Corvette Racing Scores 1-2 Finish in Sebring
Gavin, Beretta and Papis Claim GT1 Victory in Legendary 12-Hour Endurance
Race
SEBRING, Fla. - On a perfect day for racing at Sebring International
Raceway, Corvette Racing ran a perfect race. America's premier production sports
car team scored its fifth GT1 class win in six years in America's classic
endurance race, the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. Oliver Gavin, Olivier
Beretta and Max Papis drove their No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R to a
17.863-second victory over their Corvette Racing teammates Johnny O'Connell, Ron
Fellows and Jan Magnussen in the No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R.
The Corvettes ran like clockwork throughout the grueling 12-hour race,
completing 341 laps around the 3.7-mile, 17-turn circuit. Both cars made 12
routine pit stops for fuel and four Michelin tires after 55-minute stints, and
then made their final stops with five minutes remaining for a splash of gas.
"The Corvette C6.R was a joy to drive all day, and there wasn't a single thing
that went wrong," said Gavin, who drove the victorious Corvette to the checkered
flag. "The team performed fantastically, and there wasn't one misstep on any of
the pit stops."
"To finish with less than 20 seconds between the two cars after 12 hours of
racing is quite remarkable," Gavin noted. "You can't get a stronger test than 12
hours at Sebring, and we've come through with flying colors."
After two days of downpours, race day began with a sunrise surprise as
Corvette Racing unveiled the No. 3 Compuware Corvette in brilliant Arctic White
paint, a salute to the limited edition Ron Fellows ALMS GT1 Champion Corvette
Z06. The race began under clear skies with cool 60-degree temperatures. Fellows
and Gavin started the 12-hour enduro in the No. 3 and No. 4 Corvettes
respectively, with Fellows taking the point in the GT1 class when the green flag
fell. The two cars held first and second in the class standings through the
first two pit stops and driver changes. After 2 hours and 40 minutes of racing,
Gavin took the lead following the third round of pit stops.
"We had a great battle with the No. 3 Corvette, and I think the turning point
was when I was able to get through traffic and gain some distance when I came in
for my pit stop," Papis reported. "Then with Gavin's out-lap, it made just
enough difference for us to get around the No. 3 car."
"After that it was continuous perfect pit work by the mechanics and great
strategy by our engineer, Steve Cole," Papis continued. "There is a lot of
pressure when you have one of the best crews and three of the best drivers in
the world on the other side, but my guys never missed a beat. This is the first
win since my Dad passed away in December, and I know that he guided us today."
"Our Corvette was fast, strong, and fantastically reliable," added Beretta,
who scored his record-setting 29th career ALMS victory. "Everything went very
smoothly in the race. I stayed out of traffic and stayed off the curbs."
The drivers and crew of the No. 3 Corvette were quick to congratulate their
winning teammates. "You can't say enough about how Corvette Racing prepares
their cars - both cars were very strong, and this was a good test for the 24
Hours of Le Mans," said O'Connell, who was aiming for a record seventh class win
in Sebring. "I'll try for No. 7 next year. I want to get that record, and I know
in a Corvette I'll be able to do it."
Corvette Racing's next event is the Acura Sports Car Challenge of St.
Petersburg in St. Petersburg, Fla., on Saturday, March 31. The 2-hour, 45-minute
race on a 1.8-mile temporary street circuit will begin at 5 p.m. ET. The will be
televised tape-delayed on the SPEED Channel from 8 to 11 p.m. ET.
Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring GT1 Results
Pos./Drivers/Car/Laps
1. Gavin/Beretta/Papis, Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, 341
2. Fellows/O'Connell/Magnussen, Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, 341
3. Garcia/Turner/Halliday, Aston Martin DBR9, 331
NEXT EVENT
March 31, 2007, Acura Sports Car Challenge of St. Petersburg
TV: SPEED, March 31, 8 p.m. ET
