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Corvette Racing to Celebrate Homecoming in Ohio
by Rick Voegelin, Corvette Racing
July 18, 2007
LEXINGTON, Ohio -- Conceived on the Corvette assembly line in Bowling Green, Ky., and raised at Corvette Racing's headquarters in suburban Detroit, the twin Compuware Corvette C6.R race cars are local favorites at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Going into this weekend's seventh round of the 12-race American Le Mans Series, Chevy's factory road racing team has posted five straight victories on the scenic 2.25-mile Mid-Ohio circuit.
Ron Fellows and Johnny O'Connell teamed up to score four consecutive wins at Mid-Ohio before finishing as runners-up in 2006 to Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta. This year Jan Magnussen is partnered with O'Connell in the No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R.
"I always look forward to going to Mid-Ohio because it's a beautiful track to race on," said O'Connell. "It's a track that's been good to me and to Corvette Racing over the years.
"I have to applaud the management for repaving the track surface last year and the steps they've taken to improve the racing there," O'Connell noted. "The track has both medium and high-speed corners, and the elevation changes put a lot of emphasis on your finesse. The key is to make the car comfortable to drive off the racing line because you'll often find yourself in that position in traffic."
The Mid-Ohio round of the ALMS series is well attended by Corvette Racing's friends and extended family, and the team is supported by hundreds of Corvette owners and enthusiasts in the Corvette Corral.
"The track is close to the factory so many of the mechanics' families and people from GM come to the race," explained Gavin. "They get to see the cars running on the track and experience what happens at an ALMS race. There is a family atmosphere, but there might be a little more pressure because so many people you know are watching.
"Mid-Ohio is a real racer's track," he continued. "It's quite a technical track, and you need a car that's good in both fast and slow sections. There is a lot of elevation change, so you put your trust in the corner workers when you are coming over crests and blind turns. Fortunately the marshals at Mid-Ohio do a great job."
With a perfect record on the track and the enthusiastic support of family and friends, Corvette Racing's annual return to the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is a midsummer celebration for America's premier production sports car team.
The Acura Sports Car Challenge, the seventh round of the 12-race ALMS series, will start at 3:15 p.m. EDT on Saturday, July 21. CBS Sports will televise the two-hour, 45-minute race tape-delayed at 2 p.m. EDT on Sunday, July 22.
by Rick Voegelin, Corvette Racing
July 18, 2007
LEXINGTON, Ohio -- Conceived on the Corvette assembly line in Bowling Green, Ky., and raised at Corvette Racing's headquarters in suburban Detroit, the twin Compuware Corvette C6.R race cars are local favorites at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Going into this weekend's seventh round of the 12-race American Le Mans Series, Chevy's factory road racing team has posted five straight victories on the scenic 2.25-mile Mid-Ohio circuit.
Ron Fellows and Johnny O'Connell teamed up to score four consecutive wins at Mid-Ohio before finishing as runners-up in 2006 to Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta. This year Jan Magnussen is partnered with O'Connell in the No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R.
"I always look forward to going to Mid-Ohio because it's a beautiful track to race on," said O'Connell. "It's a track that's been good to me and to Corvette Racing over the years.
"I have to applaud the management for repaving the track surface last year and the steps they've taken to improve the racing there," O'Connell noted. "The track has both medium and high-speed corners, and the elevation changes put a lot of emphasis on your finesse. The key is to make the car comfortable to drive off the racing line because you'll often find yourself in that position in traffic."
The Mid-Ohio round of the ALMS series is well attended by Corvette Racing's friends and extended family, and the team is supported by hundreds of Corvette owners and enthusiasts in the Corvette Corral.
"The track is close to the factory so many of the mechanics' families and people from GM come to the race," explained Gavin. "They get to see the cars running on the track and experience what happens at an ALMS race. There is a family atmosphere, but there might be a little more pressure because so many people you know are watching.
"Mid-Ohio is a real racer's track," he continued. "It's quite a technical track, and you need a car that's good in both fast and slow sections. There is a lot of elevation change, so you put your trust in the corner workers when you are coming over crests and blind turns. Fortunately the marshals at Mid-Ohio do a great job."
With a perfect record on the track and the enthusiastic support of family and friends, Corvette Racing's annual return to the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is a midsummer celebration for America's premier production sports car team.
The Acura Sports Car Challenge, the seventh round of the 12-race ALMS series, will start at 3:15 p.m. EDT on Saturday, July 21. CBS Sports will televise the two-hour, 45-minute race tape-delayed at 2 p.m. EDT on Sunday, July 22.
