Corvette C6R GT2 cars officially entered for Mid-Ohio ALMS race
Corvette C6.R GT1 – Click above for high-res image gallery
Following the 2008 American Le Mans Series, Chevrolet announced that its Corvette Racing team would abandon the largely uncontested ranks of GT1 and take on the challenge of GT2. As General Motors careened toward bankruptcy court this spring, the team competed in its final GT1 races at Sebring, Long Beach and Le Mans – but the big question was whether the GT2 program would be still-born.
Well, Corvette fans can now breath a sigh of relief – the news has just come from the American Le Mans Series that GM has filed official entry forms to compete in the GT2 class at Mid-Ohio in August. The existing driver pairings of Johnny O'Connell/Jan Magnussen and Olivier Beretta/Oliver Gavin will pilot the new Vettes, which will feature bodywork inspired by the ZR1 – including double side vents. We're certainly looking forward to seeing Chevrolets take on Ferrari, Porsche and Aston next month as they take to the roadcourse the weekend of Aug. 6-8.
Gallery: Corvette Racing GT1 Mega Gallery
Photos Copyright ©2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: American Le Mans Series]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Red 8:42AM (7/14/2009)
I'm not the world's biggest Corvette junkie, but the 'Vette teams are very well put together. I'm very interested to watch how they progress through the GT2 category and I'll be rooting for them (I guess in this case the underdogs, no?).
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Rick C. 10:15AM (7/14/2009)
Well, yes. Up until now, they were the one of the best financed teams--considering they were not even racing in the two top tiers. Being factory backed sure helps. Money is good. I wonder if their budget has been cut down closer to those of the privateer teams.
why not the LS2LS7? 11:48AM (7/14/2009)
In GT2, every team which drives a Porsche gets a level of factory support. Some even get a loan of a Porsche factory driver. So whatever Chevy backing that Pratt & Miller gets probably won't be all that huge a difference for them. The biggest advantage they will have is their very experienced drivers and that they are Pratt & Miller, a team who really knows how to make and run a race car.
AZZO45b 12:44PM (7/14/2009)
Well LS2/7: Ferrari is the GT2 points leader & not every team has access to Porsche Factory drivers. Corvette will have a new BIG SPONSOR so the team is not dependent on GM $$$ & they have their old GT1 line-up.
Mid Ohio will also see the debut of Greg Picket's Muscle Milk Porsche RS Spyder (an ex Dyson ride...). Sasha Maassen will be the lead driver & Greg had to pay for his services... was not loaned from Porsche.
Amien 8:52AM (7/14/2009)
It's the Stig!
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Bird 9:04AM (7/14/2009)
DESTROY!
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UCJR 9:10AM (7/14/2009)
GT2 will be a great class to watch for the rest of the season. Ferrari, Porsche, Aston, Corvette, Viper, Jag, Ford, Panoz, BMW, and probably a few others. It's more pure 'stock-car' racing than NASCAR, and you get the bonus of both left AND right hand turns!
I just hope the GT2 'Vettes will be painted that flat black scheme with the Jake logo and 'Take No Prisoners' spraypainted on. Sinister.
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Brad 10:45AM (7/14/2009)
GT2 will be very interesting indeed. Should be a great fight between all of those manufacturers.
Glad to see the Vettes will be in action when I attend the Petite LeMans at Road Atlanta in September.
Dr. Nick 9:22AM (7/14/2009)
And I'm heading to Lime Rock this week. No Vettes :(
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unibrow 9:33AM (7/14/2009)
me too Nick, I wish the Vette's were going to be there =(
DCragtop 9:43AM (7/14/2009)
hubbadahubbada
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IOMTT 10:42AM (7/14/2009)
The more the merrier! This could be the best 4 wheeled racing going forward.
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Mr.Oak 11:12AM (7/14/2009)
I wish FIA-YSLER would field a factory backed Viper. They've been "Dodging" the 'Vettes for quite sometime.
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AZZO45b 12:50PM (7/14/2009)
Yeah I'm sure FIAT will make that their 1st priority...
... & Dodge made a corporate decision to spend their $$$ NASCAR racing. The Viper went to a cheaper RR series: SPEED World Challenge (with the Viper Competition Coupe) PrimeTime took a SWC/ GT3 Comp. Coupe Viper & have attempted to turn it into a ALMS GT2 entry. Like taking a knife to a gun fight
bbaker8201 11:41AM (7/14/2009)
I've followed the ALMS for years - as well as the Corvettes in GT-1. With the switch to GT-2, I can't wait to see how that plays out. I'm not sure that you can call that team an underdog - they know what they are doing and what it takes to win. I hope that they inspire other manufacturers to follow them into GT-2 and make things truely enjoyable/interesting.
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220v 1:35PM (7/14/2009)
Kick some ass, Jake.
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