checklists, and tasks that go into running the perfect 24-hour race. We missed a few of these today and had some bad luck along the way, but we have our 13th Le Mans 24 behind us, and we’re already looking to 2013.”

24 Hours of Le Mans GTE Pro Results:

Pos./Car No./Drivers/Car/Laps

• 1. 51 Fisichella/Bruni/Vilander, Ferrari 458 Italia, 336
• 2. 59 Makowiecki/Melo/Farnbacher, Ferrari 458 Italia, 333
• 3. 97 Mucke/Turner/Fernandez, Aston Martin Vantage V8, 332
• 4. 71 Bertolini/Beretta/Cioci, Ferrari 458 Italia, 326
• 5. 73 Garcia/Magnussen/Taylor, Corvette C6.R, 326
• 6. 74 Gavin/Milner/Westbrook, Corvette C6.R, 215
• 7. 66 Cocker/Walker/Wills, Ferrari 458 Italia, 204
• 8. 77 Lietz/Lieb/Henzler, Porsche 911 RSR, 184
• 9. 80 Bergmeister/Long/Holzer, Porsche 911 RSR 114

American Team Perseveres Through Problems, Corvettes Run Fifth and Sixth in GTE Pro LE MANS, France, June 17, 2012 – It was a long night and a difficult morning for Corvette Racing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The aftereffects of the previous issues wi

LE MANS, France, June 17, 2012 – It was a long night and a difficult morning for Corvette Racing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The aftereffects of the previous issues with the No. 74 Compuware Corvette C6.R and two accidents required repeated visits to the garage, while the No. 73 Compuware Corvette C6.R also had to overcome mechanical problems. As a result, the Corvettes were fifth (No. 73) and sixth (No. 74) at dawn in Le Mans.

After 12 hours of racing, a recurring problem with the steering rack in the No. 73 Corvette required a lengthy pit stop to install a new unit. On the other side of the garage, the No.74 Corvette was virtually rebuilt as the drivetrain, uprights, diffuser, and floor were disassembled and repaired. Then in the 17th hour, the No. 74 suffered right-side body damage in an encounter with an Audi prototype and then a spin in the Porsche curves that damaged the rear bodywork, dry sump tank, air conditioning system, and suspension cradle.

The drivers and crew persevered through the adversity, and as other teams encountered their own difficulties, the Corvettes continued on at the Circuit of the Sarthe. Antonio Garcia hauled the No. 73 Corvette up from seventh to fifth by sunrise at Le Mans, while young Jordan Taylor ran sub-4:00 lap times with regularity during his triple stint at dawn. As attrition claimed more cars in the GTE Pro class, the No. 73 Corvette was within sight of a podium finish with six hours remaining.

Oliver Gavin, No. 74 Compuware Corvette C6.R: “This is a difficult one to sum up. I’m sure that everyone on the team is feeling disappointment. It’s almost like the race is unreal; you’re in a sort of trance at this point. When you’re at the front you are running on adrenaline, and when this sort of thing happens you start questioning things. The problem that we had with the car, Richard and I both thought it was a transmission problem, but it was part of the floor and diffuser. I feel sorry for the guys who had to rebuild the car around me. They’ve had a really tough night, and it’s been a tough race for everybody at Corvette Racing. When the 74 Corvette had a problem, the guys from 73 came over and helped out, and when 73 had a issue, the 74 crew was helping. It’s been all hands on deck, and that’s what is so marvelous about Corvette Racing. I’m proud to be part of this team.”

Tommy Milner, No. 74 Compuware Corvette C6.R: “Two big wrecks there. The first one, I tried to keep out of the Audi’s door; he was going quick, and I pinched the car down more than I wanted to and lost control. The second one, I really don’t know what happened – basically cold tires and I may have gotten on the curb. I wasn’t pushing, but I was a little nervous about the LMP cars. I feel bad for the guys.”

24 Hours of Le Mans GTE Pro at 18 Hours:

Pos./Car No./Drivers/Car/Laps

• 1. 51 Fisichella/Bruni/Vilander, Ferrari 458 Italia
• 2. 59 Makowiecki/Melo/Farnbacher, Ferrari 458 Italia
• 3. 97 Mucke/Turner/Fernandez, Aston Martin Vantage V8
• 4. 71 Bertolini/Beretta/Cioci, Ferrari 458 Italia
• 5. 73 Garcia/Magnussen/Taylor, Corvette C6.R
• 6. 74 Gavin/Milner/Westbrook, Corvette C6.R
• 7. 66 Cocker/Walker/Wills, Ferrari 458 Italia
• 8. 77 Lietz/Lieb/Henzler, Porsche 911 RSR
• 9. 80 Bergmeister/Long/Holzer, Porsche 911 RSR

Class-Leading No. 74 Corvette C6.R Suffers Mechanical Mishaps LE MANS, France, June 17, 2012 – The Corvettes were in control of the GTE Pro class, running first and third after 10 hours of racing when the class-leading No. 74 Corvette C6.R suffered a

LE MANS, France, June 17, 2012 – The Corvettes were in control of the GTE Pro class, running first and third after 10 hours of racing when the class-leading No. 74 Corvette C6.R suffered a sudden reversal of fortune. The No. 74 Corvette had taken the lead in the fifth hour, but after a routine pit stop and driver change, the No. 74 lost its left-rear tire. Driver Richard Westbrook nursed the car back to the pits, and the crews from both cars descended on the damaged machine. Ten minutes later it was back on track, having fallen from first to sixth in the standings. But the misfortune continued when Westbrook had to take evasive action in the first chicane on the Mulsanne Straight to avoid a car and eased into a tire barrier, damaging the nose and requiring another extended stay in the garage.

“Driving around with the left-rear wheel missing damaged the diffuser, so that was the major repair,” said team manager Gary Pratt. “We also changed the brakes, since that was scheduled to be done soon. We don’t know why the wheel came off – obviously the nut wasn’t tightened completely, but we don’t yet understand why that happened.

“Then as Richard came up on a car in the first chicane, the other driver checked up and Richard had to swerve to miss him and ended up in the tire barrier,” Pratt explained. “We changed the nose, and then saw that the previous incident had damaged the gearbox, so we changed that as well.”

The No. 73 Corvette C6.R moved up from fifth to third as Jan Magnussen, Antonio Garcia, and Jordan Taylor cycled through their stints.

When the first safety car period ended at the 6:14 mark, both Corvettes came to the pits for fuel, tires, and driver changes. Antonio Garcia went into the No. 73 Corvette and Oliver Gavin into the No. 74 Corvette. Gavin retained the lead over the No. 51 Ferrari, and Garcia emerged in fifth. In the next hour, Garcia moved up to third, while Gavin continued to lead. Shortly after eight hours of racing, Garcia committed to a third stint, pitting for fuel only. Gavin pitted after his double stint and handed over the No. 74 Corvette to Tommy Milner, who extended the gap to the No. 51 Ferrari in second place to more than 50 seconds before the fateful pit stop.

Antonio Garcia, No. 73 Compuware Corvette C6.R: “That was long – three hours! But it was a lot of fun as I was on the track together with Olly for most of the time. By also triple-stinting the tires we managed to gain some 16 seconds at each pit stop, while I only lost three seconds or so over an entire stint against the guys who’d put on new ones. Now I need some rest!”

Jordan Taylor, No. 73 Compuware Corvette C6.R: “It was tough out there. The first couple of laps of my second stint I had to adapt to the full tank again. I followed a couple of quicker guys around the track so I could learn more myself. The car is quick, but I don’t think we need all the speed it has just now as there are guys going off everywhere. We’re still only halfway.”

Oliver Gavin, No. 74 Compuware Corvette C6.R: “I was out in the car at good time, with the sun going down and the track cooling down a bit. The Michelin tires were working well, and I had a great battle with Melo in the Ferrari and also Antonio in our sister car. It was hard racing, hairy at times, measuring the risk versus reward trying to put them a lap down. After Melo got by me the second time, I decided to follow him and try to push him into making a mistake. We managed to get by him on the pit stop and then pull away on the second stint.”

24 Hours of Le Mans GTE Pro at 12 Hours:

Pos./Car No./Drivers/Car

• 1. 51 Fisichella/Bruni/Vilander, Ferrari 458 Italia
• 2. 59 Makowiecki/Melo/Farnbacher, Ferrari 458 Italia
• 3. 73 Garcia/Magnussen/Taylor, Corvette C6.R
• 4. 97 Mucke/Turner/Fernandez, Aston Martin Vantage V8
• 5. 77 Lietz/Lieb/Henzler, Porsche 911 RSR
• 6. 71 Bertolini/Beretta/Cioci, Ferrari 458 Italia
• 7. 66 Cocker/Walker/Wills, Ferrari 458 Italia
• 8. 74 Gavin/Milner/Westbrook, Corvette C6.R
• 9. 80 Bergmeister/Long/Holzer, Porsche 911 RSR

Opening Segment Features Fierce Fight Between Corvette, Aston Martin, and Ferrari LE MANS, France, June 16, 2012 – Corvette Racing led the GTE Pro class at the six-hour mark in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The No. 74 Compuware Corvette C6.R driven by Oliv

LE MANS, France, June 16, 2012 – Corvette Racing led the GTE Pro class at the six-hour mark in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The No. 74 Compuware Corvette C6.R driven by Oliver Gavin, Tommy Milner, and Richard Westbrook was in the middle of a three-way battle, trading the lead repeatedly with the No. 97 Aston Martin and the No. 51 Ferrari. The No. 73 Compuware Corvette of Jan Magnussen, Antonio Garcia, and Jordan Taylor fell back initially, and then rebounded to run fourth as the first quarter of the race ended.

Despite predictions of rain, the only precipitation was a light sprinkle at the start. The racing was interrupted at the five-hour mark by an extended safety car period following a huge crash involving the No. 8 Toyota and No. 81 Ferrari at the Mulsanne corner. The field continued to circulate behind three safety cars at the six-hour mark while the damaged cars were removed and the tire wall repaired.

Starting third on the GTE grid, Gavin quickly moved to challenge the class-leading Aston Martin on the first lap. He took the lead shortly after the first hour, and then traded places with his rival throughout his second stint. Tommy Milner took over at 1:49 mark and the battle resumed – with the addition of the No. 51 Ferrari that had started at the rear of the field after missing qualifying due to an accident. Milner also did a double stint, handing off to Richard Westbrook at the 3:43 into the race.

Jan Magnussen started the No. 73 Corvette C6.R fifth on the GTE grid, but handling problems caused him to drop back to seventh. Antonio Garcia went in on the first pit stop, and an adjustment changed the character of the car as the Spaniard moved up to fifth. Jordan Taylor began his first stint as a Le Mans racer at 2:44 into the race, followed by Magnussen at 3:34.

Jan Magnussen, No. 73 Compuware Corvette C6.R: “I had some serious understeer throughout my first stint coming out of the corners. Since we had some other issues in practice and qualifying we’re maybe a bit behind in the development of the best race setup. They’ve now adjusted the rear of the car a bit to see if that can cure the problem for Antonio. Personally I don’t feel too well as I woke up with a cold and some fever. I can more or less drive around it as the adrenaline sort of takes over as soon as you’re in the car, but I don’t feel good enough yet to do double stints.”

Antonio Garcia, No. 73 Compuware Corvette C6.R: “That was quite all right, I think. I knew from Jan’s feedback that I would have to work the car a bit harder than usual. I had some understeer which I tried to compensate for, but maybe I tried a bit too hard because the lap times were quite good. We then adjusted the pressure in the rear tires for my second stint on the same set, and that brought the car back into the comfort zone.”

Jordan Taylor, No. 73 Compuware Corvette C6.R: “I had a good stint, feeling more and more comfortable each lap. A slow puncture in the right-front tire messed with my head a bit, giving me understeer in the left-hand corners and snap oversteer in the right-hand corners. Other than that, no real issues, apart from two guys who held me up through Porsche Curves.”

Oliver Gavin, No. 74 Compuware Corvette C6.R: “As usual it was a bit chaotic at the start. I was side-by-side with the Aston Martin coming out of the last corner. The 59 Ferrari was a bit tentative, and the Aston Martin was just gone on the straight. I knew I had to get past the Ferrari before his tires came up to temperature. I followed the Aston for the next 11 laps or so; my Corvette was very good on the brakes and in low-speed parts, but he was fast on the straight and the high-speed sections. On the second stint he was having a problem getting his tires up to temperature and I got inside of him going into the second chicane, but then I started sliding around and he went back by me. The sun had come out and the track temp was going up, our tires were coming in, and the circuit was rubbering up, so I think we’ll be pretty good as the race continues.”

Tommy Milner, No. 74 Compuware Corvette C6.R: “It was a lot of fun out there! You could see that Darren and I were being very polite to each other, which is how it should be at this stage of the race. It’s more entertaining when you’re racing someone close, either chasing or being chased. Our Corvette felt really good, quite consistent, even though the track was a little greasy. As the temperature cooled off the car felt better. The Aston Martin was very quick on the straights but I could see that their setup is not quite right. The Ferrari was quite a way behind, so for them to get back to the front shows they are quick as well.”

24 Hours of Le Mans GTE Pro at Six Hours:

Pos./Car No./Drivers/Car/Laps

• 1. 74 Gavin/Milner/Westbrook, Corvette C6.R, 81
• 2. 51 Fisichella/Bruni/Vilander, Ferrari 458 Italia, 81
• 3. 77 Lietz/Lieb/Henzler, Porsche 911 RSR, 80
• 4. 73 Garcia/Magnussen/Taylor, Corvette C6.R, 80
• 5. 59 Makowiecki/Melo/Farnbacher, Ferrari 458 Italia, 80
• 6. 97 Mucke/Turner/Fernandez, Aston Martin Vantage V8, 80
• 7. 66 Cocker/Walker/Wills, Ferrari 458 Italia, 79
• 8. 71 Bertolini/Beretta/Cioci, Ferrari 458 Italia, 77
• 9. 80 Bergmeister/Long/Holzer, Porsche 911 RSR, 71

Online Video Streams from Two Corvette C6.Rs and Corvette Racing Garage to Enhance Live Coverage of 24 Hours of Le Mans

LE MANS, France, June 12, 2012 – Race fans in the U.S. will be able to ride along with Corvette Racing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the second consecutive year. SPEED’s coverage of the classic endurance race will include live video streams from the two Compuware Corvette C6.Rs as they navigate the immense 8.5-mile Circuit de la Sarthe on June 16-17. A third camera in the Corvette Racing garage will take viewers inside the world’s most prestigious sports car race.

This online coverage can be viewed exclusively by at www.speed.com/corvette. This website will also be the only place for fans in the U.S. to watch live coverage of the 24 Hours of Le Mans while SPEED broadcasts other programming from 1:00-2:30 p.m. ET and 7:00-7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 16.

Race fans can also follow the team with real-time updates on Twitter @CorvetteRacing.

One year ago the No. 73 Compuware Corvette took SPEED viewers from the green flag to the checkered flag and a victory in the GTE Pro category. With cameras mounted in both Corvettes this year, viewers will be able to watch the action from two perspectives.

“Last year Corvette Racing gave fans the ride of a lifetime,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet U.S. Vice President for Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “They were in the cockpit through twilight and darkness, the early-morning rain showers that made the track so difficult, Tommy Milner’s thrilling pass for the lead, and Antonio Garcia bringing home Corvette Racing’s seventh win at Le Mans. Now we are very proud to provide fans with even more opportunities to experience the magic of Le Mans and to see Corvette take on a field of world-class competitors in the most demanding sports car race on the planet.”

SPEED and SPEED.com will provide 25 total hours of continuous broadcast coverage starting on Saturday, June 15, at 8:30 a.m. ET, including pre- and post-race activities.

24 Hours of Le Mans Live Coverage Schedule

(All times Eastern; schedule subject to change)

Saturday, June 16

Le Mans 24 Hours (The Start) 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (Live)

Le Mans 24 Hours 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. (Live; SPEED.com)

Le Mans 24 Hours 2:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. (Live)

Le Mans 24 Hours 7:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. (Live; SPEED.com)

Le Mans 24 Hours 7:30 p.m. – Midnight (Live)

Sunday, June 17

Le Mans 24 Hours (The Finish) Midnight – 9:30 a.m. (Live)

Chevrolet Team Aims for Eighth Victory in 24 Hours of Le Mans

LE MANS, France, June 11, 2012 – Corvette Racing comes into the 80th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans as the defending champion in the GTE Pro category. Last year the No. 73 Compuware Corvette C6.R driven by Tommy Milner, Antonio Garcia, and Olivier Beretta scored a come-from-behind victory to capture Corvette Racing’s seventh class title in the world’s biggest sports car race.

Ranked by National Geographic as the world’s top sporting event (http://on.natgeo.com/Mn2hyg), the 24 Hours of Le Mans is a contest of skill, speed, and stamina that overshadows the Olympic Games, World Cup Soccer, and the Super Bowl according to this prestigious publication. Now Corvette Racing, the most successful team in the history of the American Le Mans Series, is ready to take on the challenge of the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the 13th consecutive year. With updated Corvette C6.R race cars and a revised driver roster, Corvette Racing is primed for the long-running battle at the Circuit de la Sarthe. The competition will again be formidable in the GTE Pro category with factory-supported teams representing Ferrari, Porsche, and Aston Martin.

The twin Corvette C6.Rs have been updated in accordance with the ACO rulebook since the team’s last appearance at Le Mans. They are two inches wider than the preceding version, with corresponding changes in bodywork and suspension to complement the increased track width. The rear wing is mounted 75mm higher than last year and the Michelin tires have been optimized for the Corvette chassis. The 5.5-liter Chevrolet small-block V-8s are equipped with intake air restrictors that are .4mm larger than in 2011.

“The engineering team ran extensive computer simulations to evaluate the effects of a wider body,” said Corvette Racing team manager Gary Pratt. “There is a fine balance between the aerodynamic drag produced by a larger frontal area and the handling improvements that come with a wider track. We expected that the wider body would be better at many of the circuits in the U.S., and the simulations indicated that it would be an improvement at Le Mans as well.

“Although Le Mans is a big, high-speed track, a significant percentage of the lap is spent cornering and braking,” Pratt explained. “With the chicanes on the Mulsanne Straight and fast corners like the Porsche Curves, the wide-body design is beneficial.”

The driver lineup has been shuffled as well. Antonio Garcia and Jan Magnussen are teamed with third driver Jordan Taylor in the No. 73 Compuware Corvette C6.R. Tommy Milner has moved to the No. 74 Compuware Corvette C6.R alongside Oliver Gavin and Richard Westbrook. These six drivers have a combined total of 12 class victories at Le Mans.

“I’m really looking forward to this year’s Le Mans with all of the new developments on the car,” said Magnussen, a four-time Le Mans winner. “I think we have a better understanding and feel for the car than last year, and it seems to be more stable. Le Mans is about a lot of things – top speed is only one of them. I’m confident that we will be able to go to the front again.”

“I think we are in a really good position,” said Garcia, who notched his third Le Mans win last year. “I’m happy to be back with Jan because we won together in 2009, and it will be good to have Jordan in the car. From what we have seen in testing, the car is more predictable and that should give us the opportunity to be a touch more relaxed – although at Le Mans, ‘relaxed’ is not the word!”

The race is not always to the swift, as was proven again last year. The No. 73 Corvette was one lap down when an accident sidelined the class-leading No. 74 Corvette in the early morning hours, but endurance and an error-free run carried the day for Chevrolet. Milner made the pass for the lead with two hours to go, and Garcia brought the Corvette home in first place.

“Being consistent and not making mistakes are crucial at Le Mans,” said Milner, who scored his breakthrough first victory with Corvette Racing at Le Mans. “Last year we didn’t have the fastest car in the class, but it was consistent. The team didn’t make any errors, and when our competition had just one small issue, it put them on the back foot. If the speed is there, that’s great – but the way to win it is to stop only for fuel, tires and driver changes. That will put you in the best position at the end of the race.”

Oliver Gavin has competed 11 times at Le Mans, winning four times. After a streak of three straight wins with Magnussen and Beretta in 2004-06, he’s been denied another victory by accidents and mechanical problems that were beyond his control. The Englishman’s experience has given him perspective on the race.

“This race is like no other,” Gavin said. “It’s exceptionally long, exceptionally tough, and high pressure for everybody in the team. It’s a highly charged atmosphere in that pit box for the entire 24 hours. You just cannot let up, take your eye off the ball for a single moment, or the 24 Hours of Le Mans will bite you. You must be smart, be consistent, and use your head.”

As the 24 Hours of Le Mans celebrates its milestone 80th running and Chevrolet celebrates 60 years of Corvette production, the stage is set for another classic race in the French countryside.

Corvette Racing’s next event is the 24 Hours of Le Mans in Le Mans, France, on June 16-17. The race will start Saturday at 3 p.m. local time (9 a.m. ET). SPEED and SPEED.com will provide 25 hours of continuous coverage starting at 8:30 a.m. ET on June 16.

Gavin Sets the Pace in GTE Pro in No. 74 Corvette C6.R; Taylor Walks Away from Encounter with Tire Wall in No. 73 Corvette C6.R

LE MANS, France, June 3, 2012 – Corvette Racing ended the Le Mans Test Day first and fourth in the GTE Pro category. Oliver Gavin ran the quickest lap in the two four-hour sessions at 3:58.971 in the No. 74 Compuware Corvette C6.R, more than half a second quicker than the car’s qualifying pace last year. The No. 73 Compuware Corvette C6.R covered the 8.5-mile circuit in 4:00.062, the fourth fastest time in the production-based class, before being sidelined by an encounter with a tire wall.

“We made some changes to the suspension and gearbox, and the track was coming in,” said Gavin after his fast lap. “The balance of the car was good. We didn’t get a run on new tires because of rain and yellow flags, but the tires were reasonably fresh and I wanted to see what we could do. I think the chassis is very close and the engine department is making big steps forward. I’m with the best team in the pit lane and the crew has done a stellar job of preparing the cars.”

At the top of the team’s to-do list was qualifying rookie Jordan Taylor to drive the No. 73 Corvette at Le Mans. After co-driving the GT class-winning Camaro GT.R in the Chevrolet Grand-Am Detroit 200 on Saturday, the 21-year-old racer took an overnight flight to Paris and then hopped on a helicopter to Le Mans. He arrived at the circuit just before the start of the afternoon session at 2 p.m., and promptly completed his required 10 laps.

Taylor’s Le Mans debut then ended abruptly in the tire wall at the entrance to the Porsche Curves. Taylor was uninjured, but the No. 73 Corvette had right-side body damage and did not return for the remainder of the afternoon session.

“Racing takes you from the highest highs to the lowest lows,” Taylor said. “I was living the dream, driving at Le Mans, and the dream just ends when you lose it like that. I know the crew can put the car back together, but it shouldn’t have happened.

“I was only supposed to get my 10 laps in and I guess I got a bit greedy trying to learn the track and get up to speed quicker,” he explained. “My times were coming down every lap, but I went for it in the Porsche Curves and it caught me out. The hit felt bigger than it was, so I’m glad about that, but I feel terrible for everyone.”

Before the accident, Taylor’s co-drivers Jan Magnussen and Antonio Garcia put the No. 73 Corvette close to the 4-minute mark on a day that saw a mix of rain, sun, clouds and blue sky.

“All’s good,” Garcia said. “We have been trying different things today, getting the 2012-spec car dialed in to this track. At Le Mans, every lap always counts, even if it rains for a while. You never know what the weather and track conditions will be in qualifying and the race, so you try to get as much information today to work with next week when it matters. Compared to last year, the new car is a major improvement.”

Magnussen agreed: “Overall we’re in much better shape than last year at the same time thanks to the development the team did over winter,” he said. “The balance is very good and the car is user-friendly which is important in a long race. The starting point is the best I’ve had in a long time, and I’m really happy.”

Richard Westbrook, third driver in the No. 74 Corvette, was unable to attend the Test Day, but Gavin and Tommy Milner are confident that the car will suit all of its drivers. “It’s always good when your car number is on the top of the timing screen,” Milner said. “Compared to last year, the driveability of the car is better and the speed is there. This team is working very well together – the engineers, the crew, and the drivers are all in tune and have the same mindset. When race week arrives, we can focus on getting into a rhythm, getting Richard comfortable in the car, and go on from there.”

Team manager Gary Pratt, a veteran of 12 Le Mans campaigns with Corvette Racing, knows what to expect at this race. “This place will jump up and bite you in a hurry,” Pratt said. “That’s the first mistake I’ve seen Jordan make. Tire walls look like they do a lot of damage, but it’s mostly exterior panels so it’s not a big deal. We’ll have the No. 73 Corvette fixed and be ready to go again.

“All of the drivers are really comfortable with the cars,” Pratt noted. “They feel they can be aggressive and attack the course. That’s a great way to have a car to start the race. We may sacrifice a little on the straightaway to have the cars good in the corners, and I think that’s better for the race.”

Corvette Racing’s next event is the 24 Hours of Le Mans in Le Mans, France, on June 16-17. The 80th running of the Le Mans 24 Hours will begin with technical scrutineering on Sunday and Monday, June 10-11, followed by practice and qualifying on Wednesday, June 13, and Thursday, June 14. The race will start Saturday at 3 p.m. local time (9 a.m. ET). SPEED and SPEED.com will provide continuous coverage starting at 8:30 a.m. ET on June 16; see local listings for program times.

24 Hours of Le Mans Test Day GTE-Pro Results

Pos./Car No./Drivers/Car

• 1. 74 Gavin/Milner/Westbrook, Corvette C6.R, 3:58.971
• 2. 59 Makowiecki/Melo/Farnbacher, Ferrari 458 Italia, 3:59.050
• 3. 51 Fisichella/Bruni/Vilander, Ferrari 458 Italia, 3:59.392
• 4. 73 Garcia/Magnussen/Taylor, Corvette C6.R, 4:00.062
• 5. 80 Bergmeister/Long/Holzer, Porsche 911 RSR, 4:00.287
• 6. 77 Lietz/Lieb/Henzler, Porsche 911 RSR, 4:00.356
• 7. 71 Bertolini/Beretta/Cioci, Ferrari 458 Italia, 4:00.690
• 8. 97 Mucke/Turner/Fernandez, Aston Martin Vantage V8, 4:00.892

CHEVROLET DETROIT BELLE ISLE GRAND PRIX

THE RACEWAY AT BELLE ISLE PARK

TEAM CHEVY DRIVER POST RACE NOTES AND QUOTES

JUNE 2, 2012

Chevrolet Corvette DP and Camaro GT.R Score Hometown Wins in GRAND-AM Rolex Series

DETROIT (June 2, 2012) — Chevrolet swept both classes in the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle GRAND-AM 200 on The Raceway at Belle Isle Park on Saturday: Darren Law and Joao Barbosa drove the No. 9 Action Express Racing Corvette Daytona Prototype to victory in the DP class, and Jordan Taylor and Paul Edwards won in the No. 88 Autohaus Motorsports Camaro GT.R in the GT category.

Law and Barbosa started fourth and finished 0.440 seconds ahead of their Action Express Racing teammates Terry Borcheller and David Donohue for their first victory of the season, and the fourth in five races this year for the Corvette DP.

“Sweeping both the Daytona Prototype and Grand Touring races at Belle Isle, in the shadow of its world headquarters, makes this a very special day for Chevrolet Racing,” said Jim Lutz, Chevrolet Grand-Am Program Manager. “Joao Barbosa and Darren Law both drove extremely well on a course that is not very forgiving, and they needed that effort in order to outpace their Action Express teammates, Terry Borcheller and David Donohue.”

The No. 9 Action Express Corvette DP led a race-high 21 of the 72 laps of the two-hour race.

“Winning at Detroit with the Corvette — it can’t be better than this,” Barbosa said. “Being part of the Action Express crew, I have no words.”

“You know what? If I bit my nails I would have no nails left,” Law, who started, said about being a spectator at the end of the race. “I was going crazy, but Joao did a stellar job. I have to thank all the crew and Action Express and also to win this in Detroit in front of Chevy’s headquarters, this is unbelievable. I’m just super happy.”

Jon Fogarty and Alex Gurney started on the pole and led the first 19 laps, but a wreck while leaving pit road on lap 36 caused damage and left the No. 10 GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing Corvette DP with a 10th-place-in-class finish.

The No. 90 Spirit of Daytona Corvette DP, driven by Michael Valiente and Richard Westbrook, briefly led before it, too, was involved in a wreck that caused damage, leaving it with a ninth-in-class finish.

In GT, Taylor and Edwards started fourth in class en route to their first win of 2012.

“How cool is it do be driving that Chevrolet Camaro right in Detroit in the hometown of Chevrolet and General Motors?” Edwards said. “You can actual see the world headquarters right from the race track. It’s an awesome win.”

The No. 88 Autohaus Motorsports Camaro GT.R led a class-best 35 laps.

“What a tremendous win for Autohaus Motorsports, too, with Jordan Taylor and Paul Edwards in the No. 88 Camaro GT.R.,” Lutz said. “This Belle Isle course is very tight, and Taylor and Edwards had to race their way to the front under very competitive conditions. What an impressive effort.”

Taylor, who left to compete at Le Mans right after the race, said this was a great way to start a very busy month.

“The month of June will be packed for me, but it’s great to start off with a win for Camaro and Autohaus Motorsports,” Taylor said. “The guys have been doing a great job all year. It’s just been little things that have been biting us and this is great to finally get that win.”

John Edwards and Robin Liddell started first in class en route to a third-place finish in the No. 57 Stevenson Motorsports Camaro GT.R.

In the Manufacturers’ Standings, Chevrolet leads DP by 17 points, and moved from fourth to second in GT, just six points off the pace.

Next on the schedule for Team Chevy will be EMCO Gears 200, June 8-9 at Mid Ohio Sports Car Course.

DRIVER QUOTES:

JOAO BARBOSA, NO. 9 ACTION EXPRESS CORVETTE DP – RACE WINNER – DP AND OVERALL – YOU TALK ABOUT A STREET FIGHT NOT ONLY WAS IT DIFFICULT WITH THE TRAFFIC, YOU HAD TO OVERCOME A LITTLE BIT OF EMOTION I KNOW YOU GOT A LITTLE HOT IN THE CAR THERE ON PIT LANE, THE RAIN WAS COMING, THIS ONE WAS SPECIAL I ASSUME?

“It was special. I don’t know what kind of controversy you are talking about (laughter). Everything was normal we were first, and then we start in the back just to make our life more difficult (laughs). I cannot say enough. Winning at Detroit with the Corvette it can’t be better than this. Being part of the Action Express crew, I have no words.”

TELL US HOW THE RACE WENT FOR YOU: “This was a very interesting race. We definitely had a great car. Action Express did a great job. We have been very close to be here some of the previous races. For one reason or the other that just didn’t happen. Everything seems to work out really perfect around here. The car was good. We were pretty fast and I was able to go to the lead at one point without really realizing it I was at the back of the field. After that restart I told my guys this is going to be a rough ride up because Detroit is definitely not an easy place to over think. The car was so good and we were really motivated to give a good result to Chevy here in Detroit. Everything from that point on, everything seemed to fall our way. I was able to make the move during traffic around David (Donohue) going into turn one. Otherwise that would be really difficult to overtake. I think our cars at that point were really close. I was just able to read the traffic a little bit ahead and I was able to make the move for the win with a few minutes to go. I’m really proud to just be part of this organization the Action Express guys did just a fantastic job through the whole week.”

DARREN LAW, NO. 9 ACTION EXPRESS CORVETTE DP – RACE WINNER – DP AND OVERALL: YOU STARTED THE CAR WE TALKED ABOUT HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS IN TRAFFIC WAS IT MORE DIFFICULT IN THE CAR OR STANDING WATCHING THAT LAST HALF HOUR?

“You know what if I bit my nails I would have no nails left. I was going crazy, but Joao (Barbosa) did a stellar job. I have to thank all the crew and Action Express and also to win this in Detroit in front of Chevy’s headquarters this is unbelievable. I’m just super happy.”

TELL US ABOUT YOUR RUN: “We are really very proud. We knew we had a good car coming into the race. Actually both cars, so it’s great for Action Express to finally get a win and actually put both cars on the podium together one-two that is really cool for us. It is great to do it here at Chevrolet’s headquarters in the Corvette. As far as the race goes for me I did not have the best of starts. I had a good opening stint once we got rolling. The car was good and really we did the same as everybody kind of came in on that first yellow and Joao (Barbosa, co-driver) got in and had a great run. He did a stellar job and drove it all the way to the front. In the middle of the race there we did have a little mix up with officiating which I was pretty upset about, but we pulled it out and had a great run. I’m happy for everybody.”

DAVID DONOHUE, NO. 5 ACTION EXPRESS CORVETTE DP – 2ND PLACE FINISHER – DP AND OVERALL: YOU ARE NOT THAT HAPPY, TELL US ABOUT YOUR DAY: “Well I mean we were giving it a hard run at it. Going up into turn one, Joao (Barbosa) did not give me much room it was a little bit of a hairy move I thought, but it’s great for Action Express. Coming in one-two I’m really happy for the team. This is long overdue, I’ve been saying this team is ready to break out and hopefully this is the time. To do it in the 60th anniversary colors of Corvette at a Chevy sponsored race here in Detroit it’s fantastic.”

TERRY BORCHELLER, NO. 5 ACTION EXPRESS CORVETTE DP – 2ND PLACE FINISHER – DP AND OVERALL: “Well the start was good for us in the No. 5 car. It was a great race. Our cars were good. The No. 5 car was really strong. David did a fantastic job at the end. The No. 9 car was just a little stronger today, but it was a good race.”

JORDAN TAYLOR, NO. 88 AUTOHAUS CAMARO GT.R – RACE WINNER – GT CLASS: ON THE RACE:”It was a good race. Everyone came into the race a little bit blind. We only got limited time running in the blind. I think whoever off-loaded from the truck the best was going to have a good shot at it and we definitely had that. Thanks to Autohaus and Pratt and Miller.

“For the race itself, I’d only done about three laps in the dry conditions and four in the wet, so, that first restart was a bit wild. I just kinda saw someone brake and tried go a little bit deeper to get around them, and kind of judge it off that. Once I got in the lead, I was kind of lost for the first few. It was really great for the Autohaus guys because that first pit stop got us that track position. I think we were running third for fourth for the first stint. And then we jumped to the lead of the guys that made that first stop; two guys stayed out, so we were really third. But, we were able to get around a few guys and keep that track position through the end of the race.”

DO YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS GOING FROM DETROIT TO (LE MANS) FRANCE (TO QUALIFY AND RUN THE 24 HOURS OF LE MANS): “My only concern is making the flight. Once I get there I will be ok. I have a flight tonight to Paris and helicopter to the track. I’ll make it for only about three hours of practice at Le Mans. Then I fly back on Tuesday for Mid Ohio. Then we play a game of golf we’ve arranged in Mid Ohio, and race Mid Ohio. Fly back to France the day after Mid Ohio and the fly back the day after France for Road America. So, it is a good way to start June with this win.”

PAUL EDWARDS, NO. 88 AUTOHAUS CAMARO GT.R, RACE WINNER – GT CLASS: ON THE RACE: “I am just really happy for the team today. Being right here in the backyard of General Motors and Chevrolet, it is our first win of the year Camaro, so obviously a big day. Just overall, just a great weekend. Everyone did a great job. It is good for the team going into Mid Ohio, we really needed a win after some of the results that got taken away from us the last couple of races. Hopefully this will get us back in the groove.”

YOU KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO WIN HERE IN DETROIT HOW IMPORTANT THAT BOWTIE VICTORY HERE IS AT DETROIT: “Yeah it means everything. How cool is it do be driving that Chevrolet Camaro right in Detroit in the hometown of Chevrolet and General Motors, you can actual see the world headquarters right from the race track. Really big day for us, really big day for the team, the momentum is there for Mid-Ohio it’s an awesome win.”

JOHN EDWARDS, NO. 57 STEVENSON MOTORSPORTS CAMARO GT.R, FINISHED 3RD (GT): ON QUALIFYING: ON THE RACE: “I quite enjoyed this track. My stint was far less eventful than Robin’s, although when we caught a slower DP when I was behind the Ferrari, that was the only chance I knew I had to get by him because the Ferrari was obviously very quick. Tried to take advantage of it and kind of cut down on a corner when Guy (Cosmo) got held up. Got along side of him a couple of times, but couldn’t make it happen. Then we just watched him drive away. Fortunately we were ahead of all the people that mattered as far as the championship is concerned. So, felt like we were in a pretty good spot. On the first pit stop, we lost a couple of spots, and Robin drove hard and made up a little bit of that. Once he got close to the No. 70 car and Jordan (Taylor), being so similar on times, it was going to be pretty hard to make a move on the tight streets.”

ROBIN LIDDELL, NO. 57 STEVENSON MOTORSPORTS CAMARO GT.R, FINISHED 3RD (GT): “Pretty much what John said really. We knew track position was going to be pretty critical, so we were bit annoyed with ourselves. I think we dropped the positions in the first stop. John had a good opening stint. We knew he really wouldn’t have anything for the Ferrari. The No. 03 just checked out, took a massive lead and then just backed up. To be honest, had they executed a good race, I think they would have run away with it. But, fortunately for the rest of us, the racing was very close and competitive. A lot of came down to the pit stops and keeping the track position. The guys ahead of use certainly were running really hard. There were a lot of incidents out there as well. There was a lot of damage and carnage all over the place. Some of those restarts and opening laps following restarts were pretty hectic. But, fortunately we all managed to keep it in one piece. We are happy enough to be on the podium so it is a good result for points for the championship.”