Corvette Racing say they are ready for the 62nd annual Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring Fuelled by Fresh from Florida, after the TUDOR Championship tests at the track.
The defending GTLM champions for Sebring, which is the birthplace of the modern day Corvette Racing program, hold a good record at the track, taking nine wins since the 2002 race with the Corvette C6.R, and head into the 2014 edition with the new C7.R GTLM.
“Sebring is one of the toughest race tracks in the world,” says Mark Kent, Chevrolet’s Director of Racing. “Corvette Racing’s success in the 12 Hours is a testament to the preparation and work ethic of the team at Chevrolet Racing, Pratt & Miller and GM Powertrain.
“Winning Sebring once is an incredible accomplishment, and doing so eight times is nothing short of remarkable. We are confident the new Corvette C7.R – with its improved handling, stability and efficiency – can help add to that record at Sebring.”
The handling changes come as a result of the C7.R having a new aluminium frame, which is 40% stiffer than the previous model, which will help over the harsh bumps of the Sebring International track.
“I know the team made some good improvements on the car. I don’t know if we are exactly on pace compared to the Porsche 911 RSR, which I think is probably the fastest car,” said 2013 winner Jan Magnussen. “But I think we are a step closer than we have been. It’s still very early days. If we keep developing the car, we will be very close. I’m a positive guy and always have high hopes. Sebring, being a long-distance race, is about speed but it’s also about other stuff. And at Corvette Racing, we do all the other stuff really well.”