Chevy Racing–CAMARO Z.28/R AT LIME ROCK: Short Track, Big Challenge at Lime Rock

CAMARO Z.28/R AT LIME ROCK: Short Track, Big Challenge at Lime Rock
New Camaro looking for second Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge victory
 
·         Four Camaro Z.28/R race cars entered for standalone GS race

·         Curran, Aschenbach crack top-five in GS points for CKS after Monterey runner-up

·         Chevrolet up to second in GS manufacturer championship

 
DETROIT (May 21, 2014) – It may be the shortest track on the schedule, but Lime Rock Park is set to provide a big challenge to the new Chevrolet Camaro Z/28.R race car and the rest of the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge. Lime Rock plays host to the fourth round of this year’s championship, which sees a standalone race for the Grand Sport (GS) class.
 
Four of the new Camaro Z/28.Rs are entered for Saturday’s two-and-a-half hour race. Lime Rock – at 1.53 miles and seven turns – is the smallest track on which the Camaros will compete this year. But it’s a venue that has been extremely good for the Chevrolet muscle car the last three years with three top-five finishes and a runner-up spot in last year’s race.
 
Heading into this year’s event, Chevrolet is second in the GS manufacturer championship, trailing by just seven points.
 
CKS Autosport’s Eric Curran and Lawson Aschenbach stand fifth in the GS championship following their second-place showing in the most recent round at Laguna Seca. The weekend also saw Curran place second in qualifying. CKS also will field a Camaro Z/28.R for Ashley McCalmont and Bob Michaelian.
 
Stevenson Motorsports’ two Camaro Z/28.Rs will race at Lime Rock as well, including the No. 6 entry of Sebring winners Robin Liddell and Andrew Davis. Andy Lally and Matt Bell will be in the No. 9 Camaro. Bell placed second in last year’s race driving a Camaro GS.R and led the most laps. He has finished in the top-five each of the last three years.
 
This version of the Camaro is very different than previous generations. The 7.0-liter V8 motor matches its production counterpart, as do many of the aerodynamic elements including the splitter, rear spoiler, hood extract vent, rockers and belly pan. Those features provide the closest link between production Camaro and racing version Chevrolet has produced.
 
“This race presents a unique challenge for our Camaro Z/28.R,” said Lisa Talarico, Chevrolet’s Program Manager for the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge. “Lime Rock is a stern test with a short lap and close-quarters racing. Patience and performance are keys. The length of the track also means that avoiding both contact and long pit stops are critical. With just one left-hand turn, the layout can create interesting strategies for setup and tire management. Fortunately, our Chevrolet Camaro teams have executed well at Lime Rock in the past, as evidenced by our strong showings in recent years. Another one would help us accumulate more valuable points in the GS manufacturer’s championship.”