CAMARO Z/28.R AT LIME ROCK: Third Pole Position of 2015 for Matt Bell
Stevenson Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro Z28.Rs qualify first, third
LAKEVILLE, Conn. (July 24, 2015) – Matt Bell drove his Stevenson Motorsports No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28.R to a third pole position of the season and 12th of his career in the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge on Friday at Lime Rock Park. The team’s two Camaro Z/28.Rs will line up behind each other for Saturday’s 10 a.m. ET start for the sixth round of the 2015 Grand Sport (GS) championship.
Bell’s best lap was a 57.654 (95.535 mph) effort in the Camaro Z/28.R that he shares with Lawson Aschenbach. Bell had the two fastest laps in qualifying, and his quickest gave him a 0.101-second gap back to second-fastest qualifier Hugh Plumb. The Bell/Aschenbach pairing is third in GS points and hopes to nab their first victory together this weekend.
Andrew Davis in the Stevenson Motorsports No. 6 Camaro Z/28.R qualified third in class at 57.908 (95.116 mph). He and Robin Liddell lead the GS championship with three victories.
“Congratulations to Matt Bell and the crew of the No. 9 Stevenson Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro Z/28.R on today’s pole position,” said Jim Lutz, said Jim Lutz, Chevrolet Program Manager for the Camaro Z/28.R. “Because of the short lap and close-quarters racing, qualifying at Lime Rock Park is critical – more so than any other event on the schedule. Having the two Camaro Z/28.Rs first and third is important, and hopefully that carries over to tomorrow’s race.”
Chevrolet leads the GS Manufacturer standings by 17 points as the season enters its second half at Lime Rock. Stevenson Motorsports has finished on the GS podium at Lime Rock each of the last two seasons.
Mantella Autosport’s two Camaro Z/28.Rs qualified ninth and 10th in class Friday. Martin Barkey led the team’s qualifying efforts with a 58.922 (93.480 mph) in the No. 80 MBRP Camaro Z/28.R that he drives with Kyle Marcelli.
The Camaro Z/28.R won five times during its 2014 debut season. It is based on the road-going Chevrolet Camaro Z/28, and the two share considerable traits:
· Engine and displacement (7.0-liter V-8, 427 cubic inches)
· Front splitter and rear spoiler with wickerbill
· Hood extractor vent
· Rockers, wheel-house extension and front tire deflectors
· Belly pan
The Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge from Lime Rock Park is set for 10 a.m. ET on Saturday, July 25 with live coverage on IMSA.com. Television coverage on FOX Sports 1 is scheduled for noon ET on Sunday, Aug. 2.
MATT BELL, STEVENSON MOTORSPORTS NO. 9 CHEVROLET CAMARO Z/28.R – POLE WINNER: “The guys did a great job today. We looked over data and made sure we knew the direction we needed to go with our Camaro Z/28.R. The good thing is that we had one big problem to fix (power steering), but it was only one problem; everything else on the car was good and the team did a great job of honing in exactly what we needed. It wasn’t the perfect fix but obviously just what we needed.
“I don’t remember this track going this slick as quickly as it did today. It was a little difficult for us to chase that, and I knew I wanted to get out and do it in that one lap. After that first lap, everything starts to get loose on you. It was a good call to go out and get it done.”
ANDREW DAVIS, STEVENSON MOTORSPORTS NO. 6 CHEVROLET CAMARO Z/28.R – QUALIFIED THIRD: “Unfortunately we weren’t able to get a long run in. That’s the longest run we’ve had all day. We made some improvements to our Stevenson Camaro Z28.Rs, so I’m happy about that. It was a great run by Matt to grab pole because they were struggling a bit earlier, as well. We’re happy to have the Stevenson Camaros back up front where they belong. Tomorrow will be a difficult race with the traffic. We’ll see what happens. Tomorrow is what counts. The guys have worked really hard, and I’m proud of them as always. We’re looking forward to it.”