DETROIT (Sept. 22, 2020) – Corvette Racing takes the mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette C8.R to its first new track in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship this weekend as the series visits Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for the Acura Sports Car Challenge. It’s the seventh round of the championship for the GT Le Mans (GTLM) class and sixth since racing returned from the COVID-19 break in July. The Corvette Racing program came out hot following the restart with four wins in five races. Antonio Garcia and Jordan Taylor have won three times in the No. 3 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Chevrolet Corvette C8.R and lead the GTLM Drivers Championship, as does Chevrolet in the Manufacturers standings. A runner-up finish at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta earlier this month moved Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner to second in GTLM points in the No. 4 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Corvette C8.R. The teammates were victorious in class at Sebring and placed second at Road America to start their march up the championship order. Unlike the previous seven IMSA events, Corvette Racing has not tested the new-generation Corvette at Mid-Ohio – a highly technical track with significant undulation and directional changes. As a result, the team and its drivers will rely on data analysis and correlations from sessions at Chevrolet’s Driver-in-the-Loop (DiL) simulator to arrive at effective baseline and aero setups for the first of a pair of one-hour practice sessions before Sunday’s qualifying and race. Corvette Racing leads all IMSA entrants with eight class victories at Mid-Ohio dating back to 2001 in the American Le Mans Series. Gavin is tied for most victories by an active driver at the circuit with four and also shares the lead for career Mid-Ohio poles with four. Taylor has two career pole positions at the track – one each in the prototype and GT ranks. Since making its return to Mid-Ohio in 2018, Corvette Racing has scored consecutive GTLM podiums with Garcia part of each – third in 2018 and runner-up last year. The Acura Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. ET on Sunday with same-day coverage on NBCSN at 11 p.m. ET. Live streaming coverage begins at 2 p.m. via TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold. In addition, IMSA Radio will broadcast the race on IMSA.com, which also will host live timing and scoring. |