As one of the longest established Corvette drivers, how have you seen the evolution of Corvette Racing from when you joined in 2002 until now?
“There have been many evolutions and many things that have changed. Whether it’s the car’s like the C5 GTS car to the C6 GT1 car, or even from the C6.R in GT2 and GTLM to the C7.R.
“Also with tire manufacturers I’ve seen change. I started off with Goodyear and now we are with Michelin. That was a huge change for us (Corvette Racing).
“And, of course, I’ve worked with many different drivers. I’ve had a lot of different teammates. I’ve had different engineers, different crews. I’ve been on both cars. I started on the #3 car and now I’m on the #4 car.
“The core of the team has always stayed the same though. The feeling in the team is consistent. With both Gary Pratt at the head of the team and Doug Fehan being Program Manager for so long there is great consistency in the team. This is now my 14th season with the team and I see it as family now. I wouldn’t want to go anywhere else.”
If you could only have one of your Le Mans wins, which one of them would it be?
“One of my Le Mans wins… that’s a really difficult question to answer. This year’s win was really special. With everything that had happened with the team during the week of the race from the issues that the #63 car had. To come through from the back of the field to triumph at the end of the race was really special and that’s what Corvette Racing is all about. That attitude of never giving up, always striving to improve and make sure we can take on whichever manufacturer that we come up against is all about Corvette Racing’s mission.
“I look back on my win in 2002, my first win, with Ron and Johnny, and that was also huge for me and my career. The first one is always special, much like how it was special for Jordan this year. I feel a bit like the Dad in the driver lineup now. I was the young guy when I came in, and now sort of looking over the youngsters…and trying to keep Jordan from doing something crazy on social media.”
You’ve driven the C5-R, the C6.R in both GT1 and GT2/GTLM specs, and now the new C7.R. What stands out about each of them as far as driving them and your success/frustration with them?
“The 5 was a car with big overhangs, a big front splitter, and a big diffuser. We were on the Goodyear tire then, but you could really slide that car around. You really could slide it a ton. You could almost drive it in to corners like a drift car. Like at turn 17 at Sebring, it was amazing. I would hit the brakes and get some opposite lock and I’d sort of just drift it in.
“The C6 was not quite like that. The Corvette was evolving from then. We went to Michelin with the C6. The aerodynamics moved on, the chassis was greatly improved. The car was becoming a bit more refined I suppose. It was I guess a bit edgier. But, by the time the car got to the end of it’s GT1 life, it was so phenomenal to drive. The power, the torque, the downforce that we had. The feel that we would get when we were driving the car was great. At Le Mans, I still think that car, the final year of it as a GT1 car, is the best Corvette we’ve ever brought to Le Mans. Everybody always got out of the C6 GT1 with a huge smile on their face.
“The C7 is another huge step forward with the chassis. Particularly with the torsional rigidity of the chassis and the way we can now work with it and the setup we can now run. I feel that when we get the setup right, like at Le Mans this year, the window the car pulls into is fantastic. The car fell into that window (at Le Mans) and was fast, and good to drive. All of us could drive the car the same way.”
What is your favorite race track of all time?
“I think Spa-Francorchamps is a fantastic circuit. Suzuka is another great circuit. But, because of the victories that I’ve had at Le Mans, and the atmosphere during race week and the stories you hear when you’re there – it would have to be Le Mans as my favorite circuit.”
What is your favorite corner at Le Mans?
“The first part of Indianapolis is always great. You’ve got a long time coming down to it. You’re really thinking about it. You’ve come off this long straightaway, heading down hill to the corner with the trees on the left. And, the way you have to brake and then roll the speed through the corner is great. You get a great sensation of the car loading up and you really feel in it. And then it’s the quick dab of the brakes, getting down through the gears and getting the car set to turn left through the banked corner. It’s a big challenge of a corner as well. As the sun is going down, there is a point during the sunset that the sun is just above the trees, and you’re driving right into it. The sun is right below the line on the windshield and you’re blind. So when you’re heading into the corner you have to wait until the sun JUST gets obscured by the trees every lap and then hop on the brakes at the perfect time.
What is your favorite moment in your racing career?
“Winning the British F3 Championship in 1995 was a huge step for me and my career. It was a super close championship and I was with a smaller team up against the bigger teams. Going into the final event, there were 3 drivers all tied on points. Myself, Ralph Firman and Helio Castroneves all going into the last race knowing that whoever did best in that event was going to win the championship.
“I finished 3rd that race ahead of those two drivers and was able to clinch the title. It was a fantastic moment in my career, but I hadn’t really turned up full professional yet. But then I suppose when I joined this team in 2002 and we won Sebring, Le Mans and Petit Le Mans all in the same year I knew I was in a pivotal point in my career. I look back on that and I see that was really establishing myself as a sports car driver and being part of this operation for many many years.”
What are your thoughts on the new Ford GT and will it alter how Corvette approaches racing in America?
“I don’t think it will alter our approach to racing in America. It will however surely move the goalposts. That car is the first of the new evolution cars, the new regulations. And it’s a pretty bold statement that they’ve come out with. The car itself, the aerodynamics on the car, it’s on the verge of being much like the GT1 cars of the late 90’s. You look at that and you go, ‘well that’s raised the bar.’ Every other manufacturer is going to have to do the same.
“Ultimately I think the ACO and IMSA will get the balance right. The BoP stuff works most of the time reasonably well. It can get out of sync sometimes where you will see one car ahead of others. But, I think it’s fantastic that Ford are here and coming out with something so aggressive. I’m excited about it. And that’s all really important. In other forms of motorsport, cars have gotten quiet and might not sound like they should. It’s important to the fans to see cars that go fast. To hear cars that sound really cool, and still go really fast. The cars have gotta be amazing to watch.”
How do you see your chances this weekend here at Road America?
“Going off of our first dry practice session this morning, the Porsche’s are blindingly fast. It goes back to the BOP stuff. I’m sure there are a few people scratching their heads. The car that got pole and won the race in Mosport by half a lap now gets a BoP break with an adjustment for less weight. But, things could come to us. We’ve seen it in the past that the ultimate one-off lap time isn’t that strong for us, but the longer runs see us rise to the top. It’s going to be a challenge this weekend. I think it’s going to be a dry race, but it’s going to be a challenge for sure.”
Paul Marquardt
