Corvette takes GT1 pole at Le Mans

Magnussen Qualifies First and Gavin Takes Third in Final Qualifying Session

LE MANS, France, June 12, 2008 - Corvette Racing won the GT1 pole at the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time as Jan Magnussen set the pace in tonight's final qualifying session. Magnussen's 3:47.669 lap time in the No. 63 Compuware Corvette C6.R was the quickest in the GT1 division, while
the Larbre Competition Saleen S7R was second at 3:47.761 and Oliver Gavin qualified the No. 64 Compuware Corvette C6.R third in the category at 3:48.539.
The Aston Martin's wer right behind, with the BRABHAM D./GARCIA A./TURNER D. Aston Martin DBR9 posting a 3:48.994 and the FRENZEN H-H./PICCINI A./WENDLINGER K. Aston Martin DBR9 posting 3:49.060

Magnussen's pole-winning time was 4.461 seconds faster than the C6.R's qualifying pace in 2007. Last year the top Corvette qualified at 3:52.130, putting it third in the GT1 field.


The last time Corvette won a class pole at Le Mans was in 1976 when John Greenwood set the fast time in the IMSA class with a 3:54-second lap. Chicanes were subsequently installed on the course to slow the cars.



Qualifying results:
1 63 LMGT1 M Corvette Racing FELLOWS R./OCONNELL J./MAGNUSSEN J. Corvette C6.R 3:49.406 3:47.668 84 3:47.668 215,509
2 50 LMGT1 M Larbre Competition BOUCHUT CH./BORNHAUSER P./SMET D. Saleen S7R 3:50.920 3:47.761 56 3:47.761 0:00.093 215,421
3 64 LMGT1 M Corvette Racing GAVIN O./BERETTA O./PAPIS M. Corvette C6.R 3:50.766 3:48.539 86 3:48.539 0:00.871 214,687
4 009 LMGT1 M Aston Martin Racing BRABHAM D./GARCIA A./TURNER D. Aston Martin DBR9 3:52.266 3:48.994 86 3:48.994 0:01.326 214,261
5 007 LMGT1 M Aston Martin Racing FRENZEN H-H./PICCINI A./WENDLINGER K. Aston Martin DBR9 3:52.527 3:49.060 92 3:49.060 0:01.392 214,199
6 55 LMGT1 M IPB Spartak Racing RUSINOV R./KOX P./HEZEMANS M. Lamborghini 3:52.175 3:53.000 73 3:52.175 0:04.507 211,325
7 72 LMGT1 M Luc Alphand Aventures ALPHAND L./MOREAU G./POLICAND J. Corvette C6.R 3:53.990 3:52.993 75 3:52.993 0:05.325 210,583
8 59 LMGT1 M Team Modena FITTIPALDI C./BORCHELLER T./MENTEN J. Aston Martin DBR9 3:58.193 3:53.031 60 3:53.031 0:05.363 210,549
9 53 LMGT1 M Vitaphone Racing Team HARDMAN P./LEVENTIS N./NEGRAO A. Aston Martin DBR9 3:57.371 3:53.475 56 3:53.475 0:05.807 210,148
10 73 LMGT1 M Luc Alphand Aventures BLANCHEMAIN J.L./GOUESLARD P./PASQUALI L. Corvette C6.R 3:55.736 3:58.025 65 3:55.736

[DaveK]

Nice!