Twenty-five years of Corvette Racing historical past involves an finish when the checkered flag falls on this weekend’s Petit Le Mans, the season finale of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

Having competed as an entity via a number of classes of GT racing and throughout a number of collection, the solar will set on this system as Corvette transitions to buyer racing with the arrival of the Corvette Z06 GT3.R subsequent season.

For many who constructed this system that produced 127 victories worldwide, 9 wins on the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and 14 drivers and producers titles, the file is one in every of outstanding achievement that laid the groundwork for what’s to come back.

“In my time with Corvette Racing, I watched the workforce evolve immensely,” mentioned Oliver Gavin, who drove for Corvette Racing from 2002-20. “It actually has been unbelievable to look at. The racing panorama is altering continuously with new groups and new producers, however the fixed has at all times been Corvette Racing. It’s such a energy of this program to have been versatile and good sufficient to use themselves in one of the best ways to come back away persistently with championships and race victories through the years. I’m immensely proud to be a part of all of it.”

Gavin, the winningest driver in Corvette historical past, is one in every of 24 completely different drivers to have received in a Corvette, together with Johnny O’Connell, Jan Magnussen, Ron Fellows, Olivier Beretta, Antonio Garcia, Jordan Taylor, Tommy Milner, Nicky Catsburg, Ben Keating, Kelly Collins and Max Papis. Corvette lore is written in achievements corresponding to the general victory within the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2001 or the 2017 victory at Sebring towards a few of the finest GTLM competitors ever assembled, or the first-and-second battle to the end at Daytona in 2016.

Oliver Gavin has received extra races for Corvette than anybody else. JEP/Motorsport Photos

“I’m pleased with Corvette Racing’s achievements within the final 25 years,” declared Jim Campbell, Chevrolet’s U.S. vp for Efficiency and Motorsports. “I used to be lucky to be a part of the workforce that launched this system at Daytona in January of 1999. Along with its on-track accomplishments, I’m pleased with the connection that Corvette Racing has established with our manufacturing groups from design, engineering and propulsion to enhance Corvettes for the showroom.

“Corvette house owners and followers have supported Corvette Racing from the start. I recall a whole lot of homeowners driving their Corvettes to Daytona for the 1999 Rolex 24 to assist our launch. We respect their ardour, data and assist at greater than 280 races since.”

Corvette Racing has as a lot fan engagement as any workforce or producer within the paddock with Corvette Corrals at IMSA races bringing in additional than a thousand house owners all through the season. The vehicles in these corrals vary from impeccably restored C1 Corvettes to modified C5s to brand-new C8s, and the final three generations of the automobile have benefitted vastly from the racing program.

“It’s troublesome to think about what the Corvette model would appear like with out the Corvette Racing program,” mentioned Corvette government chief engineer Tadge Juechter. “For 25 years we’ve got been working towards complete integration of the race- and street-car groups. Endurance racing supplies us with a treasure trove of data in any variety of areas – aerodynamics, engine efficiency and chassis, to call a couple of.

“That type of real-world knowledge is extremely worthwhile to manufacturing engineers and designers, and we’ve got made nice use of these classes from the racetrack. It actually improves our merchandise, and resonates with our fanbase and Corvette house owners.”

These classes will possible proceed, as longtime accomplice Pratt Miller is constructing the Z06 GT3.R, and can run two vehicles in GTD PRO as Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports. It will likely be one in every of a number of Corvette racing groups worldwide, together with AWA in IMSA GTD, TF Sport in WEC and and DXDT in GT World Problem America.

Except for Pratt Miller’s involvement, additional continuity comes from the GTD PRO driver lineup of Garcia, Catsburg, Tommy Milner and Alexander Sims. Garcia will shut out Corvette Racing’s present iteration on Saturday with Milner and Jordan Taylor, who strikes again to his father’s workforce to drive one of many Acura ARX-06 GTP vehicles subsequent season.

“It has meant lots to my profession with all I’ve achieved with Corvette Racing,” mentioned Garcia. “There couldn’t be a greater place to be. I’ve managed to win 5 championships, however the workforce has managed to win so many extra. That is the very best workforce within the sport on the finish of the day, and I’m grateful I’ve been capable of stick with it.

“I’m tremendous pleased with Corvette Racing they usually appear to be tremendous pleased with me. It’s been an ideal mixtures for the final 15 or 16 years that I’ve been racing.”