June 15, 2011
Corvette Racing: Defining greatness yet again at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
By Peter M. De Lorenzo
(Posted 6/12, 4:00 p.m.) Detroit. Last week, I closed my pre-race column for the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the following statement: "Corvette Racing is embarking on yet another quest for greatness at this year's edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It drives them, it consumes them, and yes, ultimately it will define them. And believe me, they wouldn't have it any other way."
Indeed they wouldn't. Jarred by seeing team leader Jan Magnussen taken out of the race early Sunday morning after having led the GTE Pro class for nearly 16 hours, Corvette Racing came through for another huge win against the world's best in the 24 Hours of Le Mans on Sunday, its seventh class win in the most prestigious endurance road race in the world.
The No. 73 Compuware Corvette C6.R prepared by Pratt&Miller Engineering and driven by Tommy Milner (with Olivier Beretta and Antonio Garcia) ran down the class-leading No. 51 Ferrari 458 Italia driven by Toni Vilander (with Giancarlo Fisichella and Gimmi Bruni), slashing the margin by seconds every lap and finally taking the lead on the Mulsanne Straight with two hours and 10 minutes to go. Milner then gradually increased his lead before completing his double stint and handing the car off to Antonio Garcia, who then brought the car home over the final hour to the finish. The No. 73 Corvette C6.R completed 314 laps, finishing two minutes and 29 seconds ahead of the 2nd-place Ferrari. It was the sixth Le Mans title for Beretta, the third for Garcia, and the first for Milner.
"That was the hardest drive of my life," said the 25-year-old Milner. "It would have been a lot easier if it hadn't been sprinkling, raining, not raining, and then wet – all that plus the pressure of the situation. I'd been super comfortable in the car all day long, but I was certainly not comfortable then. I was just trying to drive the car to what the track would allow. Every lap it changed, every corner it changed. When you start racing, you hope that one day you can compete for a win," he added. "To get one here at Le Mans in my first year with Corvette Racing is very cool."
The win wasn't easy for Corvette Racing, especially against tough competition from the likes of BMW, Ferrari and Porsche, but to win at Le Mans never is. Magnussen's No. 74 Corvette C6.R team car that he shared with Oliver Gavin and Richard Westbrook was trashed in a high-speed crash in the 17th hour, eliminating the car on the spot. So Milner, Beretta and Garcia relentlessly pressed on, chasing down the class leading Ferrari with ferocity.
The victory came as Chevrolet celebrates its 100th anniversary and the 10th anniversary of Corvette Racing's first Le Mans victory in 2001.
"If I were to write a script to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Chevrolet and the 10th anniversary of Corvette Racing's first win at Le Mans, this would undoubtedly be it," said Corvette Racing program manager Doug Fehan. "Louis Chevrolet was himself a racer, and his motto, 'Never give up!' is a philosophy we embraced from our first visit here. I think the result today embodied the spirit of Chevrolet's co-founder and of that iconic phrase."
"This is my first time at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but I've watched Corvettes race here my whole life," said Mark Reuss, President GM North America. "To come here for the first time on the 100th anniversary of Chevrolet and to have another Corvette victory is beyond words."
Beyond words indeed. What this team has accomplished at Le Mans is nothing short of extraordinary. Seven class wins on the toughest road racing stage in the world? Simply incredible.
Congratulations to Corvette Racing team manager Gary Pratt, Corvette Racing program manager Doug Fehan, and to Jim Miller and the entire Pratt & Miller organization for yet another sensational win at the most prestigious endurance road race in the world.
American racing enthusiasts of all affiliations should be very proud of Corvette Racing today.
I know I am.
(Richard Prince/GM Racing Photo)
Corvette Racing drivers Tommy Milner, Olivier Beretta and Antonio Garcia take their place at the center of the podium after their GTE Pro class win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Mark Reuss, GM President of North America, Corvette Racing Program Manager Doug Fehan and Jim Campbell, GM Vice President of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports, stand directly behind them. A huge day for Corvette Racing, and American road racing fans.
Publisher's Note: As part of our continuing series celebrating the "Glory Days" of racing, we're proud to present another noteworthy image from the Ford Racing Archives. - PMD
(Courtesy of the Ford racing Archives)
Le Mans, France, June 19th, 1966. Henry Ford II (far right) awaits the end of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which would mark the first victory for Ford in the prestigious endurance race. After being rebuffed by Enzo Ferrari at the very last minute when Ford attempted to buy the Italian automaker, Ford decided then and there that he would take the fight to Ferrari on their home turf, "no matter how much it costs," according to legend. Ford dominated the '66 race (even though the formation finish was botched, famously robbing Ken Miles, the Shelby American team leader, from the win) and the '67 race in factory team cars. Ford would also win in '68 and '69 with GT40s entered by John Wyer Engineering. To this date Ferrari has never won overall at Le Mans again, preferring to concentrate on F1.
Publisher's Note: Like these Ford racing photos? Check out www.fordimages.com. Be forewarned, however, because you won't be able to go there and not order something. - PMD
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