The two Corvette C6.Rs are fresh off their successful debut at Mid-Ohio and are now in Elkhart Lake Wisconsin where they will tackle the 4.048-mile high speed track known as Road America. This is a bit of a homecoming for the GT2 cars as Road America was one of the four tracks that the GT2 cars were tested prior to last week’s racing debut.
Road America is one of the favorite tracks for drivers as it features high speed corners and long straights. This track may play to one of the strengths of the GT2 car which appeared to be faster in the straights than some of the other GT2 competitors last weekend at Mid-Ohio.
“Road America is a much different circuit than Mid-Ohio,” said Oliver Gavin, driver of the No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R. “It’s a high-speed course, while Mid-Ohio is more of a medium-speed track. It’s still early days for Corvette Racing in GT2, and we’ll continue to learn where we stand in relation to the competition. It’s going to be tight and it’s going to be tough.
“Based on our experience at Mid-Ohio, the team will continue to make refinements,” Gavin said. “We’re still learning how to manage the tires and keep the car good to drive over a full stint. Based on our first run last weekend, I think everyone at Corvette Racing has done a brilliant job. Bring on Road America!”
Jan Magnussen and Johnny O’Connell won the GT1 class last year at the track in the #3 Corvette C6.R, but Mags knows this year’s challenge will be more difficult in the GT2 class:
“It’s completely different from Mid-Ohio in terms of where you need to be fast,” Magnussen explained. “If you don’t have the top speed, the long straights at Road America will be difficult. We’ll see if we have an issue there – I certainly don’t think we will. Our test at Road America went very well, and the car handled beautifully in the high-speed sections.”
Team Manager Gary Pratt also weights in on the successful debut of the GT2 Corvettes at Mid-Ohio:
“Both cars ran without any issues at Mid-Ohio, and that’s a good, good start for a brand-new car,” Pratt said. “We still have a little way to go to catch the competition, and we’ll keep working at it.”
This year’s event at Road America also features the return of the Corvette Challenge II bike race to help fight cancer. The race within a race takes place later today and will feature Corvette Racing Program Manager Doug Fehan taking on Jan Magnussen and SPEED TV Commentator Calvin Fish in a one-lap winner-take-all race around the 4 mile track.
Fans can show their support for Fehan, Magnussen and Fish by pledging a donation. Funds raised will support the Lance Armstrong Foundation, the Austin Hatcher Foundation, the late Paul Newman’s Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, and the Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic. The 2 hour 45 minute race at Road America will take place on Sunday, August 16th at 3pm EST with SPEED TV providing live race coverage.
Bondurant School of High Performance Driving
Source:
Corvette Racing
Related:
[VIDEO] Corvette Racing’s C6.R GT2 Debut at Mid-Ohio 2009
Corvette Racing: #3 Corvette C6.R Earns 2nd Place GT2 Finish at Mid Ohio
Corvette Racing: Inside the GT2 Corvette C6.R
A New Era: Introducing Corvette Racing’s GT2 ZR1 C6.R
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