Corvette Racing at Mosport

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Corvette Racing at Mosport: Aiming for a Repeat Performance



Momentum Matters as Chevrolet Team Drives for Repeat Victory in ALMS Grand Prix of Mosport



BOWMANVILLE, Ontario, Canada, July 17, 2012 – By any other name, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park – the track formerly known as Mosport – would still be as fast. With its roots firmly anchored in the '60s and its character unchanged for more than 50 years, the 2.5-mile circuit in the Canadian countryside near Toronto is decidedly Old School. With daunting high-speed corners and soaring straights, it is not a track for the timid – which is why Corvette Racing's drivers relish their return to the historic 10-turn circuit for Sunday's Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport.



If a track can suit a race car, then Mosport was custom tailored for the Compuware Corvettes. The Chevy team has scored nine victories there since 2001, including its maiden win in the GT category in 2009 and a breakout victory last season that propelled Oliver Gavin and Jan Magnussen to a runner-up finish in the GT championship.



Along with its new name, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park will see a pair of new wide-body Corvette C6.Rs and a revised Corvette Racing driver lineup for this year's Grand Prix. Magnussen has returned to the No. 3 Compuware Corvette that carried him to victory at Mosport with Johnny O'Connell in 2007, 2008, and 2009. He's now teamed with Antonio Garcia, a pairing that finished second in the preceding round at Lime Rock Park and currently stands second in the GT drivers championship.



They'll face stiff intramural competition from teammates Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner in the No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R. Gavin and Milner are atop the driver standings on the strength of two wins and four straight podium finishes in the four rounds of the American Le Mans Series contested this season.



"For sheer speed, Mosport is one of my favorite tracks," Magnussen declared. "It's such a fantastic feeling when you do a fast lap, because you know there is a big, big penalty for making a mistake."



Garcia will make his Mosport debut alongside his experienced teammate in his first year as a full-season driver with Corvette Racing. What advice does the Dane have for his Spanish co-pilot? "Just remember it's not your car, so give it all you've got!" Magnussen quipped.



Garcia is taking a measured approach to Mosport. "I've been watching videos and in-car cameras, and leading up to the race I will talk more precisely with Jan to learn what to do – and especially what not to do!" he said. "They tell me that it is a fast and somewhat dangerous race track. I'm used to those kinds of circuits, so I'm looking forward to it."



With three career wins at the Canadian course, Gavin knows Mosport's nuances. "Every driver looks forward to going there," said the Englishman. "The characteristics of the Corvette C6.R car seem to suit that layout, and I'm anxious to see how much of a step forward we've made from last year. I've had some great races there, including a fantastic win with Jan last year. Mosport always seems to bring out the best in Corvette Racing."



The two-hour, 45-minute Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport will start at 12 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 22, and will be broadcast same day on ESPN2 at 1 p.m. ET. Live coverage is available starting at 11:45 a.m. ET on ESPN3.

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Corvette Racing Qualifies One-Two for ALMS Grand Prix of Mosport



Magnussen Wins Pole with Record-Shattering Run, Gavin Second with Sub-Record Time



BOWMANVILLE, Ontario, Canada, July 21, 2012 – Corvette Racing blew away the GT track records at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park today en route to qualifying first and second for Sunday's Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport. Jan Magnussen qualified the No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R on the GT pole with a time of 1:15.478 (117.285 mph), eclipsing the record set in 2008 by 1.385 seconds. Oliver Gavin also obliterated the previous mark, taking the second spot in the No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R with a blistering 1:15.782 lap (116.814 mph).



Magnussen's pole was his first in ALMS competition since October 2009, and the first for Corvette Racing since August 2010. The Dane was understandably elated after his record-setting run on the fast 2.5-mile Canadian circuit.



"I didn't think a GT car could go that quickly here!" he exclaimed. "It was a fantastic lap, and a great job by the team to give me this car to qualify. There is so much time to be gained when you get into the flow of this track. I actually surprised myself – on one of my laps, I didn't look at the time and went four tenths faster!



"We've been working around the race setup all this time – this really is our race setup with less fuel," Magnussen explained. "The car was so smooth and easy to drive. It felt like my mid-corner speed was up everywhere and I hit every mark. It felt super strong in Turn 5 where the car goes light over a crest. I nailed it just right by landing in the right position to get a good exit out of 5. I am so proud of Corvette Racing today!"



Gavin enjoyed a .229-second advantage over the third qualifier, the No. 55 BMW. "It was a great qualifying session for Corvette Racing and a fantastic lap by Jan – he absolutely nailed it," Gavin said. "The entire team has been working very hard, and it's great that we got a one-two in qualifying.



"I think a call I made with the setup toward the end of practice bit me in qualifying," he revealed. "I'm a little disappointed in myself for making that call. The Corvette C6.R really is spectacular here; the way it drives and feels, it's a joy to drive. The team has done an excellent job over the last few races, and I hope it continues tomorrow."



After three runner-up finishes in the last four ALMS races, Magnussen and co-driver Antonio Garcia are gunning for their first victory in Sunday's two-hour, 45-minute race.



"Starting on pole is the best you can wish for going into the race," Magnussen said. "Hopefully Antonio can go out there and control the pace. He picked up this track very quickly and is right on the pace. The competition is so fierce there is no room for mistakes."



"This is our first pole of the season, and I think it's appropriate that it came at Mosport," noted Corvette Racing program manager Doug Fehan. "Mosport has been very good to Corvette Racing in the past, and this track always seems to come through for Corvette. The other element today is a great tire developed by Michelin. Combine that with the work of this crew and the skill of our drivers, and this is the result – a definitive one-two for Corvette."



The two-hour, 45-minute Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport will start at 12 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 22, and will be broadcast same day on ESPN2 at 1 p.m. ET. Live coverage is available starting at 11:45 a.m. ET on ESPN3.



Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport GT Qualifying (Top 10)

Pos./Car No./Drivers/Car/Time

1. 3 Magnussen/Garcia, Corvette C6.R, 1:15.478

2. 4 Gavin/Milner, Corvette C6.R, 1:15.782

3. 55 Mueller/Auberlen, BMW E92 M3, 1:16.011

4. 01 Sharp/van Overbeek, Ferrari 458 Italia, 1:16.189

5. 45 Bergmeister/Long, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 1:16.212

6. 56 Mueller/Hand, BMW E92 M3, 1:16.398

7. 48 Miller/Maassen, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 52.1:16.963

8. 17 Henzler/Sellers, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 1:17.060

9. 23 Sweedler/Bell, Lotus Evora, 1:18.650

10. 02 Brown/Cosmo, Ferrari F458 Italia, 1:20.601