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Return to Austin for Magnussen, first trip for Rockenfeller
CORVETTE RACING AT COTA: Next Steps in Corvette C8.R Development
Return to Austin for Magnussen, first trip for Rockenfeller
DETROIT (February 18, 2020) – Corvette Racing will embark on its next step in the development of the new Chevrolet Corvette C8.R this weekend. The program returns to competition in the FIA World Endurance Championship at Circuit of The Americas with one mid-engine Corvette for Sunday’s Six Hours of COTA.
Jan Magnussen and Mike Rockenfeller will team in the No. 63 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Corvette C8.R in the Lone Star State. It’s the first of two FIA WEC rounds for the pair with the 1,000 Miles of Sebring upcoming in March with Magnussen and Rockenfeller competing in the GTE Pro category.
COTA is a familiar place for Corvette Racing. The team is a two-time winner at the 3.4-mile, 20-turn layout just outside the Austin city limits. Magnussen was part of those two victories – in 2013 with the Corvette C6.R and 2017 in a Corvette C7.R. Meanwhile, this weekend’s trip will be the first for Rockenfeller to Circuit of The Americas, although he has spent time learning the circuit through simulation and video.
The Six Hours of COTA will be the second event for the Corvette C8.R following a successful debut at the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s Rolex 24 At Daytona. Each of the two Corvettes finished their first race with the No. 3 C8.R finishing fourth and covering more mileage than any previous Corvette at Daytona.
The goal for the WEC rounds at COTA and Sebring is continue development of the mid-engine Corvette against similar manufacturer-backed competition that Corvette Racing faces in the IMSA GT Le Mans class. A mix of track testing and simulation has been the backbone of testing and development of the C8.R for nearly two full years.
The return of Magnussen and Rockenfeller, past endurance teammates with Corvette Racing, allows for the team to focus on technical and mechanical improvements to the Corvette with familiar drivers. Magnussen spent 16 years with Corvette Racing and won four times at the 24 Hours Le Mans, once at the Rolex 24 and captured four IMSA Driver’s Championships. Rockenfeller was a winner with Corvette Racing at the 2017 Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring with Magnussen and Antonio Garcia.
The FIA WEC’s Six Hours of COTA will air Sunday on MotorTrend Network from 12:30 p.m.-2 p.m. ET and 6-7:30 p.m. ET.
JAN MAGNUSSEN, NO. 63 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R: "I'm looking forward to getting back to Austin and COTA. It's a new car obviously, and I'm excited to drive the Corvette C8.R at COTA. I've had some really good experiences with the C7.R at COTA in the past. Hopefully this will be another great result for Corvette Racing.
"We are going against the best in the business in the middle of their season, so we will go in there a little bit on the back foot. We'll go in there to see where we are, what we can do and will make the best of it. We have high hopes with the new C8.R, so we'll do the best we can to get the best possible result."
MIKE ROCKENFELLER, NO. 63 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R: "I'm really looking forward to feel in reality how the new Corvette is. I've been in the team shop for a seat fitting during a couple days. So I know the car in detail sitting in it and looking at it. I followed the team closely at Daytona. The mid-engine Corvette looked very fast and competitive at Daytona... going that distance and being in contention for a win this early is a good sign. But for me, it will be great to be behind the wheel on the racetrack. That's what I'm really looking forward to.
"What I have done and will continue to do is drive the track on my simulator at home. I've already done several laps already so I know the track from that. But I do want to do that more in preparation for the race. I have heard now nice Austin is from a lot of people in different categories. So I'm looking forward to it. Hopefully we have a good race... that's even more important!"
CORVETTE RACING AT COTA: Next Steps in Corvette C8.R Development
Return to Austin for Magnussen, first trip for Rockenfeller
DETROIT (February 18, 2020) – Corvette Racing will embark on its next step in the development of the new Chevrolet Corvette C8.R this weekend. The program returns to competition in the FIA World Endurance Championship at Circuit of The Americas with one mid-engine Corvette for Sunday’s Six Hours of COTA.
Jan Magnussen and Mike Rockenfeller will team in the No. 63 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Corvette C8.R in the Lone Star State. It’s the first of two FIA WEC rounds for the pair with the 1,000 Miles of Sebring upcoming in March with Magnussen and Rockenfeller competing in the GTE Pro category.
COTA is a familiar place for Corvette Racing. The team is a two-time winner at the 3.4-mile, 20-turn layout just outside the Austin city limits. Magnussen was part of those two victories – in 2013 with the Corvette C6.R and 2017 in a Corvette C7.R. Meanwhile, this weekend’s trip will be the first for Rockenfeller to Circuit of The Americas, although he has spent time learning the circuit through simulation and video.
The Six Hours of COTA will be the second event for the Corvette C8.R following a successful debut at the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s Rolex 24 At Daytona. Each of the two Corvettes finished their first race with the No. 3 C8.R finishing fourth and covering more mileage than any previous Corvette at Daytona.
The goal for the WEC rounds at COTA and Sebring is continue development of the mid-engine Corvette against similar manufacturer-backed competition that Corvette Racing faces in the IMSA GT Le Mans class. A mix of track testing and simulation has been the backbone of testing and development of the C8.R for nearly two full years.
The return of Magnussen and Rockenfeller, past endurance teammates with Corvette Racing, allows for the team to focus on technical and mechanical improvements to the Corvette with familiar drivers. Magnussen spent 16 years with Corvette Racing and won four times at the 24 Hours Le Mans, once at the Rolex 24 and captured four IMSA Driver’s Championships. Rockenfeller was a winner with Corvette Racing at the 2017 Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring with Magnussen and Antonio Garcia.
The FIA WEC’s Six Hours of COTA will air Sunday on MotorTrend Network from 12:30 p.m.-2 p.m. ET and 6-7:30 p.m. ET.
JAN MAGNUSSEN, NO. 63 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R: "I'm looking forward to getting back to Austin and COTA. It's a new car obviously, and I'm excited to drive the Corvette C8.R at COTA. I've had some really good experiences with the C7.R at COTA in the past. Hopefully this will be another great result for Corvette Racing.
"We are going against the best in the business in the middle of their season, so we will go in there a little bit on the back foot. We'll go in there to see where we are, what we can do and will make the best of it. We have high hopes with the new C8.R, so we'll do the best we can to get the best possible result."
MIKE ROCKENFELLER, NO. 63 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R: "I'm really looking forward to feel in reality how the new Corvette is. I've been in the team shop for a seat fitting during a couple days. So I know the car in detail sitting in it and looking at it. I followed the team closely at Daytona. The mid-engine Corvette looked very fast and competitive at Daytona... going that distance and being in contention for a win this early is a good sign. But for me, it will be great to be behind the wheel on the racetrack. That's what I'm really looking forward to.
"What I have done and will continue to do is drive the track on my simulator at home. I've already done several laps already so I know the track from that. But I do want to do that more in preparation for the race. I have heard now nice Austin is from a lot of people in different categories. So I'm looking forward to it. Hopefully we have a good race... that's even more important!"
