Corvette Racing Teammates are Fast Friends

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From ALMS.com:
IT TAKES TWO: CORVETTE'S NEW PAIRING
Corvette Racing Teammates are Fast Friends
2011-05-04


The dynamic between drivers is an important component of a successful sports car team. Just like relationships away from the track, a successful driver pairing involves trust and respect. Building this rapport can take time and may not even happen at all, but Corvette Racing has been lucky enough to come across a natural pairing in veteran Olivier Beretta and newcomer Tommy Milner.

It could have been a trying situation for Milner, coming to the Corvette Racing squad after spending the last two seasons with Rahal Letterman Racing. One might imagine the 25-year-old's first test day being similar to the first day at a new school - walking into the lunchroom and wondering where to sit, then being introduced to the stranger that will be his lab partner for the year. Would they get along? Work well together?

Luckily as former opponents, Milner was already familiar with Beretta, and the Corvette Racing group wasn't nearly as intimidating as a cafeteria full of high school students.

"I've raced against [Beretta] for a number of years now," Milner says. "It's been a very easy transition which is good, because it can be a trial by fire. You have no choice but to work with these teammates. The team and he have been great and welcoming."

Similarly, Beretta was pleased to hear he'd be sharing the driver's seat rather than the race track, with his former rival.

"I knew Tommy from his days in the BMW," says the seven-year Corvette Racing veteran. "He was always fast, but I had no idea about him - the man - until our test in January. I think he's a good guy, a fast driver, a team player and we have a very good lineup."

Beretta is quick to point out that as far as driver pairings go, the two have something very important in common.

"We want the same on the car, which is fantastic. We work very well together. We want the same stuff. This is good for the engineers, because if one is complaining about one thing and the other driver is complaining about another thing it makes a huge mess. This is already a good thing. It's a plus that he is a good guy."

What else could a kid from Virginia and gentleman from Monaco have in common?

"We both have beautiful girlfriends," Beretta laughs.

Sounds like perfect shopping partners while the boys are working. Or maybe not.

"We prefer them to stay at the track with their credit card in their pockets," adds Beretta.

Watch Beretta and Milner in the most recent round, the Tequila Patrón American Le Mans Series at Long Beach, in the ALMS video gallery.



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