Corvette Racing Receives GT2 Invites to the 24 Hours of Le Mans

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Corvette Racing Receives Invitation to Race in the 24 Hours of Le Mans
Photo Credit: Richard Prince

It’s official. The two factory-sponsored Corvette C6.Rs have received invitations to join the ultra-competitive GT2 class this June for the 78th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The C6.Rs will battle a who’s who of sports car racing teams and manufacturers including Porsche, Ferrari, BMW and Jaguar in the crowded class featuring 17 entries.

To get to Le Mans, winning one of the endurance races like the 12 Hours of Sebring or Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta, or winning the class championship will get you an automatic invite. Otherwise, you need an invitation from the ACO. Although Corvette won last year at Sebring, it was with the GT1 car in the GT1 class. So getting to France this year wasn’t automatic as in year’s past for Corvette Racing.

Luckily (or perhaps I should say skillfully), the GT2 Corvettes proved themselves worthy of an invite by posting five podium finishes and winning its first GT2 race at Mosport. In the series’ final five races, Corvette Racing scored more team and manufacturer points than any other GT2 entry, and O’Connell and Magnussen tallied the most points in the GT2 drivers championship.

It’s also true that Team Corvette’s program manager Doug Fehan has a good relationship with the ACO and I am sure he impressed upon them to remember just how popular the Corvettes are in France, as well as the large enthusiast base that will tune in to watch America’s sports car compete in the new class.

Here is the provisional GT2 class:

  • Corvette Racing (USA) – #63 – Corvette C6 ZR1
  • Corvette Racing (USA) – #64 – Corvette C6 ZR1
  • Prospeed Competition (BEL) – #75 – PORSCHE 911 GT3 RSR (997)
  • IMSA Performance MATMUT (FRA) – #76 – PORSCHE 911 GT3 RSR (997)
  • Team Felbermayr-Proton (DEU) – #77 – PORSCHE 911 GT3 RSR (997)
  • BMW Motorsport (DEU) – #78 – BMW E92 M3
  • BMW Motorsport (DEU) – #79 – BMW E92 M3
  • Flying Lizard Motorsport (USA) – #80 – PORSCHE 911 GT3 RSR (997)
  • Jaguar RSR (USA) – #81 – Jaguar XKRS
  • RISI Competizione (USA) – #82 – Ferrari F 430 GT
  • RISI Competizione (USA) – #83 – Ferrari F 430 GT
  • Modena Group Racing (GBR) – #84 – Ferrari F 430 GT
  • Spyker Squadron (NLD) – #85 – Spyker C8 Laviolette
  • Hankook – Team Farnbacher (DUE) – #89 – Ferrari F 430 GT
  • JMW Motorsport (GBR) – #92 – Aston Martin Vantage
  • AF Corse SRL (ITA) – #96 – Ferrari F 430 GT
  • BMS Scuderia Italia SPA (ITA) – #97 – Porsche 911 GT3 RSR

The 78th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans takes place June 12-13th. I for one can’t wait!



Source:
LeMans.org

Related:
Corvette Racing: Doug Fehan Q & A
2009 Le Mans 24: Corvette Racing Scores Sixth GT1 Class Win



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