Corvette Racing at Lime Rock: Getting Back on Track

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Corvette Racing at Lime Rock: Getting Back on Track


A return to site of Corvette Racing’s 100th program victory

DETROIT (July 16, 2019) – The longest-running program in IMSA history visits the shortest venue on the calendar this weekend as Corvette Racing heads to Lime Rock Park with the rest of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

The Northeast Grand Prix, set for 3:10 p.m. ET on Saturday, is a GT-only affair at the 1.474-mile, seven-turn road course in northwestern Connecticut. Corvette Racing is hoping that a return to Lime Rock – a place where it has won five times in 12 tries – will set the course right after an uncharacteristic showing two weeks ago at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.

A victory this weekend in the two-hour, 40-minute race would bring things full circle for Corvette Racing. A win would be No. 100 in IMSA competition for the program… three years after Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner scored Corvette Racing’s 100th all-time victory at Lime Rock in 2016.

Corvette Racing at Lime Rock: Getting Back on Track


Hitting the fast-forward button to this week sees Milner out for the second consecutive race with an injured left hand. As a result, Marcel Fässler will sub in the No. 4 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Chevrolet Corvette C7.R alongside Gavin. Fässler will make his first career start at Lime Rock while Gavin is tied for most victories by an IMSA driver at the circuit with four.

In the No. 3 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Corvette, Antonio Garcia and Jan Magnussen hope to regain ground in the GT Le Mans (GTLM) Drivers Championship in their search for a third title. The pairing sit 11 points out of first place but are coming to an event where they have fared well. Garcia and Magnussen finished second in 2012, 2013, 2016 and a year ago.

Garcia qualified on pole position in the No. 3 Corvette as the duo just missed on victory but still went on to win their second straight GTLM title.

The Northeast Grand Prix from Lime Rock Park begins at 3:10 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 20. Live coverage will be available on the NBC Sports App and IMSA Radio, via IMSA.com. NBC Sports Network will air the race beginning at 9:30 p.m. ET on Saturday.

Corvette Racing at Lime Rock: Getting Back on Track


ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R:

“Lime Rock has turned into an important race for Jan and me. We need to recover from the result in Canada and get back in the championship. I believe we know as a team what our issues were and everyone has worked to correct those. We know Lime Rock is a place where anything can happen so let’s see. We have been close to winning at Lime Rock in the 3 Corvette a lot of times – four times as runner-up. So hopefully we are due for that win.”

JAN MAGNUSSEN, NO. 3 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R:

“Lime Rock is quite a difficult challenge. It’s a short-track sports car race with typically a lot contact… almost like touring cars. It’s a style of racing I enjoy. You can make something happen for yourself at this track more than most others, and that’s what we’ll look to do. If we ever needed a win in the No. 3 Corvette, it’s this week. That’s always the end goal but we want it a little more given the points situation. We need a good weekend.”

OLIVER GAVIN, NO. 4 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R:

“I’ve been fortunate to win many times at Lime Rock with Corvette Racing. The lasting one will always be 2016 and the 100th win for our team. It was a day everything fell into place perfectly for us. We’d give a lot for that to happen again this weekend. This will be Marcel’s first race at Lime Rock and I know he will be well-prepared. Hopefully this is a weekend where our luck takes a turn for the better.”

MARCEL FÄSSLER, NO. 4 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R:

“Lime Rock is another track where I haven’t raced before. It’s a different type track than any other at which I’ve competed. Things will happen very quickly on such a short lap. So this will be another new challenge. It was beneficial to be with the team in Canada and have the experience in a high-downforce configuration. Hopefully Olly and I can bring back a good result for the hard work of the Corvette Racing team.”

Corvette Racing at Lime Rock: Getting Back on Track


2019 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship – GTLM Standings
(After Six of 11 Events)

Driver Standings
1. Earl Bamber/Laurens Vanthoor – 186
2. Nick Tandy/Patrick Pilet – 182
3. Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen – 175
4. Connor De Phillippi – 163
5. Dirk Mueller – 161
8. Oliver Gavin – 145
10. Tommy Milner – 122

Team Standings
1. No. 912 Porsche GT Team – 186
2. No. 911 Porsche GT Team – 182
3. No. 3 Corvette Racing – 175
4. No. 25 BMW Team RLL – 163
5. No. 66 Ford Chip Ganassi – 161
8. No. 4 Corvette Racing – 145

Manufacturer Standings
1. Porsche – 205
2. BMW – 181
3. Chevrolet – 180
4. Ford – 178


Source:
CorvetteRacing.com

Related:
Corvette Racing in Canada: Tough Day but Corvettes Back in One Piece
Corvette Racing in Canada: Fässler to Fill In for Milner at CTMP
Corvette Racing at Watkins Glen: Runner-Up Finish for No. 3 Corvette

 



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