Drivers hail key C8.R development after 100th Corvette win

Richard Dole/Motorsport Images
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emailBy Andrew Crask | 4 hours ago

Saturday night’s GTLM victory by Corvette Racing at Daytona International Speedway was one for the books on a number of levels. The triumph by Antonio Garcia and Jordan Taylor in the 2h40m contest not only was the first victory for the mid-engined Chevrolet Corvette C8.R, but it represented the 100th win for the squad in IMSA competition.

Garcia drove nearly two hours to the finish after Taylor put in a challenging opening stint, running slick tires on a damp but drying track. The Spaniard emerged from his final pitstop directly behind Earl Bamber’s Porsche and made the winning pass with 31 minutes left, setting the fastest GTLM lap of the race along the way.

“This means a lot,” said an emotional Garcia. “Our last win was at VIR in 2017. From then until now, you look at all the times we finished second and how many times we could have won a race. So I’m very happy for today. We came up just short so many times, even though we won championships. All I could think about when I went across the line was remembering Kyle (Millay, race engineer, (ex-teammate) Jan Magnussen, (retired crew chief) Dan Binks and us coming so close.”

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Garcia noted the fuel saving accomplished by both drivers was critical to the breakthrough.

“Jordan did a perfect job on that. He saved one lap in his stint, and I saved one on my first stint,” he said. “We were going for a green race and made it to the end. We didn’t know if the Porsche would make it, and when we came out after the last stop we knew it was going to be between us.”
An especially sweet win for Jordan Taylor (left), Antonio Garcia and the Corvette Racing team to savor. Michael Levitt/Motorsport Images

Taylor credited the team’s development since the car’s debut in the Rolex 24 with making that fuel saving possible, among other things.

“I think the off time gave the Corvette Racing guys some decent time to make some headway with our new C8.R,” he said. “Our fuel mileage, engine and drivability at the beginning of the race was much better than the first race. Pit stops were improved as the guys were training through the quarantine once they could get back in the shop. I’m very proud to be here with Antonio for the first win for the C8.R and the 100th win for the team. It is a very special day.”

Garcia agreed, adding, “There was great execution in the race and we didn’t make a single mistake. It really showed that we learned a lot from the Rolex 24. This was a perfect day for us with the first pole and first win for the Corvette C8.R. Hopefully this is the first of many.”

Corvette Racing, Daytona, IMSA, WeatherTech Sportscar Championship

 

Corvette 1-2 (again!) in Sebring GTLM, Lexus holds on to win GTD Jake Galstad / Motorsport Images
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emailBy RACER Staff | 18 hours ago

It took more than two years for Corvette Racing’s IMSA win total to go from 99 to 100 and just two weeks to make it 101.

Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner scored the Cadillac Grand Prix of Sebring victory in the GT Le Mans class aboard the silver No. 4 Corvette C8.R, leading a 1-2 sweep for the Michigan-based squad. Milner held off a charging Antonio Garcia by a scant 0.480 seconds ahead to score his and Gavin’s first victory since the 2018 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.

“It was close there at the end,” Milner said. “Olly did a great job of saving fuel and that allowed us to get out ahead of the (No.) 3 car. It was a great strategy from Chuck (Houghton, race engineer) and great pit stops from Brian (Hoye, car chief) and the whole crew. To have these Corvette C8.Rs in as good as shape as they were after the long break is a testament to everyone on this team.”

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It was Gavin’s 49th IMSA premier series victory, moving him into a three-way tie for fourth on the all-time IMSA win list with the legendary Al Holbert and Butch Leitzinger. It was Milner’s 17th IMSA win and his and Gavin’s seventh win in IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competition.

“It’s been an amazing day,” Gavin said. “Thanks to Corvette Racing and Tommy for doing a wonderful job to bring the car home at the end. It was the strategy and pit stops that made the difference. Our guys did an outstanding job throughout the race.

“Our Corvette C8.R has really come alive in the last two races. It was a great result for the No. 3 Corvette to get the 100th victory in IMSA for Corvette Racing at Daytona. For us to get No. 101 and my 49th in IMSA is fantastic. A great day.”
Hawksworth was quick to credit team strategy and a key final pit stop for the Sebring GTD class win. Image by Levitt/Motorsport Images

In GT Daytona, meanwhile, co-drivers Aaron Telitz and Jack Hawksworth backed up a dominant performance in the Fourth of July WeatherTech 240 At Daytona with their second straight class win.

Telitz in the No. 14 started second after qualifying just .067s behind teammate Frankie Montecalvo in the No. 12 Lexus. However, the Wisconsinite quickly found his way to the front, taking the class lead on Lap 12 of the 3.74-mile circuit.

It was a crucial final pit stop that put the team in prime position to collect its second victory of 2020. Hawksworth got out in front of the GTD field, just a few car lengths in front of Bill Auberlen who was hunting down his 61st IMSA victory in the No. 96 Turner Motorsport BMW M6 GT3.

The Brit slowly opened a gap and sailed away to the win.

“The car was brilliant today and, to be honest, the strategy was perfect,” said Hawksworth. “The decisions on pit lane — the decision to take four tires at the first stop; put full fuel in for the second; and short fill the last — made all the difference. So yeah, the championship is on the line for sure.”

“I mean honestly could it get any better than this at all?” said Telitz, who was named as the car’s second full-time driver just last month. “Two race wins, first two races full time. Obviously, our Lexus RC F GTD car was just incredible today. We had to go through the field once there after the first round of pit stops, and then handed it off to Jack and he did an awesome job bringing it home.”

Auberlen’s quest to become the winningest driver in IMSA wasn’t achieved today, but he and co-driver Robby Foley held on for a third-place result.

Corvette, Lexus, Sebring, IMSA, WeatherTech Sportscar Championship