Up Close With Corvette Racing at IMSA Petit Le Mans: Track Time Tuesday

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In its first year running the C8 race car, Corvette’s strange yet stellar season continued at the 23rd Annual Motul Petit Le Mans.

Possibly the most anticipated event of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship is the Motul Petit Le Mans race. The flagship event pushes the cars to the limit through 10 grueling hours. As the final IMSA event of the season, Corvette Racing was coming in on top. 2020 was undoubtedly a year of firsts; both good and epically bad. But as the first year with the C8 Corvette race car, it was a hit.

Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta hosted the four-day event, filled with a lot of on-track thrills. But the main event was the GT Le Mans. Two 2020 C8.R Corvettes joined the starting lineup of 31 cars running the 2.54-mile, 12-turn road course.

It was a wild ride, with both of the mid-engine Corvettes taking the lead throughout race. Not only were they contending with the demanding and sinewy circuit; but wild weather, and unexpected highs, lows, and total burnouts.

The no. 3 Corvette C8.R driven by Antonio Garcia, Jordan Taylor, and Nicky Catsburg posted a runner-up class finish behind Porsche. Unfortunately, they came up short for their sixth victory of the season in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s GT Le Mans (GTLM) class.

“Looking back at the season, if this is a bad result then I will take it! ” said Garcia. “We are in good shape for the championship. From that standpoint, we can be very happy of the consistency and being able to fight at every single race. We’ll go and try to win the last two and close it out.”

In the No. 4 Corvette, Oliver Gavin, Tommy Milner, and Marcel Fässler placed fourth in class.

“This was the most difficult Petit Le Mans that I’ve ever done,” said Gavin. “I’ve had hurt ribs after an incident biking earlier this week…it became apparent Thursday that it was going to be a struggle in the car. It just was too much pain and discomfort in my stint and we elected to get Marcel back in during the caution. He and Tommy did an amazing job under the circumstances, especially in a race as unpredictable as Petit Le Mans.”

Garcia started off in pole position, but fell behind and then reclaimed the lead in just the first 94-minute run. The race was especially memorable, with non-stop action, dropping temperatures, and heated rivalries. A truly nail-biting racing like the GTLM demonstrates not only the superior skill of the drivers and pit crew; it a testament to the C8.R Corvette’s brute force and exquisite performance. It is always about the car.

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No words can describe the C8.R’s furious wail. So, turn it up!

And they’re off! #Corvette #C8R #IMSA #GTLM #PLM @TeamChevy @RoadAtlanta pic.twitter.com/jULMjZz94g

— Corvette Racing (@CorvetteRacing) October 17, 2020

If you’ve ever dreamed of racing a C8 on a pro-circuit, this might give you a sense of the challenges…and rewards.

Here’s what it looks like aboard the 3 #Corvette #C8R w/ @AntonioGarcia_3. He’s two seconds clear of P2 at the moment. Want more? Check the @TeamChevy on-board at https://t.co/MTZ9YBcLgZ#IMSA #GTLM #PLM pic.twitter.com/rlQUzsAaAC

— Corvette Racing (@CorvetteRacing) October 17, 2020

Corvette Racing faces its next challenge at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, October 31-November 1. And Gavin is ready. “We’ll try to get back on the right track at Laguna Seca later this month.”

Photos: Corvette Racing/Chevrolet 

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