Ode to Corvette Racing: A decade of dominance in GT1
Click above for a high-res mega gallery of the Corvette Racing GT1 program
Here's to you, Corvette Racing. The car has evolved, the livery has changed, drivers have come and gone, competitors have challenged and fallen away, and even the type of fuel is new, but one thing remains the same -- a winning formula. Starting with a second-place finish at its inaugural race at the 1999 24 Hours of Daytona, Corvette Racing went on to become one of the most dominant teams in motorsports history. The easily recognizable yellow paint scheme and the deep sound of the V8 have made the Corvettes a fan favorite, as have drivers like Ron Fellows, Johnny O'Connell, Oliver Gavin, and Olivier Beretta. Continue reading more about Corvette Racing's successes in ALMS and at Le Mans after the break, along with our positively massive gallery below.
Gallery: Corvette Racing GT1 Mega Gallery
Photos copyright ©2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc
The first win for the C5-R came at the Texas Motor Speedway in 2000 with Ron Fellow and Andy Pilgrim behind the wheel, beginning a slew of victories that essentially left the GT1 category barren of any teams wanting to compete against the Corvettes. The C5-R went on to capture an overall win at Daytona (2001), three 1-2 finishes in the GTS class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (2001, 2002, 2004), and four consecutive manufacturers' championships. Corvette Racing had a perfect season in 2004, winning every race and capturing every pole position without ever breaking down or replacing an engine or transmission -- not so much as a flat tire.
A new era began in 2005 with the introduction of the C6.R. It may have been a new car, but with six seasons of competition under their belt, the Corvettes immediately continued their class dominance (renamed to GT1) by winning all but one race of the ALMS season as well as finishing 1-2 at Le Mans. Four years later, Corvette Racing have racked up an impressive resume: eight straight team and manufacturer championships, seven straight drivers' titles, five class victories at Le Mans, and seven class victories at Sebring. After their last win at the Long Beach Grand Prix this past weekend, the total of class wins in ALMS comes to 70 and 76 worldwide.
Alas, Corvette Racing's success has been their undoing. Its dominant form left them with nobody to compete in the last two years, with the closest challengers from the Aston Martin factory team managing to win five of ten races in 2006. Still, with Aston Martin's departure of the GT1 class in 2008, Corvette Racing has grown tired of racing themselves and announced that they would be moving to the GT2 class later in the season to hunt down the likes of Porsche, Ferrari, BMW, and Panoz. So while the victory in Long Beach may have been unexciting in one aspect, it was still a memorable since it would be the last time we would see the Corvette C6.R on track here in the United States.
While Corvette Racing's tenure in the GT1 class might be at an end, they still have one more test ahead of them before launching their GT2 campaign in August. The very last race for the C6.R will be at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June, and it's the one place that Corvette Racing still have something to prove. Aston Martin have taken the top spot in GT1 the last two years, and the Corvette team is determined to reclaim its supremacy. "We still have unfinished business in Le Mans," said Oliver Gavin after the Long Beach race. If the C6.R does come out on top, it will be a fitting end to an impressive race car and an even more impressive racing program in GT1.
As our own tribute to Corvette Racing's success in GT1 in ALMS, we've put together a huge mega gallery of our Corvette Racing photographs that we've taken over the last several years. Included in the gallery are photos from the C6.R's first race (Sebring, 2005), it's last race (Long Beach, 2009), Petit Le Mans, and Laguna Seca. We've even added a few photos of the C5-R's last factory-backed ALMS race at Laguna Seca in 2004. So once again, here's to you Corvette Racing!
Gallery: Corvette Racing GT1 Mega Gallery
Photos copyright ©2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc
Get a WordPress.com Blog
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
mcampasini 8:44PM (4/21/2009)
as a life time corvette guy and model car builder with both the c5r and c6r models, and a big race fan, this is kinda sad. but next gt2 season will be great and i cant wait for that.
Reply
mcampasini 10:51PM (4/21/2009)
im also a former c5 owner 2000 red black and tan interior,got laid off had to sell it about a year ago.
Randy 8:45PM (4/21/2009)
I truly hope (and don't believe) Corvette racing doesn't become history as every year I look forward to hearing their deep-throated resonance while working the turns of Miller Motor Sports Park.
If it means the Corvette is on the cutting block for GM to survive, good riddance to GM. If you don't have the ability to keep your biggest brand alive you should not be in existence.
Reply
Javanese 9:04PM (4/21/2009)
Hopefully they'll be contesting in this year Le Mans... I want to watch the great yellow giant for one last time before they retire.
Reply
dave821 9:06PM (4/21/2009)
Way to go Corvette, on being a factory backed team that is willing to let you run the full season with no other factory teams besides Jag every once in awhile. It's kinda like how GM gave the CTS-V a factory backed race team to compete with guys who are paying for their stuff out of pocket. But we know how GM does with really for real competition ie., Cadillac LMP
Reply
jay tee 6:56AM (4/22/2009)
Yes, because the factory effort from the Oreca Vipers wouldn't count. Or the Aston Martins, or the semi-backed Saleen teams. Heck, the C6.R private cars are holding their ground quite well in Europe still (being at least a year old cars running with new European entries). They have proven fast, bulletproof, and entertaining to watch in person. Likewise, the CTS-V teams had to contend with factory efforts from Porsche, Audi, and Volvo when they were competing.
Give credit where it is due. They scared formidable competitors out of the class for quite some time, much like Audi did with the R8's.
Karan Shah 9:11PM (4/21/2009)
I love you guys.
Reply
HotRodzNKustoms 9:32PM (4/21/2009)
I do hope Corvette Racing can continue their winning ways in GT2. Not many cars are so dominating that they virtually destroy a class. Which is not necessarily a good thing but is a testament to the strength of the team and car.
Reply
Clay Garland 8:12AM (4/22/2009)
A testament to pushrod badassery.
Mr.Oak 8:58AM (4/22/2009)
Oh they will, kinda feel bad for BMW. They were going to have their hands full with Ferrari & Porsche, and along comes the Big Bad Wolf.
nvygw171 11:27PM (4/21/2009)
When i was in high school i remember seeing a picture of the c5r, something about that car made me immediately want to see more. Well, since then i have. I now own a corvette and participate in every track day i can afford to all because of that car. It would be wise of chevy to keep participating in racing w/ the Corvette.
Reply
Jeff Johnson 10:30PM (4/21/2009)
as the owner of an 08 Z06 - (Velocity yellow too) it gives me tingles when I see that vette out on a track :)
Reply
AZZO45b 10:46PM (4/21/2009)
I thought it was "Millennium Yellow"???
Jake B 3:44AM (4/22/2009)
It is Velocity Yellow.
gimpymw 3:54PM (6/26/2009)
Millenium yellow - C5
Velocity Yellow - C6
larry a 12:37AM (4/22/2009)
Not trying to bash the car, I know its a great race car, but it was pretty easy to win all those years, the Astons were barely a challenge
Reply
Jeff Johnson 12:26AM (4/22/2009)
for the C6 - the version of yellow is referred to as "Velocity Yellow" :)
Reply
RLQ 3:12AM (4/22/2009)
That was one hell of a run.
Reply
Todd 7:45AM (4/22/2009)
My hats of to all the people at Pratt & Miller for the dedication they have put into these amazing cars, and their fans. You could not meet nicer people. I will miss seeing, and hearing the GT1 Corvettes next year at Sebring. Here's to GT2, and renewed fight to the top!
enjoytelemacus 1:35AM (4/22/2009)
GT-R LoL
Reply