CORVETTE AT LEMANS ??

[BOBPRISM]

Anyone seen this ? I hope this isn't the thin edge of the wedge !

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72530

Edited by BOBPRISM on Thursday 18th December 14:00

[vetteheadracer]

Story is WRONG. Corvette Racing will compete at Le Mans in 2009 according to Doug Fehan as reported today on Dailysportscar.com

[Blue-Shark]

I thought Le Mans was going to be the GT1 Corvettes swansong?

[E36GUY]

It'd be a crying shame if they pulled out but you can't go cap in hand to the govt asking for financial help to save jobs then spunk a load of cash going racing.

[BOBPRISM]

I think you have hit the nail on the head there Guy . It now comes to sponsor, or cut back --&-- to live to fight another day -- sign of the times -- ( US sub prime lending started it)

[lowdrag]

As I posted elsewhere, I had lunch with Daniel Poissenot (director of the Le Mans course) about two weeks back and he said that the Corvettes are definitely coming. Well, they were then anyway! I think it is just a case of wait and see sadly. This recessions is biting hard.

[Dr Imran T]

lowdrag said:

As I posted elsewhere, I had lunch with Daniel Poissenot (director of the Le Mans course) about two weeks back and he said that the Corvettes are definitely coming. Well, they were then anyway! I think it is just a case of wait and see sadly. This recessions is biting hard.

Lucky man. Do you live in Le Mans? seen a few of your posts...

off topic slighty but I was in was in Ecommoy a few weeks back.. if I knew you were local then I would have popped over to say hello!

[lowdrag]

Drop me a line if any of you are coming through. Can usually find a bed or two as long as it isn't race week! I live 5 miles as the crow flies SE of Mulsanne bend.

[RainerM]

Corvettes in 2009

:-))) they will be there as confirmed earlier by lowdrag :-)))

• ******************************

Doug Fehan: "The primary focus of the race team is the 12 Hours of Sebring, Long Beach and, of course as it always has been, the 24 Hours of Le Mans."

Corvette Racing program manager Doug Fehan is quick to reconfirm Corvette Racing's GT1 program in the first half of the 2009 American Le Mans Series.

"The primary focus of the race team is the 12 Hours of Sebring, Long Beach and, of course as it always has been, the 24 Hours of Le Mans," Fehan said. "We tested the GT1 car at Sebring in November. And we will be utilizing Sebring and Long Beach to put the final touches on the Le Mans effort.

We're continuously developing the car and package for fuel mileage, efficiency and new materials from our various suppliers. We want our last GT1 appearance at Le Mans to be successful. The team understands the importance of a victory at Sebring, Long Beach and Le Mans to close the GT1 program."

The highly anticipated GT2 Corvette is still scheduled to debut at Mid-Ohio in early August, Fehan added.

"Engineering and fabrication continues to focus on the GT2 program," he said. "We expect the first actual race car to be completed in early February and will be testing that car in the spring."


- Bob Dickinson-

20.12.2008 / MaP

• **************************

ex website www.automobilsport.com

[A10ARF]

' We want our last GT1 appearance at Le Mans to be successful.' ??

Is this sad news due to 'credit crunch' or the ongoing noise regulations, seemingly to force all cars to end up with the exciting sounds similar to 'Industrial hoovers'...i.e. those LMP1 oil burners !

[//j17]

A10ARF said:

' We want our last GT1 appearance at Le Mans to be successful.' ??

Is this sad news due to 'credit crunch' or the ongoing noise regulations, seemingly to force all cars to end up with the exciting sounds similar to 'Industrial hoovers'...i.e. those LMP1 oil burners !

RainerM said:

"Engineering and fabrication continues to focus on the GT2 program,"

The GM are moving 'down' a class from GT1 to GT2 as it's cheaper, the cars are closer to the ones in the show room, there is actually someone to race against and a realistic chance of selling cars to privateer teams.