CORVETTE RACING AT ROAD AMERICA: Front-Row Start For Action Express Racing
Fittipaldi leads Corvette DP charge with second in qualifying; Gavin sixth in GTLM
· More momentum for Prototype championship leaders Fittipaldi, Barbosa
· Gavin leads Corvette Racing qualifying efforts in No. 4 Corvette C7.R
· Chevrolet aiming to retain lead in Prototype, GTLM manufacturer championships
ELKHART LAKE, Wis. (Aug. 9, 2014) – Christian Fittipaldi and Action Express Racing led the way for the Corvette Daytona Prototype contingent in Saturday’s qualifying session for the Continental Tire Road Race Showcase at Road America. Fittipaldi was second in the No. 5 Action Express Corvette DP during Prototype qualifying with a lap of 1:55.961 (125.670 mph) at Road America.
Fittipaldi and teammate Joao Barbosa are coming off a victory two weeks ago at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the previous round of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship. That win moved them into the lead of the Prototype driver’s standings. Another triumph in Sunday’s two-hour, 45-minute race would be their third of the season, having also won the season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona.
Wayne Taylor Racing’s Corvette DP will start behind Action Express on the grid. Ricky Taylor’s time of 1:56.175 (125.438 mph) was good enough for fourth in qualifying. He will drive with brother Jordan.
The success of the Corvette Daytona Prototypes have Chevrolet leading the Prototype engine manufacturer’s championship after eight races. Corvette DPs have four victories on the season including three of the last four rounds.
Ryan Dalziel was the fastest qualifier with a 1:55.166 (126.537 mph) lap.
Corvette Racing: An Uphill Battle for Corvette C7.Rs
Back at the site of its first test nearly a year ago, Corvette Racing’s two Corvette C7.Rs qualified sixth and eighth in the GT Le Mans (GTLM) class Saturday. Oliver Gavin was the quickest Corvette driver with a lap of 2:04.650 (116.910 mph) in the No. 4 C7.R that he drives with Tommy Milner.
Jan Magnussen in the No. 3 Corvette C7.R set a best lap of 2:04.738 (116.827 mph). He and teammate Antonio Garcia lead the GTLM driver’s championship with a class-best four victories this season, all in succession. In addition, Chevrolet leads the class manufacturer’s standings.
In addition to its initial test last August, Corvette Racing tested at Road America in early May ahead of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The two Corvette C7.Rs ran in a lower downforce package than what it is using this weekend. Corvette Racing also has been consistently good in race trim this year, and the team’s focus has been on optimizing the balance of the cars over longer green-flag runs.
John Edwards set the fastest time in GTLM qualifying at 2:03.747 (117.763 mph).