20.6.2005
Corvette Racing wins GT1 Class at 24 Hours of Le Mans

Corvette Racing made history at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, scoring its fourth 1-2 finish in the GT1 class in five years with the new Corvette C6.R. Corvette Racing drivers Oliver Gavin, Olivier Beretta and Jan Magnussen reprised their victory in last year's 24-hour endurance race, and were again joined on the podium by teammates Ron Fellows, Johnny O'Connell and Max Papis.

After trailing its rivals through the night, the 19th hour proved to be the turning point for Corvette Racing. The No. 64 Compuware Corvette C6.R driven by Gavin, Beretta and Magnussen took the point when the leading Aston Martin pitted for repairs. The Corvette kept relentless pressure on its pursuers, running 3-minute, 55-second laps in withering 97-degree heat. The Corvette victory was sealed when both Aston Martins encountered problems in the 23rd hour,

«I pushed hard, it was like qualifying every lap,» said Magnussen, who drove a stunning double stint at the crucial time. «I was trying to stay out of trouble, be consistent and work the traffic. It paid off and we wore out the competition. I enjoyed every minute of it because I could see that we could open up the gap. It's the best we could hope for.»

«This is a fantastic result for the first time we've run the C6.R at Le Mans,» Gavin declared after he forced the pace in the closing hours in his own double stint. «The Corvette Racing team just never, ever gives up. The team told me that we needed a certain lap time to make sure they would never catch us. We achieved the lap time we needed, and they broke.»

«There should be no doubt that Corvette has arrived at world-class status», said Corvette chief engineer Dave Hill. «With the success that we've had racing at Le Mans, linked with the capabilities of production models like the new Z06, makes us feel that this is the finest time in Corvette's history. This team has shown courage to take on strong adversaries over the years, from Viper and Ferrari to Aston Martin. I've had the honor to be here at Le Mans for six years, and this is the best one yet.»

24 Hours of Le Mans GT1 Results