|
CORVETTE’S LEGEND
CONTINUES
AT LE MANS IN 2000
LAS VEGAS (November 2, 1999)
— The Chevrolet Corvette added another chapter to its storied history
this year as it returned to road racing with the C5-R Corvette. Today
Chevrolet announced that the legend will continue next year as General
Motors’ most prestigious nameplate will participate in the 68th
running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 17-18, 2000.
The legendary race at the historic Circuit
of the Sarthe in Le Mans, France, is sports-car racing’s biggest stage
and provides the ultimate test of both man and machine. Chevrolet is
excited Corvette will again become part of the rich history and tradition
of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and take the challenge to prove its
"global" expertise in automotive engineering and design against
car makers from all over the world.
"The Corvette Racing program
reinforces and underscores our commitment to the Corvette and its
magnificent heritage," explains Jim Campbell, Corvette brand manager.
"Racing in such a prestigious event like the 24 Hours of Le Mans just
furthers that commitment.
"We’re looking forward to showing
the rest of the world what so many Corvette owners already know — that
Corvette is one of the premier sports cars in the world."
Dave Hill, vehicle line executive and chief
engineer, Corvette, said Chevrolet wanted to use the race program to
"showcase Corvette’s great integrity, quality and pure sports-car
character. We want to increase consumer share of mind for the C5 Corvette
not only in the U.S., but globally as well."
Chevrolet officially returned to road
racing earlier this year with the introduction of the GM Goodwrench
Service Plus-sponsored C5-R Corvette, a GM-engineered GTS sports car based
on the production C5. The C5-R garnered a podium finish in its debut in
the Rolex 24 at Daytona in
January with a third-place finish. Through
five races in its inaugural season, the C5-R has three podium finishes
including a pair of second-place finishes at the Sears Point and Laguna
Seca races in the American Le Mans Series. The GM Goodwrench Service Plus
C5-R Corvette concludes its 1999 race season this weekend at the Grand
Prix of Las Vegas at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday, Nov. 7. |
