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Corvette C6.R Named North American Car of the Year

Source: GM Media
February 28, 2006

Corvette Racing Honored After Dominating American Le Mans Series in 2005

DETROIT - Corvette Racing's championship-winning Corvette C6.R race car has been named the "North American Car of the Year" by dailysportscar.com, a noted online magazine that provides in-depth coverage of sports car and GT series worldwide.

In announcing the selection of the Corvette C6.R over marques such as Audi, Aston Martin and Maserati, the editors wrote, "The two yellow missiles utterly dominated proceedings in GT1. They were nothing short of world class throughout the year, taking ALMS and Le Mans titles at the first attempt - how many more might follow?"

Corvette Racing introduced a pair of new Compuware Corvette C6.R race cars at the season-opening Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in March 2005. The two-car factory team raced to 10 victories in 11 starts, including the team's fourth 1-2 finish in the GT1 class in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Chevrolet won the ALMS GT1 manufacturers championship for the fifth consecutive year, and Corvette Racing swept the drivers, team and pit crew championships. Corvette drivers Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta shared the drivers' title, and their teammates Ron Fellows and Johnny O'Connell finished second in the standings.

"We polled all of the reporters and photographers that contributed to dailysportscar's 2005 season coverage and the overwhelming winner was GM's finest," said deputy editor Graham Goodwin. "The result showed very clearly indeed that the cars had impressed everybody with a stunning display of pace and reliability coupled with an unmistakable all-American soundtrack.

"The Corvette C6.R almost effortlessly picked up the baton from the C5-R and the dominance it displayed throughout its debut season was stunning," Goodwin noted. "After misfortune robbed the yellow cars of what had seemed like an assured victory at Sebring, the response was immediate, hugely impressive, and lasted for the remainder of the 2005 season. Not only did the C6.Rs win every other race they contested, they only once missed out on scoring 1-2 finishes in all of them."

Developed in tandem with the sixth-generation Corvette, the Corvette C6.R shares components and technology with its production counterpart. For example, the street car's flush-mounted headlights, central air intake and sleek body design enhance the performance of the race car, while the production Z06 Corvette's 7.0-liter LS7 small-block V-8 engine, carbon fiber body panels and aerodynamic enhancements were inspired by the racing version.

"Among the many accolades that Corvette Racing has received since the introduction of the C6.R, one of the crowning achievements is this award from dailysportscar.com," said Corvette Racing program manager Doug Fehan. "The editors looked at what the Corvette had accomplished, compared our record with our rivals, and once again Corvette came out on top. This award doesn't just honor an exceptional race car; it also acknowledges the achievements of the Corvette Racing drivers and crew."

Corvette Racing will unveil two new Corvette C6.R race cars at the 54th annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring on March 15-18, the season-opening round of the 10-race ALMS series.

"The bad news for Corvette's competitors in the American Le Mans Series is that there will be two brand-new C6.Rs emerging from the transporters at Sebring," said Goodwin. "And they'll be hungry for the top step on the podium!"





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