It's Official: Corvette Racing to GT2

[MOTV8]

Corvette Racing plans for the future

Racing series LEMANS ALMS

Date 2008-09-09

By John Dagys - Motorsport.com

Corvette Racing outlined its program for the next two years Tuesday, revealing plans to enter the LM GT2 category of the American Le Mans Series for a limited schedule in 2009. The popular Detroit area-based factory team will first campaign its current LM GT1 class Corvette C6.Rs in three early season races next year, with primary focus on the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June.

The current-generation GT1 car will compete in next year's Twelve Hours of Sebring in March, followed by the Grand Prix of Long Beach round in April. Then, all focus will turn to Le Mans, with the Doug Fehan-led effort aiming to score its sixth GT1 class victory in the famed twice-around-the-clock French classic.

Corvette Racing's new GT2-spec Corvette C6.R will then debut in the American Le Mans Series for selected events later that season, in preparation for an all-out attack on the GT2 championship in 2010.

"Corvette Racing will be well positioned for the future of production-based sports car racing worldwide with the plans we are announcing today," said Steve Wesoloski, GM Racing Road Racing Group manager. "The international regulations are converging around a single, global GT class, and we intend to continue Corvette's motorsports heritage by racing against manufacturers and marques that Corvette competes with in the marketplace."

After facing little to no opposition in the GT1 category over the past two seasons, the team will now turn its focus on the highly competitive GT2 class. Manufacturers such as Ferrari, Porsche, Aston Martin, BMW and Panoz are expected to be all well represented in 2009, making it the most diverse division in the series. This will be especially the case with the arrival of the factory Corvettes.

"Competing in GT2 will be a true test of our team's determination, talent and technology," said Doug Fehan, Corvette Racing program manager. "The level of competition in the category is already fierce, and that promises to become more intense with more manufacturers and top-tier teams. We've explored alternative paths, and we believe that competing in GT is the right road for Corvette Racing to take in the future."

In 2009, the new GT2 Corvette C6.R will be powered by a 6.0-liter version of the LS7.R small block V8 that currently is used in the GT1 machine. A new 5.5-liter engine will then be developed to fit the new GT regulations, which will come into effect in 2010. Wesoloski expects only minor changes will be made to the car for it to comply with the new rules package. The new car will also continue to run on cellulosic E85R fuel.

Corvette Racing is the first factory team to announce its long-term GT racing plans. Last month, SRO chairman and FIA GT Championship organizer, Stephane Ratel, confirmed the 2010 regulations for GT racing worldwide. The rules, expected to also be adopted by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO), will once again encompass two GT categories, but with different performance levels.

Current GT2 cars will serve as the foundation for new regulations, with engine displacement and aerodynamic configurations making it either a "new" GT1 or GT2 car. Fehan said Corvette Racing's focus right now would be on the new GT2, as that appears to have the most popularity amongst other manufacturers.

Another exciting aspect of Corvette Racing's new GT2 car is the fact that there will be customer versions readily available. A number of teams already race the GT1 class Corvette C6.R in Europe, and presumably would be interested in continuing its ties with the American brand in the future.

"In accordance with the regulations, the new version of the Corvette C6.R race car will be available to independent teams," Wesoloski added. "Corvette and Chevrolet are global brands, and we look forward to seeing production-based Corvette race cars competing in series around the world under the leadership of the ACO and FIA."

No mention was made regarding how soon customer cars would be available, or Corvette Racing's driver line-up for 2009.

I really, reaLLY, REALLY hope they kick ass at Le Mans next year, then drop down and lay the wood to Porsche and Ferrari immediately thereafter. Give 'em a little taste of big butt V8 power.

[P51tj]

Here's to continued success for Corvette Racing!

[Desertdawg]

But didn't the Ferraries and Porch's all leave GT1 when they couldn't beat the Corvette in the first place?

With so little involvement in GT1 now, I wonder why they even keep the class open, if it weren't for Aston entering a car this year it would have been almost exclusively Corvettes.

[Tim]

But didn't the Ferraries and Porch's all leave GT1 when they couldn't beat the Corvette in the first place?

With so little involvement in GT1 now, I wonder why they even keep the class open, if it weren't for Aston entering a car this year it would have been almost exclusively Corvettes.

I just read where the Mustangs are doing pretty well in the GT classes the FR550C. These are FIA GT3 and GT4racing. One Mustang is the point leader driver is De Doncker. Finished 3rd and 2nd in two out of three sprints.

It's great having both brands...

[MOTV8]

Engineering is done on the GT2-spec 'vette.

Fehan chimes in...predicts Corvettes will NOT dominate in GT2, at least at first:

The start of the 2009 American Le Mans Series will mark the end of an era for Corvette Racing. GM's factory team will focus on its transition to a new GT2 program that will debut in the second half of the season. Program manager Doug Fehan shed some light on the project after last weekend's Monterey Sports Car Championships presented by Patrón.

The team announced plans in September to move from the GT1 class that it has dominated since 2001. Corvette Racing has won eight consecutive team championships, and its drivers have won seven straight titles in the American Le Mans Series. There also is the matter of five victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the quest for a sixth will be the final race in GT1.

Fehan says the debut of the GT2 entry likely will come at Mid-Ohio. It will revolve around a next-generation Corvette C6.R that again will compete on cellulosic E85. The car will have steel brakes, a smaller wing and a little less horsepower than the current GT1 car. Other than that, Fehan said, it will look exactly the same as now.

"The engineering work is completed and we'll be starting in the next week to 10 days actually assembling the car," Fehan said. "We've done the simulations on it. We know what the rules are and we know what the other cars are capable of. When we finally come out we'll do the best job we possibly can."

As easy as Corvette has made GT1 look for the last eight years, it will be equally as tough in GT2. Porsche and Ferrari are the two premier marques in the class with BMW's factory effort returning for 2009. Panoz also likely will figure into the mix as will teams from Aston Martin, Dodge and Ford, among others.

"Don't look for us to dominate right out of the chute - it's not going not to happen," Fehan said. "Rear-engine and mid-engine cars have a distinct advantage in that classification. We know the challenges that lie ahead for a front-engine car and we are prepared to meet them. Let's not forget too that we spent the first two years struggling with (the GT1) car. It took us awhile to get us up to speed and we expect that same kind of learning curve. We are prepared for it."

He also anticipates customer car sales starting in 2010 for both American and European teams.

"We want to dominate as quickly as we possibly can," Fehan said. "This team is not a team that likes to sit back and take their time. Everything we do from unloading the trucks to packing up...is a race, and that's the spirit we bring forward every day. We want to take forward the heritage we've created for Corvette. We've worked pretty darn hard over the last 10 years to change the image of that car on a global basis and we plan to uphold that image as we go forward."

source: AutoCorse.it

[Desertdawg]

We want to take forward the heritage we've created for Corvette.

I don't care if they win next year, the added coverage and commentary about the Corvette in GT2 will be enough to keep me happy.

Well that and a cold one!

[MOTV8]

GT2 could be a bitchin' show this year, for sure.

Vettes vs. Ferrari, Porsche, Panoz, and now BMW :

Rahal Letterman fields BMW for ALMS GT2

RLR test BMW M3 at Sebring

By Steven English

Tuesday, December 2nd 2008, 15:04 GMT

BMW World Touring Car drivers Andy Priaulx, Jorg Muller and Augusto Farfus continued their testing of Rahal Letterman Racing's new M3 GT2 at Sebring this week.

The factory drivers were loaned to the team for last week's test at Road Atlanta and this week's at Sebring, and covered nearly 1500 miles of development in preparation for the car's debut in the American Le Mans Series with RLR next season.

Priaulx, Muller and Farfus worked on a wide range of components and setups, as well as sampling a variety of tyre compounds both wet and dry at Sebring this week.

RLR team boss Bobby Rahal is delighted to be developing the new car and believes the GT2 class will be the highlight of the ALMS next season.

"With all due respect to our prototype friends, GT2 will truly be one for the ages," he said. "We are part of BMW returning, you have Corvette moving from GT1, plus Panoz, Porsche and Ferrari. It will be extremely tough, competitive racing.

"It's a great relationship between Rahal Letterman and BMW North America. Sportscar racing is where I got my start so there were a lot of emotional reasons for being involved, but there also were a variety of business-related reasons as well."

Rahal Letterman will resume their development of the car at Sebring at the end of January, ahead of the opening round of next season - the Sebring 12 Hours - in March.

Good, I say. If we can't beat the dominant Ferraris/Porsches at first, then at least we can beat down the bimmers.

[Desertdawg]

I can't wait, the move to a bigger class is going to really be fun!!!!!!