CORVETTE DPs AT DAYTONA: Next Stop is the Rolex 24
Four Corvette DPs log laps during Roar Before the 24 weekend
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 10, 2016) – The Roar Before the 24 Test weekend is complete, and now Corvette Daytona Prototypes look ahead to the opening race of the 2016 season. Four Corvette DPs ran through their respective testing programs at Daytona International Speedway with the 54th Rolex 24 At Daytona looming at the end of the month.
It’s the first race of the 2016 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship that will see the Corvette DP entries attempt to deliver a fifth straight Prototype Engine Manufacturer Championship for Chevrolet. A Corvette DP last won the Rolex 24 in 2014 when it claimed the top four finishing positions.
This weekend’s results bear out a close and competitive Prototype field with the top 10 cars within 0.995 seconds.
“Looking at the times and results from the Roar, this may be one of the most competitive Prototype fields we’ve seen for the Rolex 24,” said Jim Lutz, Chevrolet Program Manager for the Corvette DP. “There are a number of new cars and teams in the class, but we have experience and reliability on our side with our Corvette Daytona Prototypes. There are several adjustments that teams will make ahead of the race so we will see how things are in race conditions when we return in a couple of weeks.”
Wayne Taylor Racing’s No. 10 Konica Minolta Corvette DP was the quickest Chevrolet-powered entry on the weekend. Max Angelelli set the car’s best lap Sunday morning with a 1:39.973 (128.195 mph) and is set to drive the Rolex 24 with Jordan and Ricky Taylor.
Filipe Albuquerque was less than 0.3 seconds back in Action Express Racing’s No. 5 Mustang Sampling Corvette DP. His best time of 1:39.995 (128.166 mph) also came Sunday morning. He will drive with defending IMSA Prototype champions Joao Barbosa and Christian Fittipaldi, along with five-time Rolex 24 winner Scott Pruett.
Action Express Racing’s second Corvette DP wasn’t far behind with Simon Pagenaud setting the best time in the No. 31 Whelen Engineering Corvette DP. His lap of 1:40.011 (128.146 mph) came during Sunday’s final session in the entry he will share with Dane Cameron, Eric Curran and Jonny Adam.
The new-look VisitFlorida Racing No. 90 Corvette DP made strides during the weekend, as well. Ryan Hunter-Reay set the Corvette DP’s best lap of 1:40.418 (127.627 mph) Sunday morning. He will drive with Ryan Dalziel and Marc Goossens. All three will race for VisitFlorida Racing for the first time at the Rolex 24.
Since debuting in 2012, the Corvette DP program has joined elite company with its record of success – first in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series and the last two years in IMSA competition. Corvette DPs have won 30 times in 46 races for a 65.2 winning percentage.
The Corvette DP bodywork reflects the Corvette C7 production lineup. At the heart of the Corvette Daytona Prototype is a purpose-built 5.5-liter Chevrolet LS9 V-8 engine developed by ECR Engines.
CHRISTIAN FITTIPALDI, ACTION EXPRESS RACING NO. 5 MUSTANG SAMPLING CORVETTE DP: “We’re basically running through our program and just trying different things. In some ways we learned some positive things. But in others we went a little backward. But this is all about testing. I think we know exactly where we are. So far everything is OK. We had a little bit of problems on the first day. We’re chipping away at it. I’m very confident that we will have a good race car for the Rolex 24.”
RICKY TAYLOR, WAYNE TAYLOR RACING, NO. 10 KONICA MINOLTA CORVETTE DP: “You can’t really look at pace on weekend like this because you suspect all the games everyone is playing. But other than that, I think we checked off all of our boxes. We came here and the car ran without issues. We tried all of our new winter projects. Some were successes, and some didn’t go as planned which is expected. Then we got all the race stuff on the car vetted in and ready for the Rolex 24 weekend. Everything is ready to go. We even learned some things that we have to change between now and the 24 Hours weekend which is good. All positive.
“The Rolex 24 comes so fast, and you’ve got more drivers to get through the cars, so it is good to get some seat time after the long offseason. It is super important to roll off well, because in qualifying – although it is a long race – everyone wants pole for at Daytona. It is a big bragging rights thing. I have a lot of confidence in our car for the 24 Hours. I think we will be in good shape.”
DANE CAMERON, ACTION EXPRESS RACING NO. 31 WHELEN ENGINEERING CORVETTE DP: “I’m super excited to join Action Express Racing with Whelen Engineering in our Corvette Daytona Prototype. It’s great to rejoin an unchanged program and build on all the success we had last year and all the development work that has been done. We should have a good chance to not only win the Rolex 24 but also the Prototype championship and also another one for Chevrolet.
“Last year we were in the getting-to-know you phase – trying to learn everyone’s name, understand the car and what the car likes. Now that all is out of the way and we can get elbow-deep in and contribute to the team and work on the progress of this Corvette DP to make sure they are well-suited for the race. You couldn’t ask for anyone better than Action Express to prepare the car. We’ll have two fantastic race cars for the Rolex, and we’ll be as prepared as we possibly can be for when we come back for the race.”
MARC GOOSSENS, VISITFLORIDA RACING NO. 90 CORVETTE DP: “We’re still learning to understand what the car likes. It’s been tough because we had a couple of sessions we missed with electronics, power steering and gearbox. Then there was the fog delay yesterday. The good thing is that we know from past experiences that we’re at the same level of competitiveness. There is nothing between us. All three of like a similar car. That’s what we have been working toward and understanding how the engineering side works; knowing what they want to have communicated to them to get the best out of things. For us, this has been about getting used to the car and the team, and understanding the best way to communicate what we’re seeing out there. But we’d rather have all this happen now than in a couple of weeks. It’s been good how everyone has been talking and working.”