Corvette storms back from 90 second deficit to claim GT Victory
SEBRING, Fl. (March 16, 2013) – The 2013 American Le Mans Series season opened as the past 14 ALMS seasons have started, with an exciting Michelin victory in the 12 Hours of Sebring.
Michelin and its technical partner teams used the broad performance range and consistency of Michelin tires and the support of their embedded Michelin tire engineers to handle the changing track conditions on the notoriously bumpy 3.74 mile airport circuit.
Michelin teams claimed the overall race victory, all three open class victories, and the top seven positions overall as Michelin extended its Sebring victory string to 15 consecutive years.
There were perfect weather conditions, close competition, new track records, and a great crowd for the 61st Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, the final appearance for the exotic Audi P1 prototypes. Audi didn’t disappoint as the defending Le Mans 24 Hour race champions scored their 11th Sebring victory in the past 14 years.
Racing an exotic Audi R18 e-tron Quattro hybrid combining a turbodiesel engine with electric wheel motors energized by a flywheel storage unit, the Audi #1 driven by Marcel Fassler, Benoit Treluyer and Oliver Jarvis completed 364 laps, (xxxx miles) to claim a 7.67 second victory over Audi teammates Tom Kristensen, Allan McNish and Lucas di Grassi.
Corvette Stages Dramatic Comeback:
Corvette Racing’s 2012 ALMS GT champions Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner stormed back to claim the GT class victory after a penalty for avoidable contact to co-driver Richard Westbrook dropped them from the GT class lead to seventh place, nearly 90 seconds behind with less than a quarter of the race remaining.
Gavin and Milner relentlessly narrowed the gap without benefit of a caution period and Milner finally took the lead from the Risi Competizione Ferrari with less than 10 minutes remaining.
Michelin Comments:
“We had a great race. Winning all three classes at Sebring is a perfect way to start the 2013 season,” said Ken Payne, technical director, motorsports, Michelin North America. “We are pleased that the P1 Audi, Rebellion Toyota and Muscle Milk Pickett Honda teams all ran very well.
• In the P2 class, Michelin tires were able to deliver consistent performance that allowed the Level 5 teams to claim a 1-2 class finish. Both Level 5 and the Extreme Speed Motorsports team were able to double and even triple-stint their Michelin tires.
• The GT class competition saw Michelin technical partner teams from Aston Martin, BMW Team RLL, SRT Viper, Risi Competizione Ferrari and Corvette Racing all lead the race at one time or another and the final Michelin technical partner Paul Miller Racing Porsche ran second at times.
The next stop on the 2013 American Le Mans Series is the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, April 20th in Long Beach, California.
No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R Brings 8th 12-Hour Victory to Corvette Racing
SEBRING, Fla., (March 16, 2013) – Tommy Milner made a late pass for the lead and then held on for the final 15 minutes as the No. 4 GT Compuware Corvette C6.R won the American Le Mans Series GT class 61st Annual Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring at Sebring International Raceway on Saturday.
The No. 4 Corvette C6.R – driven by 2012 Drivers’ champions Milner and Oliver Gavin, and Richard Westbrook – overcame an early electrical issue and two key penalties to win the 2013 ALMS opener. It is Gavin’s fifth victory at Sebring; Milner and Westbrook each recorded his first.
“What an incredible effort by Corvette Racing; these guys never gave up,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet U.S. Vice-President for Performance Vehicles & Motorsports. “They came from behind multiple times. It was a focused team effort, with great driving and great calls in the pits, and great pits stops, and they delivered a big win. I’m proud of them.”
The No. 3 GT Compuware Corvette C6.R – driven by Antonio Garcia, Jan Magnussen and Jordan Taylor – retired with just over three hours remaining due to an overheated gearbox. The team, which also experienced an electrical issue early in the race, finished in 11th place in class, 120 laps off the pace in class.
Milner took over for Gavin with two hours to go and the No. 4 Corvette C6.R the No. 62 Ferrari F458 Italia by about one minute; when he pitted with an hour remaining, he was about a half minute behind.
“Those guys had an unreal pit stop at the end,” Milner said. “We were about a minute back and then 35 seconds at the next pit stop, and then we were 14 seconds back. And once I got to see him, I thought, ‘Here we go. I’ve got a chance here.’ Once I got close to him, he went wide in one and I knew he was pushing hard and he kept making mistakes, and that was it, that was the moment.”
“Really, it came down to when Tommy got on the back bumper of the leader, and that’s when I thought this is when we can really make this happen,” Gavin said. “Tommy was relentless – chasing him down, chasing him down, putting the pressure on. It was a spectacular victory for everybody at Corvette Racing. I’m really delighted.”
Gavin qualified second in the No. 4 Corvette C6.R, and on the very first lap gained the lead. The team was still out front in its class when, nearing the race’s third hour, Westbrook reported that smoke was coming from the dashboard.
“It was clear that we had a good car from the beginning, and then when I had that problem with the dashboard, which put us two laps down – it took a few yellows and some great stints by these two to get us back into position on the lead lap,” Westbrook said. “The pit stops and Tommy’s stint was just amazing at the end, and on balance I thought we deserved it, and we did it the hard way.”
Corvette Racing, which last year won the ALMS Manufacturers’ and Team championships, earned its ALMS-leading 78th all-time victory.
“You can’t start a better way,” Gavin said. “We had a very good year last year in the championship. We didn’t have a great Sebring last year, but this win just puts us up there straightaway, leading the championship off the bat. Tommy and I just sort of picked up where we left off last year, which is exactly what we wanted to do. Proud of all the guys at Corvette Racing today. They nailed every single stop. It was spectacular to watch.”
The No. 3 Corvette C6.R started fifth but experienced a couple of problems early. Garcia accidently ran into the back of a slower car which was in the middle of the track, and incurred a 60-second penalty, then he reported problems with downshifting. Starting on lap 20, the car three times came in for repairs – which included changing the gearbox, steering wheel and electronics.
The car is very, very good, it’s just a shame that we’re so far back,” Taylor said after his first stint. “We have a very competitive car.” The team used its remaining time on track as a test session before its night ended early.
GT Class, 61st Annual Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring
1. #4 Chevrolet Corvette C6.R (Gavin/Milner/Westbrook), 333 laps
2. #62 Ferrari F458 Italia (Bruni/Beretta/Malucelli), 333 laps
3. #17 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (Henzler/Sellers/Tandy), -1 lap
4. #55 BMW Z4 GTE (Auberlin/Martín/J. Muller), -3 laps
5. #91 SRT Viper GTS-R (Dalziel/Farnbacher/Goossens), -4 laps
6. #48 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (Miller/Holzer/Lietz), -4 laps
7. #56 BMW Z4 GTE (D. Muller/Hand/Edwards), -12 laps
8. #97 Aston Martin Vantage V8 (Turner/Mucke/Senna), -15 laps
9. #007 Aston Martin Vantage V8 (Della Lana/Johnson/Lamy), -26 laps
10. #93 SRT Viper GTS-R (Bomarito/Kendall/Wittmer), -30 laps
DID YOU KNOW? Both the 2014 Corvette Stingray coupe and convertible are powered by the new LT1 6.2L V-8, with an estimated 450-hp and 450 lb-ft of torque. As no structural reinforcements are required for the convertible, both models share almost identical power-to-weight ratios. The LT1 combines several advanced technologies, including direct injection, Active Fuel Management and continuously variable valve timing to support an advanced combustion system designed to balance power and efficiency.
CORVETTE RACING & TEAM CHEVY SOCIAL MEDIA: Connect with Corvette Racing and Team Chevy on social media. Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TeamChevy, follow us on Twitter @CorvetteRacing and @TeamChevy, and add +TeamChevy into your Google+ circles
CORVETTE RACING FOR THE FANS AT SEBRING INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY:
• Fans can visit the Corvette Racing Display in the Sebring International Raceway in the midway area, and the Chevrolet Ride and Drive will be located in the Skid Pad.
• Fans can check out great Chevrolet vehicles including: 2014 Silverado, 2014 Impala, Volt, Malibu, Traverse LTZ, Sonic Hatchback and Spark.
• On Saturday, March 16, fans will be able to see the C7 Corvette Stingray at the display.
• Fans can see a sample of engines, parts and accessories available for purchase from Chevrolet at their local Chevrolet dealer.
• Other activities at the Corvette Racing Display include a variety of interactive games for adults and kids.
• Display hours of operation: Thurs. March 14th – 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.; Fri. March 15th – 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Sat. March 16th – 8:00 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
• Ride and Drive hours of operation: Fri. March 15th 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Sat. March 16th 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
CORVETTE RACING IN AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES (ALMS) COMPETITION:
• Corvette Racing has 85 ALMS class victories, making it the most successful team in American Le Mans Series history.
• Corvette Racing has nine Manufacturer and Team Championships, and eight Drivers Championships.
• They were the Michelin Green X Challenge GT Manufacturer and Team Champions in 2012.
CHEVROLET ON THE TRACK—SEBRING INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY:
• Chevrolet drivers have seven Sebring 12-Hour class wins at Sebring International Raceway (2002-04, 2006-09).
• Corvette Racing drivers finished 1-2 in the Sebring 12-Hour race three times (2007-09).
• Corvette Racing has qualified first in class 9 times at Sebring.
• 2013 marks Corvette’s 57th year in international road racing. John Fitch and Walt Hansgen drove a Corvette to a Class B victory at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1956, the first step onto the world stage that established Chevy’s sports car as a contender in top-level competition.
CORVETTE RACING at SEBRING INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY – DOUG FEHAN, Corvette Racing Program Manager
“Sebring has so much importance and not just from an historic perspective. You have to remember it is the inaugural race of the 2013 ALMS season. Every manufacturer has worked all winter to present their most competitive product to both their fans and their adversaries. Along with all this, it is Corvette’s 60th Anniversary year and all of the world will be watching. Don’t forget, when you are the reigning champions, everyone has you in their sights. This year’s 12 Hours of Sebring has the potential to be a monumental battle and all of us at Corvette Racing are fully prepared to defend our crown.”
Chevrolet American Le Mans Series Statistics
Manufacturers and Team Championships
Total (2001-2008, 2012): 9
24 Hours of Le Mans Class Wins
Total (2001-02, 2004-06, 2009, 2011): 7
Drivers Championships
Total (2002-2008, 2012): 8
2012 Event Victories
(Long Beach, Laguna Seca, Mid-Ohio, Virgina International Raceway): 4
Last weekend was the 12 Hours of Sebring, and Corvette Racing staged an absolutely phenomenal comeback from problems and penalties to win the GT class at Sebring. It was the drive of the race. Before the race, Corvette driver Tommy Milner strapped a camera onto his helmet to give you a look at the track through his eyes.
The Corvette had a pretty neat piece of tech added to its arsenal at Sebring: A radar rear camera. If you watch it, you’ll see arrows pop up to warn of cars coming as wella s what side they’ll be on.
Note: it is said that the C7 will be at the Corvette corral in Sebring!
Gates open Tomorrow!
Gates will open Wednesday morning for the 61st running of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring fueled by Fresh from Florida. America’s premier sports car endurance race runs on Saturday beginning at 10:45 am. A variety of tickets are still available at the gate.
For more information visit sebringraceway.com.
Audi, Corvette Fastest
in First Test Day
Lucas di Grassi set the fastest time for Audi in the opening day of testing for the 61st Sebring with a lap of 1:46.262 (126.706 mph) in the No. 2 Audi R18 e-tron quattro hybrid prototype.
The Brazilian, a past Formula One regular and current test driver for Pirelli, drives in the U.S. for the first time in 19 years when the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón opens its season Saturday at the famed Sebring circuit.
Di Grassi’s lap in the second of Monday’s four-hour session at Sebring International Raceway was 0.199 seconds clear of Rebellion Racing’s No. 12 Lola B12/60-Toyota. It’s best time of 1:46.461 (126.469 mph) came in the morning portion of testing. Nico Prost, Nick Heidfeld and Neel Jani are in the No. 12 entry.
Muscle Milk Pickett Racing’s Honda Performance Development ARX-03a was third quickest at 1:47.157 (125.647 mph) – set in the afternoon. Klaus Graf, Lucas Luhr and Romain Dumas drive the No. 6 car.
Corvette Racing, looking for its first Sebring victory since 2009, led GT with a 1:59.411 (112.753 mph) for the No. 4 Corvette C6 ZR1 of defending ALMS class champions Tommy Milner and Oliver Gavin, and Richard Westbrook. Aston Martin Racing’s No. 97 Aston Martin Vantage was second at 1:59.969 (112.229 mph); Darren Turner, Stefan Mucke and Bruno Senna share driving duties.
Sebring TV Coverage
Returns to SPEED
More than 10 hours of coverage of
America’s toughest endurance race
The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón returns to SPEED Saturday for its 2013 season opener. Television’s leading motorsport channel will air 10.5 hours of the 61st Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh From Florida.
Bob Varsha, Calvin Fish, Dorsey Schroeder, Brian Till, Johnny O’Connell and Justin Bell will call the action from the commentary booth at Sebring Raceway. Roving the pitlane will be reporters Jamie Howe, Kelli Stavast, Chris Neveill and Andrew Marriott.
SPEED begins its coverage with a pre-race show at 10:30 a.m. ET with the green flag set for 10:45. After a one-hour break at noon, SPEED returns to Sebring from 1 to 7:30 p.m. and airs the final three hours of the race from 10:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.
The 61st running of the 12hrs of Sebring will be one for the record books. This will be the last one before the North American sportscar merger of the ALMS and Grand-Am.
The Competition
-#17 Falken Tires Porsche 911 RSR: The duo of Brian Sellers and Wolf Henzler are back with a 3rd driver TBD. These guys showed they were no joke last season, but have had a harder time in the long endurance events.
-#23 Team West/ARJ Ferrari 458: These two teams have come together with drivers Bill Sweedler and Townsend Bell. This Pro/Am duo probably won’t be in contention for a podium, but it’s great to see them on the track putting on a show for the fans.
-#48 Paul Miller Racing Porsche 911 RSR: Returning for 2013 with driver Bryce Miller and Porsche factory driver Marco Holzer.
-#55 & 56 Team RLL BMW Z4 GTE: Rolling out with a new car for 2013, look for this team to be in contention all season long. This new car doesn’t come without controversy though. It is essentially a FIA GT3 car with GTE bodywork and aero. The wheelbase is longer then the production car (3.1 ACO Regulations), it has a V8 (5.5.1 ACO Regulation), and it is wider then the the width extension the regulations state you can make the car compared to the production variant (3.3.8 ACO Regulations). To read the ACO LM-GTE Regulations for yourself, CLICK HERE
-#62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 458: They are back, and look strong. Ex-Corvette driver Oliver Berretta, Gianmaria Bruni, and Matteo Malucelli will be looking for nothing short of a win.
-#91 & 93 SRT Motorsports Viper: The snakes will be making their first full season debut. We know they want to beat Corvette at their own game, but is the car/team ready to take down the best in the business?
-#007 & 97 Aston Martin Racing V8 Vantage: The Brits are back! Look for AMR is to be strong competition, with an all new car and a powerful driver lineup, including Formula 1 driver Bruno Senna making his sportscar debut.
-#3 & #4 Corvette Racing ZR1: The gang is back and ready to defend their titles. Corvette Racing, the powerhouse of GT racing, has yet to win the 12hrs of Le Mans since moving to the GT2/GTE category. They will be looking to send off the C6.R with a win.
Qualifying will be broadcast via ALMS.com ONLY….not ESPN3 (1:05pm EDT 3/15)
The race will be broadcast via SPEED Channel and ALMS.com….not available on ESPN 3 (10:30am EDT 3/16)
Grand Prize: 2013 60th Anniversary Chevrolet Corvette 427 Convertible and Trip to Le Mans
DETROIT – Fans can enter for a chance to win a 2013 Chevrolet Corvette 427 Convertible, with the 60th Anniversary package, and a trip for two to Le Mans to attend next year’s race. Corvette and American Le Mans Series fans can visit www.RaceToWinCorvette.com now through June 20, 2012 to enter.
“‘Race to Win Corvette’ is an incredible opportunity for a race fan to win a very special edition of one of the most iconic sports cars ever made, and be a spectator at one of the most prestigious races in the world,” said Jeff Chew, Marketing Manager, Chevy Racing. “Chevrolet is very proud to partner with the American Le Mans Series to help make this full racing experience a reality.”
No purchase necessary. See official rules for details at www.RaceToWinCorvette.com.
Note: Team Chevy press releases, high-resolution images, and media kit can be downloaded from the Team Chevy media website: http://media.gm.com/product/public/us/en/gmracing/news.html.
New Hudson, MI – November 19, 2012 – Pratt Miller Engineering was featured in the 2012 Detroit Free Press Top 100 Places to Work in the Detroit Metro Area. Pratt Miller ranked 17 out of the 35 companies featured in the midsize category. The company thanked all of its “amazing employees” for their passion and commitment to excellence.
Pratt Miller is known, primarily, for its connection to GM Racing. Serving as GM’s factory race team for both Corvette in the ALMS and Cadillac in the SCCA World Challenge; Pratt Miller also provides support for Grand-Am Racing, NASCAR, and IndyCar.
In addition to Motorsport’s customers, Pratt Miller offers full scale mobility solutions to the Automotive, Powersports, and Defense Industries; providing clients with leading-edge engineering and prototyping solutions. Our range of design, engineering, manufacturing, and vehicle program management capabilities are among the most sophisticated in the world.
For much information on the 2012 Detroit Free Press Top 100 Places to Work please go to http://www.topworkplaces.com
New Hudson, MI – November 15, 2012 – Pratt Miller recognizes Sara Blackmer, Director of Government Markets. Sara recently received the prestigious Women in Defense (WID) Horizon Industry Award for her efforts in the category of Business Development. Sara was nominated for her profound achievements in developing and executing Pratt Miller’s emerging Ground Robotics business unit and applying that technology to defense industry.
The 4th Annual WID Black Tie Gala was held last Friday evening at the Royal Park Hotel in Rochester and Sara’s award was the first presented of the evening. Sara graciously accepted the award and spoke of her deep connection to the military and how exciting and natural it is to represent Pratt Miller and their advanced engineering capabilities in this market.
Chevrolet Team Reigns in 2012 American Le Mans Series GT
DETROIT, Oct. 29, 2012 – As Chevrolet celebrated the 60th year of Corvette production, Chevrolet’s Corvette Racing team reigned in the production-based GT class in the 2012 American Le Mans Series. In 10 ALMS races, the twin Compuware Corvette C6.Rs posted four victories, six runner-up finishes, 12 podium appearances, two poles, and five fastest race laps.
That performance propelled Corvette Racing to a sweep of the GT class championships. Corvette Racing won the team title and Chevrolet captured the manufacturer championship. Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner won the GT drivers championship in the No. 4 Corvette C6.R, while Jan Magnussen and Antonio Garcia finished third in the driver standings in the No. 3 Corvette C6.R. Magnussen and Garcia won the Michelin Green X Challenge four times, securing the Green X GT manufacturer championship for Chevrolet. Corvette Racing also won the ALMS From the Fans award in popular voting.
The 2012 season saw Corvette Racing return to the championship-winning form that previously produced eight consecutive team and manufacturer titles and seven straight driver championships in the GT1 class. After a mid-season move to the fiercely competitive GT (formerly GT2) category in 2009, the team scored single ALMS victories in each of the following seasons. The introduction of new wide-body Corvette C6.R race cars and a realignment of the driver roster produced a dramatic turnaround in 2012.
“There may have been some in the sports car racing community who had questions about the capability and resolve of Corvette Racing after our initial struggles in GT,” said Doug Fehan, Corvette Racing program manager. “I think 2012 answered those questions conclusively as Corvette Racing once again demonstrated its passion, its dedication, and its execution, thereby reaffirming Corvette’s standing as a championship-winning, world-class sports car.”
Many of the updates in the 2012 Corvette C6.R race cars were the result of changes in the GT class rules. The new Corvettes were two inches wider than the preceding version, with corresponding revisions in the bodywork and suspension to accommodate the increased track width. The rear wing was raised and the Corvettes’ 5.5-liter engines were outfitted with larger intake air restrictors in accordance with the GT regulations.
“The rule change that allowed wider bodywork and increased track width was a significant gain for us,” said Corvette Racing team manager Gary Pratt. “That was really what the car needed. Michelin developed tires specifically for the C6.R that worked well with the changes to the chassis. We spent considerable time in the wind tunnel and doing CFD simulations that improved the aerodynamics. The first time the drivers tested the new package, they were very happy.”
Corvette Racing’s revised driver lineup delivered a winning combination of youth and experience this season. Jan Magnussen and Tommy Milner traded seats, with Magnussen returning to the No. 3 Corvette C6.R alongside Antonio Garcia, who became a full-season driver after three years as third driver in endurance events. Corvette Racing’s “youth movement” accelerated with the addition of 21-year-old Jordan Taylor as third driver in the No. 3 Corvette for Sebring, Le Mans, and Road Atlanta. Milner joined Oliver Gavin in the No. 4 Corvette C6.R, with Richard Westbrook continuing his role as third driver in the three long-distance races.
The Anglo-American alliance of Gavin and Milner produced immediate results. After a third-place finish in the ALMS GT class at the season-opening Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, the pair scored back-to-back wins in Long Beach and Laguna Seca. A third at Lime Rock after the Le Mans break was followed in short order by another win at Mid-Ohio, a fourth at Road America, and a runner-up finish in Baltimore. The pair clinched the GT championship with a decisive victory at Virginia International Raceway in Gavin’s 100th career ALMS start. Even when things went wrong – a gearbox problem at Mosport, a broken steering rack at Road Atlanta – the No. 4 Corvette fought back and was running at the finish.
“This year has been the toughest and hardest championship in all of my years with Corvette Racing,” Gavin said. “The level of competition, whether it’s coming from Ferrari, Porsche, BMW, or our own teammates, has been phenomenal. We rose to the challenge, and a lot of that comes down to the fantastic crew working on the car. Tommy has been a great teammate and performed brilliantly, and that’s one of the reasons we won this championship.”
“This year has been special,” Milner said. “In 2011 we won the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but we struggled a bit in ALMS. Then I got my first ALMS win at Long Beach, and that felt really good. This year we had the whole package, and it came down to being consistent and not making mistakes. It’s been great to be a part of the competition in the GT class, and I’m looking forward to more.”
It was boom-or-bust for the No. 3 Corvette in 2012. Magnussen, Garcia, and Taylor racked up the first of five runner-up finishes at the Sebring season-opener. Second-place finishes at Laguna Seca, Lime Rock, and Mosport kept Magnussen and Garcia in contention for second place in the driver standings going into the final round at Road Atlanta. First-lap incidents in Long Beach, Baltimore, and VIR, combined with late-race contact at Mid-Ohio and Road America, cost the Danish/Spanish pairing valuable points. The Petit Le Mans season finale was another heartbreaker, as the ESM Ferrari pulled off a risky fuel strategy to win the race over the fast-closing Corvette, leaving Magnussen and Garcia second at the checkered flag and third in the championship.
“All in all, it’s been a fantastic year, and we were very competitive at every race,” Magnussen said. “We were just in the wrong place at the wrong time, most of the time. We were in with a shot at winning every race, but it was just one of those years. Corvette Racing has done a fantastic job on both cars, and I can’t wait for next year.”
“I learned a lot this year, and I appreciate all that the team did for me,” said Garcia after his first full season with Corvette Racing. “I’m proud that I have become part of Corvette Racing and the team knows they can rely on me. We will continue to learn and come back stronger next year.”
The Michelin Green X Challenge is a “race within a race” at every ALMS event that recognizes clean, fast and efficient performance to accelerate the development of new technologies and energy sources. Corvette Racing won the inaugural Michelin Green X Challenge at Road Atlanta in 2008. This year the No. 3 Corvette C6.R scored a quartet of Green X Challenge victories at Laguna Seca, Lime Rock, Mosport, and Road America to capture the Green X Challenge GT team championship and secure the Green X GT manufacturer championship for Chevrolet.
Engine manager Dave Henninger and the GM Powertrain team developed the 5.5-liter Chevy small-block V-8 engines that proved to be powerful, reliable, and efficient through a long season without a single engine-related issue. Technical partners Mobil 1 and Michelin provided proprietary technology that minimized friction and rolling resistance, thereby improving overall performance in the Green X Challenge.
“In the sports car world, we are trying to deliver power, efficiency, and durability,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet U.S. Vice President for Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “The Michelin Green X Challenge award addresses that area of efficiency. That’s important not only at the race track, but also with the production car today and tomorrow.”
ALMS fans showed their appreciation for the team’s performance on and off the track by casting their votes for Corvette Racing as having made the biggest contribution to sports car racing during the past year. Corvette Racing won the From the Fans award, the sixth time that the award has been given to the Chevrolet team or its members.
Corvette Racing drivers also enjoyed success in other venues in 2012. Westbrook scored three wins in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series driving a Corvette Daytona Prototype, two of them with Garcia as co-driver. Taylor tallied a win in the Grand-Am Rolex GT driving a Camaro, and Magnussen won the Danish Touring Car championship in a Camaro.
Corvette Racing’s next event is the season-opening Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring at Sebring International Raceway on Saturday, March 16, 2013.
Corvette Racing 2012 ALMS Season Summary
GT Manufacturer Champion: Chevrolet
GT Team Champion: Corvette
GT Driver Champions: Oliver Gavin, Tommy Milner
Michelin Green X Challenge GT Manufacturer Champion: Chevrolet
Michelin Green X Challenge GT Team Champion: No. 3 Corvette C6.R, Jan Magnussen/ Antonio Garcia
No 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R, Gavin/Milner/Westbrook
4 wins: Long Beach, Laguna Seca, Mid-Ohio, VIR
1 second: Baltimore
2 thirds: Sebring, Lime Rock
1 pole: Baltimore (Gavin)
3 fastest laps: Long Beach, Laguna Seca, Baltimore (Gavin)
No. 3 Corvette C6.R, Magnussen/Garcia/Taylor
5 seconds: Sebring, Laguna Seca, Lime Rock, Mosport, Road Atlanta
1 pole: Mosport (Magnussen)
2 fastest laps: Road America (Magnussen), VIR (Garcia)
