Chevy Racing–CAMARO Z/28.R AT COTA: Curran, Davis Take Top-Five Qualifying Spots in Austin

CAMARO Z/28.R AT COTA: Curran, Davis Take Top-Five Qualifying Spots in Austin
CKS Autosport’s Curran leads Chevy Camaro Z/28.R contingent with fourth in Grand Sport class

· GS championship leaders Davis, Liddell qualify fifth in No. 6 Stevenson Camaro

· Three Camaro Z/28.Rs to make up first four rows for Friday race

· Chevrolet chasing first CTSCC GS manufacturer championship

AUSTIN, Texas (Sept. 18, 2014) – Chevrolet’s quest for its first Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Grand Sport (GS) Manufacturer’s championship will continue on Friday with two Camaro Z/28.R entries occupying the top five starting spots following Thursday’s late afternoon qualifying session at Circuit of The Americas.

Eric Curran in the No. 01 CKS Autosport Camaro set the fourth-best time in the 15-minute period with a lap of 2:23.307 (85.411 mph). Curran and teammate Lawson Aschenbach will be looking for their second win of the season at one of the more prestigious but challenging venues on the circuit.

GS Driver’s championship co-leader Andrew Davis posted the fifth-fastest time in the No. 6 Stevenson Motorsports Camaro Z/28.R that he shares with Robin Liddell. The duo has been leading the charge for the Camaro camp so far with three victories in 2014 and runner-up finishes in the last two races. Davis’ best lap in Thursday’s qualifying was 2:23.325 (85.400 mph).

Stevenson Motorsports’ teammates Andy Lally and Matt Bell, who have also captured a win in 2014, will roll off from the seventh position for Friday’s race in their No. 9 Camaro. Bob Michaelian and Ashley McCalmont will start 15th in the GS division in their No. 00 CKS Camaro Z/28R.

“Having two Camaro Z/28.Rs in the top-five is a good accomplishment,” said Lisa Talarico, Chevrolet Program Manager for the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge. “We are lacking some pace but outright speed over a single lap doesn’t determine the race. It will take excellent strategy and consistent execution to win. As they have shown all season, I believe these are two areas in which our teams excel.”

Live race coverage from Circuit of The Americas is set for 1:20 p.m. ET Friday at IMSA.com. FOX Sports 1 will air the race at noon ET on Sunday, Sept. 28th.

Developed alongside its production counterpart, the Chevrolet Camaro Z/28.R incorporates the same performance elements that make the 2014 Camaro Z/28 the most track-capable Camaro ever. To enhance grip, for example, the Z/28.R’s body shares the same downforce-generating aero package as the production model including: the front splitter, rear spoiler with wickerbill, and hood extractor vent, among other items.

The Z/28.R is also powered by the same LS7 7.0L V-8 engine as the production Z/28 and employs the unique, helical-gear limited-slip rear differential found on the production model. It is standard in the Z/28, helping the driver put down more power to the pavement when exiting corners.

ERIC CURRAN, NO. 01 CKS AUTOSPORT CAMARO Z/28.R
“Honestly it was everything that I could do in driving that No. 01 CKS Team Chevy Camaro Z/28.R. Its tough because (restrictions) have knocked us back power-wise. It’s different too because our RPM points have been moved back, and our rev limits are much lower than they used to be so you are shifting earlier and you are shifting in awkward places on the track. Considering how much speed we have lost and how much it has affected our gearing and shift points, I think fourth is like first for me. I will take it. All the CKS guys are working like crazy right now after a little incident in practice this morning.”

WERE YOU ABLE TO GET A FEEL FOR THE LONG RUNS AND HOW THE CAR MIGHT BEHAVE AROUND HERE?
“It’s tough to say. I did a half-hour run in the second practice today and got a pretty good feel for it and think it’s going to be decent. But the trouble of it is that our Camaro Z/28.R has always made good power and good torque. That is part of what makes it such a good race car. You need that torque and you need that power to negotiate traffic to race people. It’s going to be a tough race tomorrow based on that because we are going to be looking for everyone’s draft and doing what we can do. The good news is that the handling and the braking of the Z/28.R are awesome.”

ANDREW DAVIS, NO. 6 STEVENSON MOTORSPORTS CAMARO Z/28.R
“The first lap was fine and we were able to get a decent lap in there – even with the traffic. On the next lap I was trying to push harder and lost ABS going into Turn One. It was a full ABS failure and we had to bring it in. It’s very unfortunate because we were just trying to get the car competitive and it looked like we were going to have something. We will be good but it will be a very tough day for the crew.