-
Home
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
-
Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Games
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
- Home
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
- Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
Le Mans / ALMS
IN THE COCKPIT: Oliver Gavin, Sebring ALMS
The GT category in the Sebring race once again delivered some edge-of-the-seat tension for the fans’ enjoyment, with plenty of door to door action from start to finish...
Olly Gavin, right, and new co-driver Tommy Milner, left, got their ALMS title chase off to a solid start with an ALMS GT-class podium finish at Sebring. (Photo: courtesy, Oliver Gavin)
Hi everyone! It seems like no time at all since I last checked in with you all but it’s been a very busy seven weeks for me and everyone at Corvette Racing, testing and preparing for the opening round of the 2012 American Le Mans Series.
This year’s race was special in a number of ways. It was the 60th Anniversary of the Twelve Hours of Sebring, one of North America’s oldest and most well established events. The place has so much history and tradition, including parts of the same track surface that were laid down all those years ago, and we all love the slightly mad atmosphere and buzz around the entire circuit – especially Turn 10!
The race is physically punishing as the track is very, very bumpy, and you’re usually pretty bruised and battered by the end of the weekend. It’s also technically challenging because of the layout and surface, but when you get it right it’s very rewarding. Teams who go on to do the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June, as we will be, particularly like going there as it’s a great test for the cars – if they survive Sebring, you’re half way to surviving Le Mans.
As well as the opening round of the ALMS, this year Sebring was also the venue for the inaugural race of the new FIA World Endurance Championship. Not only did we have a massive grid of 64 cars but also the novel situation of two series effectively running separately…but together.
There were two sets of regulations, two sets of officials, two sets of timing sheets and a pit lane split with ALMS runners one end and WEC runners the other. Add to that two sets of trophies and podium presentations and it was quite bizarre really. The sight of almost 100 trophies waiting to be presented left a few drivers open-mouthed!
There were top GT/PRO driver line ups from both our series and the WEC representing Aston Martin, BMW, Ferrari, Porsche and, of course, ourselves, so we knew a win would be far from easy. Amongst the entry list there were also a lot of guys making their debut at the track, with new and often untested cars and many were new to American racing and that must have all been hugely challenging to them.
As it turned out there fortunately weren’t any major clashes between prototypes and slower cars, although there were 11 safety car periods, but some drivers looked pretty out of their depth once it came to the hours of darkness.
The GT category in the Sebring race once again delivered some edge-of-the-seat tension for the fans’ enjoyment, with plenty of door to door action from start to finish. There were at least six different cars in with a shout for victory at any one time and our No. 4 car got to lead at various times which was great, although we eventually had to settle for third rather than the win.
This year I’m teamed with Tommy Milner rather than Jan Magnussen – with Richard Westbrook joining us for the endurance races – and it’s a novel experience to be able to stretch my legs out in the race car instead of having to compromise for a shorter team mate. There’s now a tall car and a short car according to the team!
BMW just managed to pip us at this one but to finish on the podium is a good start to our season. We had a solid run with new wider-bodied 2012 Vette, and were very happy with our pace, but there were a couple of big name casualties including the lead Flying Lizard Porsche and two of the Ferraris who would have been real contenders in the race. One of them, the Bruni-Fisichella-Vilander Ferrari, managed to return to the race after technical issues, albeit over 90 laps down, and right at the end had a huge effect on the result.
Bruni unnecessarily got involved with the battle for the lead, causing the leading BMW to go off track and his own team mate Olivier Beretta who was running second to spin off in avoidance. Ultimately their loss was Corvette’s gain as we profited from the shenanigans to claim podium positions but no one was impressed by those kind of tactics.
I’m off to Paul Ricard now for a GT3 test session in a Chevy Camaro but back in the Corvette for Long Beach in April. See you then.
~Olly
A former British F3 Champion and Formula One test driver, Oliver Gavin has raced in North America for the last decade for Corvette Racing, representing General Motors. He has achieved three American Le Mans Series GT1 Championship titles and four GT1 class wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and in 2012 will also be racing in select races with Spirit of Daytona in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series.
For more information, visit: www.olivergavin.com, Facebook Oliver Gavin, or Twitter @OliverGavin
This year’s race was special in a number of ways. It was the 60th Anniversary of the Twelve Hours of Sebring, one of North America’s oldest and most well established events. The place has so much history and tradition, including parts of the same track surface that were laid down all those years ago, and we all love the slightly mad atmosphere and buzz around the entire circuit – especially Turn 10!
The race is physically punishing as the track is very, very bumpy, and you’re usually pretty bruised and battered by the end of the weekend. It’s also technically challenging because of the layout and surface, but when you get it right it’s very rewarding. Teams who go on to do the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June, as we will be, particularly like going there as it’s a great test for the cars – if they survive Sebring, you’re half way to surviving Le Mans.
As well as the opening round of the ALMS, this year Sebring was also the venue for the inaugural race of the new FIA World Endurance Championship. Not only did we have a massive grid of 64 cars but also the novel situation of two series effectively running separately…but together.
There were two sets of regulations, two sets of officials, two sets of timing sheets and a pit lane split with ALMS runners one end and WEC runners the other. Add to that two sets of trophies and podium presentations and it was quite bizarre really. The sight of almost 100 trophies waiting to be presented left a few drivers open-mouthed!
There were top GT/PRO driver line ups from both our series and the WEC representing Aston Martin, BMW, Ferrari, Porsche and, of course, ourselves, so we knew a win would be far from easy. Amongst the entry list there were also a lot of guys making their debut at the track, with new and often untested cars and many were new to American racing and that must have all been hugely challenging to them.
As it turned out there fortunately weren’t any major clashes between prototypes and slower cars, although there were 11 safety car periods, but some drivers looked pretty out of their depth once it came to the hours of darkness.
The GT category in the Sebring race once again delivered some edge-of-the-seat tension for the fans’ enjoyment, with plenty of door to door action from start to finish. There were at least six different cars in with a shout for victory at any one time and our No. 4 car got to lead at various times which was great, although we eventually had to settle for third rather than the win.
This year I’m teamed with Tommy Milner rather than Jan Magnussen – with Richard Westbrook joining us for the endurance races – and it’s a novel experience to be able to stretch my legs out in the race car instead of having to compromise for a shorter team mate. There’s now a tall car and a short car according to the team!
BMW just managed to pip us at this one but to finish on the podium is a good start to our season. We had a solid run with new wider-bodied 2012 Vette, and were very happy with our pace, but there were a couple of big name casualties including the lead Flying Lizard Porsche and two of the Ferraris who would have been real contenders in the race. One of them, the Bruni-Fisichella-Vilander Ferrari, managed to return to the race after technical issues, albeit over 90 laps down, and right at the end had a huge effect on the result.
Bruni unnecessarily got involved with the battle for the lead, causing the leading BMW to go off track and his own team mate Olivier Beretta who was running second to spin off in avoidance. Ultimately their loss was Corvette’s gain as we profited from the shenanigans to claim podium positions but no one was impressed by those kind of tactics.
I’m off to Paul Ricard now for a GT3 test session in a Chevy Camaro but back in the Corvette for Long Beach in April. See you then.
~Olly
A former British F3 Champion and Formula One test driver, Oliver Gavin has raced in North America for the last decade for Corvette Racing, representing General Motors. He has achieved three American Le Mans Series GT1 Championship titles and four GT1 class wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and in 2012 will also be racing in select races with Spirit of Daytona in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series.
For more information, visit: www.olivergavin.com, Facebook Oliver Gavin, or Twitter @OliverGavin
Monterey
LATEST HEADLINES: AUTO-RACING
-
INDYCAR: HIPPINO.com To Sponsor Kanaan At Detroit
Just a few weeks after announcing the KV Racing-SH Racing entry of… -
PHOTOS: Indy 500 Practice & Qualifying 2013
Enjoy a huge collection of photos from practice and qualifying while… -
LE MANS: BoP Adjustments For GTE Announced
GTE-Pro Aston Martins handed extra weight, larger restrictor for… -
LE MANS: Jim France Named LM24 Starter
GRAND-AM founder and NASCAR Vice Chairman to wave tri-colour flag… -
INDYCAR: 49ers Coach Jim Harbaugh To Pace The Indy 500
Jim Harbaugh, head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, will drive the… -
MILLER: Dinner With Legends
It’s become an annual event and, as my pal and longtime Indy… -
VIDEO: Dyson Tech Talk - Tires 101
The art of going fast: what kind of feedback does a driver want from… - More News
