Corvette Racing returns to racing on U.S. soil this weekend, fresh off a third-place class finish at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Another challenge of endurance now awaits at Watkins Glen International: the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen and the fifth race for the team in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
The race preceding Independence Day weekend has special meaning to Corvette Racing. It is the only program in the WeatherTech Championship with an American car (Corvette) from an American manufacturer (Chevrolet) fielded by an American team. The noise from the Corvette C7.Rs 5.5-liter, naturally aspirated Chevrolet small block V8 at full song also rivals the loudest of July 4 fireworks displays!
Leading the field in the IMSA WeatherTech Championship will be another Chevrolet All-American: the Chevrolet Corvette Z06. The Corvette C7.R and the Z06, which is wholly built in Bowling Green, Kentucky, share a common aluminum frame as well as advanced aerodynamic strategies and key engine technologies. The Corvette Z06 is the most powerful and track-capable production Corvette in Chevrolet’s history. It features an LT4 supercharged 6.2-liter aluminum V8 engine delivering 650 horsepower and 650 lb.-ft. of torque. With a choice of transmissions as well as Direct Injection, Active Fuel Management™ and Continuously Variable Valve Timing, the Z06 brilliantly combines extreme power with efficiency.
Corvette Racing is on a three-race win streak in the GT Le Mans (GTLM) class heading to The Glen. It will mark the team’s fourth race at 3.4-mile, 11-turn road course in central New York. Antonio Garcia and Jan Magnussen, who lead this year’s GTLM Driver’s Championship in the No. 3 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Chevrolet Corvette C7.R, were winners in the team’s first visit to The Glen in 2014.
The duo scored a stirring victory at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in March and also won in the last GTLM race at Circuit of The Americas. They also teamed with Jordan Taylor to finish third in class at Le Mans.
Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner, in the No. 4 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Chevrolet Corvette C7.R, were class winners at Long Beach and led Corvette Racing’s effort at Watkins Glen in 2016 as they went on to win last year’s GTLM Championship.
The Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen also marks the third of four races in the Tequila Patrón North American Endurance Cup – a four-race competition made up of Sebring, The Glen, the Rolex 24 At Daytona and Petit Le Mans. After two rounds, Garcia and Magnussen are third in Driver points, as is Chevrolet in the Manufacturer’s standings.
The Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen is set for 10:10 a.m. ET on Sunday, July 2. FOX Sports 1 will air the race from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET with FOX Sports 2 airing from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Live audio coverage from IMSA Radio and a Corvette Racing In-Car feed will be available on IMSA.com.
Corvette Racing on Display at Watkins Glen
Corvette Racing’s return to the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen also means a return of the Corvette Racing Display to Watkins Glen International. From Friday through Sunday, fans on-hand can view and learn about a variety of Chevrolet vehicles, accessories and attractions including:
• The 2017 Chevrolet Camaro Redline Edition, Cruze Hatchback and Silverado 2500 Crew High Country and Colorado ZR2
• The 2018 Chevrolet Corvette Carbon 65 and Next Gen Equinox
• 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 t-shirts for fans who sign up with Corvette Racing.
The Corvette Racing Display opens at 9 a.m. on Friday, and 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.
ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R: “We’ve proven we are very strong, and we are coming into two or three races where Corvette Racing has been very strong – starting at Watkins Glen for the Six Hours, where Jan and I have won before. I’m really looking forward to the next two races. For me, they are the two best races we go to each year. The strategy and mindset will be a little different. Let’s see how we are compared to our competition and see if we can keep our momentum going in the U.S. The whole of Corvette Racing has been very strong this year. We need to carry on doing the same things we have so far – no mistakes, good strategy and good driving.”
JAN MAGNUSSEN, NO. 3 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R: “It will be good to get back to the U.S. with Corvette Racing at Watkins Glen. We still are disappointed with the finish at Le Mans, but there is still the matter of the GTLM championship for Antonio and I. Watkins Glen is the type of track I really enjoy – fast with great flow and quick corners. We have had success there in the past so hopefully we can have another strong result and earn maximum points.”
OLIVER GAVIN, NO. 4 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R: “We’re starting a run of really great tracks on the IMSA schedule with Watkins Glen. It’s one of those fantastic, old-school circuits… a really classic feel with some great corners and lots of speed. Tommy and I would like to use Watkins Glen to get back on the right side of things in the WeatherTech Championship. Our performance at Le Mans was encouraging and hopefully we can carry that part of it over for this crucial part of the IMSA schedule.”
TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R: “Le Mans really takes over your world for awhile. But Watkins Glen is a fun return to racing in the States. It almost feels like a new season when you get back to the U.S., with being back-to-back over a couple of weekends. The Sahlen’s Six Hours will undoubtedly be a tough race. A lot of teams that weren’t at Le Mans have tested at The Glen, so they should be fast out of the box. But we haven’t lost any of our competitive edge despite being at Le Mans. We’ll be ready to get back in the fight.”
DOUG FEHAN, CORVETTE RACING PROGRAM MANAGER: “After a dramatic ending at Le Mans, we are back to defending our GTLM points lead in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Watkins Glen starts a run of really, really nice tracks for us at Corvette Racing – old-school, fast tracks with a ton of character. It’s a pleasure to race Watkins Glen on Independence Day weekend. Everyone at Corvette Racing is proud of our heritage: the only GT program in the world running an American-made car from an American manufacturer with an American team. That’s something we don’t take lightly. Hopefully we can add our own fireworks for the fans this weekend!”
