No GM bailout = No Corvette Racing at Le Mans?

[MOTV8]

Corvette Racing to skip Le Mans?

Despite adamant denials from General Motors road racing boss Steve Wesoloski, anonymous sources insist that Corvette Racing will skip the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans as the operation looks to cut costs by focusing solely on its move to the GT2 class in the second half of next season.

Corvette Racing's original plan for 2009 calls for the team to race its two GT1-class C6.Rs at the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring to open the American Le Mans Series season, followed by appearances at Long Beach and Le Mans. The team would then contest select races in GT2 to finish the year, before a full-season GT2 effort in 2010. However, sources say that word came down recently to reduce the racing budget, and that cancellation of next year's GT1 outings is the solution.

But Wesoloski answered a call from AutoWeek on Thursday saying "It's not true" in response to the rumor, which was published first this week in U.K. racing magazine Autosport.

"We are still going ahead with our plans for a reduced program of Sebring, Long Beach and Le Mans," he said. "No one has come knocking to tell me otherwise.

"We are, of course, prepared for all eventualities. It all hinges on what happens in Washington [with financial bailout talks]."

At first glance, eliminating Le Mans from Corvette Racing's schedule seems unlikely. The team's budget is already in place for next year, and contracts with sponsors and partner Pratt & Miller are also in effect through 2010.

Wesoloski did not completely dismiss the possibility of pulling the plug on Le Mans--if indeed he is ordered to slash costs.

"[The 2009 GT1 operation] would be the place to start," he said. "[but] the difficulty is our sponsorship commitments. Due to the international exposure of Le Mans, it might end up costing us more not to do it."

Speaking at a GM press event in Detroit on Thursday, a high-ranking GM official said the company would quit NASCAR before it quit Le Mans.

I get the feeling ole Steve Wesoloski will be the last one to know when or IF the bean counters pull the plug.

[MOTV8]

FEHAN: NO CHANGE IN CORVETTE GT1 PROGRAM

Detroit, MI December 20, 2008:

Corvette Racing program manager Doug Fehan is quick to reconfirm Corvette Racing's GT1 program in the first half of the 2009 American Le Mans Series.

"The primary focus of the race team is the 12 Hours of Sebring, Long Beach and, of course as it always has been, the 24 Hours of Le Mans," Fehan said. "We tested the GT1 car at Sebring in November. And we will be utilizing Sebring and Long Beach to put the final touches on the Le Mans effort. We're continuously developing the car and package for fuel mileage, efficiency and new materials from our various suppliers. We want our last GT1 appearance at Le Mans to be successful. The team understands the importance of a victory at Sebring, Long Beach and Le Mans to close the GT1 program."

The highly anticipated GT2 Corvette is still scheduled to debut at Mid-Ohio in early August, Fehan added.

"Engineering and fabrication continues to focus on the GT2 program," he said. "We expect the first actual race car to be completed in early February and will be testing that car in the spring."

[Desertdawg]

Good, I wanted to see one more showing at the 24 Le Mans race....

But I also can't wait to see how the GT2 vette runs in a crowd!