2009 Le Mans 24: Live Blogging Corvette Racing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans

By
Keith Cornett
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Live Blogging Corvette Racing GT1 Campaign
Photo Credit: Pierre BARRAU – ACO/Nikon

As Corvette Racing makes its run for a 6th victory in the GT1 class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, we’ll be here bringing you the latest news and updates from the variety of Le Mans coverage we’re following.

Le Mans 24 coverage is sponsored by

Bondurant School of High Performance Driving
 

Hour 24

  • #63 Corvette brings home 6th GT1 Class win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans
  • O’Connell becomes 1st American driver with 4 Le Mans wins
  • Win brings tears of joy to Crew Chief Dan Binks.
  • Luc Alphand’s #73 Corvette finishes 2nd, #66 Aston Martin finishes 3rd.
  • Unofficial Results: #63, #73, #66, #64 (out), #72 (out), #68 (out)

Hour 23

  • Final Hour!
  • #63 Corvette currently being driven by Antonio Garcia.
  • #73 Corvette in number 2 position, seven laps off GT1 leader.
  • #64 Corvette listed in 3rd place, 25 laps up on #66 Aston Martin DBR9.
  • Current Running Order: #63, #73, #64, #66, #72 (out), #68 (out)

Hour 22

  • Bad news for #64 Corvette. After taking the lead in hour 18, they break a driveshaft.
  • Reports say a huge spike in transmission temperature and then it failed.
  • #64 Corvette was pushed onto pit lane but it looks like this is the end.
  • #63 Corvette will retake the lead followed by French #73 Corvette C6.R
  • Current Running Order: #63, #73, #64, #66, #72 (out), #68 (out)

Hour 15

  • The sun rises over La Sarthe!
  • Garcia in for O’Connell and Beretta replaces Gavin.
  • Beretta very fast with back to back laps of 3:54s.
  • 1:29.080 separates #63 from #64. #73 C6r 4 laps down.
  • Current Running Order: #63, #64, #73, #66, #72 (out), #68 (out)

Hour 14

  • O’Connell and Gavin continue stints.
  • Safety car is out putting #64 one lap behind.
  • #63 Corvette lead is 2:30 over #64.
  • 184 laps run by GT1 leader
  • Current Running Order: #63, #64, #73, #66, #72 (out), #68 (out)

Hour 13

  • O’Connell in for Magnussen, Gavin remains in #64
  • #63 Corvette (Magnussen) gets sideswiped by LMP1 car, is okay.
  • 3rd in class is #73 Corvette C6.R driven by Julien Jousse
  • Current Running Order: #63, #64, #73, #66, #72 (out), #68 (out)

Hour 12 – Halfway

  • Magnussen in for Garcia. Gavin in for Fassler
  • GT1 leader #63 Corvette over #64 by 1:31.368
  • 175 laps traveled at halfway point
  • 3rd in class is #73 Corvette C6.R driven by Yan Clairay
  • #66 Aston Martin DBR9 still running but 55 laps down.
  • Current Running Order: #63, #64, #73, #66, #72, #68

Hour 11

  • #63 Corvette maintaining 1 lap lead over #64.
  • Fassler replaces Beretta in #64, Garcia remains in #63
  • Both Corvettes in Top 20. #63 is 18th, #64 is 20th.
  • Luc Alphand’s #73 Corvette C6.R 3 laps down in 3rd place.
  • #66 Aston Martin DBR9 still running but 55 laps down.
  • Current Running Order: #63, #64, #73, #66, #72, #68

Hour 10

  • Garcia now behind the wheel of the #63 Corvette C6.R
  • #64 Corvette C6.R gaining on #63. Now down just 1:14
  • Luc Alphand’s #73 Corvette C6.R 3 laps down in 3rd place.
  • #66 Aston Martin DBR9 still running but 55 laps down.
  • Current Running Order: #63, #64, #73, #66, #72, #68

Hour 9

  • O’Connell and Beretta continue stints.
  • #63 Corvette leading GT1 by 1:50
  • Luc Alphand’s #73 Corvette C6.R 3 laps down in 3rd place.
  • Current Running Order: #63, #64, #73, #72, #66, #68

Hour 8

  • O’Connell replaces Magnussen and Beretta replaces Gavin.
  • #63 Corvette continues GT1 lead with 2:20 lead over #64.
  • #73 Corvette C6.R Now Solidly in third place.
  • Current Running Order: #63, #64, #73, #72, #66, #68

Hour 7

  • Magnussen and Gavin continue stints.
  • #63 Corvette has GT1 lead, #64 Corvette 2:15 behind.
  • Magnusses sets fastest GT1 lap at 3:54.076
  • #63 Corvette C6.R up over #64 by 2:12, running 21st overall.
  • #72 Corvette C6.R goes into a wall. Waiting for details on condition.
  • Current Running Order: #63, #64, #72, #73, #66, #68

Hour 6

  • Gavin replaces Fassler and Magnussen is in for Garcia.
  • #63 Corvette C6.R up over #64 by 2:12, running 21st overall.
  • #73 Corvette C6.R is two laps off GT1 lead for 3rd in class.
  • Current Running Order: #63, #64, #73, #72, #66, #68

Hour 5

  • Garcia and Fassler continue stints.
  • Safety car comes out right in front of #64.
  • #63 Corvette C6.R gets splash of fuel during caution.
  • #63 Corvette up 2 minutes over #64
  • GT1 class essentially split into 2 groups: #63/#64 and #73/#72
  • Current Running Order: #63, #64, #73, #72, #66, #68

Hour 4

  • #63 leading GT1. #64 just 27 seconds behind
  • Garcia replaces O’Connell in #63 Corvette C6.R
  • Fassler replaces Beretta in #64 Corvette C6.R
  • #66 Aston Martin goes into garage for a few minutes
  • Current Running Order: #63, #64, #73, #72, #66, #68

Hour 3

  • #63 alone on GT1 lead lap. Running 22nd overall.
  • Beretta still on 1st stint in #64
  • #66 Aston Martin back in but 28 laps off GT1 leader
  • Current Running Order: #63, #64, #73, #72, #66, #68

Hour 2

  • Driver Change – O’Connell replaces Magnussen in #63
  • #63 and #64 on lead GT1 lap, #72 and #73 1 lap down.
  • Lamborghini Out? Been in Pits for a while – 28 laps down
  • Current Running Order: #63, #64, #72, #73, #66, #68

Hour 1

  • It’s all about the Corvettes in GT1.
  • The Aston Martin DBR9 is 6 laps down and the Japanese Lamborghini is 11 laps down.
  • #64 C6.R ended up behind 2nd safety car after pit stop opening gap to #63 C6.R
  • Current Running Order: #63, #64, #72, #73, #66, #68



Source:
Corvette Motorsport
Photo Credit: Pierre BARRAU – ACO/Nikon

Related:
2009 Le Mans 24: Corvette Racing Qualifies One-Two in GT1 Class
Chevrolet’s Ed Peper: Corvette Racing Program to Continue Under GM Bankruptcy
Corvette Racing: The 24 Hours of Le Mans Entry List

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