PRESS RELEASE:
CORVETTE RACING AT WATKINS GLEN: Back on Familiar
Ground
First event for Corvette Racing since 24 Hours of Le
Mans
Program looking for second victory at Sahlen’s Six Hours of The
Glen
Four Corvette Racing drivers tied in GTLM points after four
rounds
Corvette C7.Rs to show patriotic livery ahead of Independence
Day
DETROIT (June 27, 2018) – Following another appearance at the 24
Hours of Le Mans, Corvette Racing is back on American soil as it returns to
competition in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship this weekend at
Watkins Glen International. The classic 3.4-mile, 11-turn road course in the
Finger Lakes region of New York is a fitting stop for Corvette Racing, which is
celebrating its 20th season of competition.
The Sahlen’s Six Hours of The
Glen is the start of a critical three-race stretch in four weeks for Corvette
Racing, which is seeking to defend its GT Le Mans (GTLM) championships in
America’s premier sports car series.
Both the team’s Chevrolet Corvette
C7.Rs returned to home base in Michigan late last week following Le Mans. Team
personnel had only four days to revert the two race cars into their IMSA
configuration and restock its inventory of parts and components for the next
three events.
The first of those, of course, is Sunday at The Glen.
Corvette Racing’s Antonio Garcia and Jan Magnussen were victorious in 2014, and
they were third a year ago in GTLM. The pairing, which will share the No. 3
Mobil 1/SiriusXM Chevrolet Corvette C7.R, comes off a fourth-place finish in
class at Le Mans and third in the most recent GTLM race at
Mid-Ohio.
Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner have one victory to their credit
in the No. 4 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Corvette C7.R, and they are tied with their No. 3
teammates for fourth place in championship point. Milner and Gavin hope to
rebound from a disappointing Le Mans, where they were forced to retire early due
to engine overheating.
The No. 4 Corvette has finished fourth and fifth
in class the last two years at The Glen, and hopes are high that the
Gavin/Milner duo can climb the podium at The Glen for the first
time.
Both Corvette C7.Rs will run in a special patriotic livery this
weekend ahead of Independence Day. For the past 20 years, Corvette Racing has
been proud to field an American team from an American manufacturer with an
American sports car.
Chevrolet, Corvette on Display at The Glen
Along
with its familiar yellow Corvette C7.Rs on the Watkins Glen race track this
weekend, Chevrolet also will have a presence off it with its Corvette Racing
Display. Opening on Friday, Chevrolet’s Corvette Racing Display again will be
part of the Watkins Glen Midway with a number of Chevrolet performance and
passenger vehicles on-hand for interested spectators. Out of all those, however,
there is one special auto that likely will command the most attention: the 2019
Chevrolet Corvette ZR1.
Bearing a badge that is steeped in history and
incredible performance, the Corvette ZR1 doesn’t disappoint. The supercar that
establishes a new standard at Chevrolet for power output, track performance and
technology with top track speed of 212 mph thanks to a 6.2L supercharged V8 that
generates 755 hp.
Traces of the Corvette Racing program are all over the
ZR1. Most notable are the prominent splitter at the front of the car and a rear
wing for additional downforce. Both were developed out of lessons learned from
motorsports.
Also among the lineup of Chevrolets at the Display
include:
Performance and production models such as the Chevrolet Camaro 2SS
1LE, Traverse High Country, Silverado HD High Country, Equinox Premier and
Malibu Premier.
A Corvette C7.R show car
Samples of Chevrolet engines,
performance parts and accessories available to fans for purchase from their
local Chevrolet dealer
A variety of Chevrolet and racing related activities
for adults and kids
Commemorative Corvette Racing 20th Season t-shirts for
fans who sign up with Corvette Racing.
The Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen
will air live at 9:30 a.m. ET on FOX Sports 1 and the FOX Sports Go app.
Streaming in-car footage along with live audio coverage of practice, qualifying
and the race from IMSA Radio is available on IMSA.com.
ANTONIO GARCIA,
NO. 3 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R: “After a disappointing result at
Le Mans, the best thing we can do is focus on what will make us successful at
Watkins Glen. We did a good job at Le Mans and didn’t make any mistakes. So that
can give us confidence going back to IMSA competition, and we need to replicate
that at The Glen. A lot can change in the next four weeks, to be sure. Watkins
Glen is a track that I really enjoy. Hopefully we have the pace to fight for the
win.”
JAN MAGNUSSEN, NO. 3 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R:
“Watkins Glen is a really tough race – a six-hour sprint race. In a lot of ways,
we are going back to what we know with the IMSA process and competition. Things
were a little different at Le Mans in that respect. But at the Glen, we’ll be
back among the usual teams and competition that we know a little better. This is
the start of a run of races where a lot can happen in the points. Let’s see how
it shakes out for us.”
OLIVER GAVIN, NO. 4 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET
CORVETTE C7.R: “Watkins Glen starts an important period of our championship.
It’s always a fantastic track to go to – high-speed, really physical and
demanding. It’s great fun to drive there. We always get fantastic support there
with the biggest Corvette Corral of the season. That’s always wonderful to see
all the Corvettes parked at Turn One. We’re starting a really important part of
our year. The guys on the team will have their work cut out for them getting
things ready for the next month. But everyone on this program works
exceptionally hard, and I’ve no doubt we all will be ready for The
Glen.”
TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R: “In
some ways, you can get a little caught off-guard by Watkins Glen because we
spend so much time focusing on Le Mans. But it’s not long after you get home
that you’re off again to Watkins Glen. There is some adjustment when you arrive
at The Glen. We’ll be back in high-downforce configuration, which is a bit of a
change for us. It’s a shorter weekend than Le Mans, and things happen quick. In
a lot of ways it’s a big adjustment but a lot of it at the same is similar –
same team, same car, same co-drivers.”
DOUG FEHAN, CORVETTE RACING
PROGRAM MANAGER: “In our 20 years of competition, Corvette Racing has been
fortunate to race great tracks throughout North America. Four years ago, we were
able to add one of the best when we raced for the first time at Watkins Glen.
It’s a classic American circuit that is perfect for our type of racing. We’re
hopeful to rebound from a difficult Le Mans with another strong showing for our
fans at The Glen. It’s an important weekend ahead of Independence Day. We’re
proud of our heritage as an American team with an American car from an American
manufacturer. That’s about as patriotic as it gets!”
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