Jake Yorath paid a visit to the Corvette camp here at Le Mans, and sought some answers . . .
Doug Fehan
Where do you think the main threat is going to come from?
“The main threat? I’m looking right out the window at it. The main threat, the main competition, is the race itself, the 24 Hours of Le Mans. People tend to focus on racing other cars, and that’s the sport, but we’ve learned that the reality is the race. It’s in total, all of it, and you have to be prepared for the combat you will be getting into. It’s impossible to differentiate between Aston Martin, Ferrari, Porsche, the Vipers – and one of those guys can win this year.
“In the past we have had some classic battles. We had a classic battle with Ferrari, and a classic battle with Aston. Everyone was focused on those two teams, when now, it’s every team. You can’t focus on any one. You focus on the race. Head down, do the best job you can do, and if you are without issues, you will be rewarded. We don’t really worry about what the other teams are doing; we are just going to focus on what we are doing.”
It wasn’t a great year last year, was it? But you returned with a bounce-back win at Sebring. How does that set you up?
“Last year had all the makings of a great year. We were leading the race, we were comfortably ahead, and just threw a mistake in the pits and it all went away. Just one little mistake! That’s my point – it had nothing to do with the competition, it had everything to do with the race.
“Coming off the momentum of Sebring, the team feels good. We have got enough experience here. We have won seven times here and we know what it takes. It’s 25% car, 25% great team, 50% good luck, and we know we have a great car and we know we have a great team. If we have good fortune we’re all set.”
Shifting to next year, and the USCR, what is the Corvette Racing plan?
“After Le Mans, our Corvette C7 race car will be almost complete. Then we can begin testing it while we finish racing in the ALMS. Our plan is to debut the new car – the C7 – at the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2014.
So no chance of a Corvette Racing DP next year?
“We have found that our Daytona Prototype programme is best left in the hands of privateers. We design and develop the bodywork for them. They have the opportunity then to purchase that from us, and that’s worked out very, very well. From the standpoint of a total factory car for Daytona Prototype, it’s not a good business plan right now. Our business plan, I think, is a model by which all other business plans should be cast. We’ve had wonderful success using our privateer teams – witness just the last race, where I think we had the first four or five qualifiers and I think we finished one-two. There’s nothing wrong with that formula! We don’t need to do anything differently from what we’re doing right now.
What about WEC?
“We do have our Corvette partner over here, Larbre, which has done a very good job of representing us. When it comes to Europe, we’ll do what we’ve always done with Corvette in European racing – just like the Daytona Prototypes, leave it in the hands of our privateers. When you look at whether it’s racing in Belgium, or France, or Germany, Corvette has managed to gather many victories – all in the hands of privateers. That’s a good formula for us. We’ve been successful with it, and for right now that’s the formula we’ll continue to employ.”
So there’s little chance of a Pro Corvette in the WEC? It would be very hard for a privateer to challenge in this field.
“That’s two different questions! Right now, there are no plans for us to compete in Pro as a factory team, but if there are privateers that would like to do that, then obviously we have equipment and knowledge available for them to do that. So whether it’s Larbre, or V8, or SRT . . . all those guys are capable of running GTE Pro.”
Will it be odd to see Corvettes passing Corvettes in USCR?
“I don’t think so. I think the fans are able to differentiate the two. I don’t think there’ll be a lot of confusion, and I really don’t see it creating any issue at all. They’re two distinctly different categories. The more Corvette flags we can have flying around the racetrack, the better.”
What do you think about the future with USCR?
“I tend to come from the optimistic side. I know all the people involved, I know they have wonderful intentions, I know they have great resources, and they have every opportunity to make this the greatest road racing series in history. I’m working very diligently with them to help that dream come true for us. I absolutely think it will come true.”
Richard Westbrook
What’re your thoughts on the USCR?
“First of all, I think it’s great for sportscar racing in North America. Two championships unified is going to put them in a strong position. It’s better for the fans, and we’ll get a better calendar. It’s ridiculous that ALMS doesn’t go to Watkins Glen and Grand Am doesn’t get to run at Sebring. Common sense has prevailed there. But they’ve got a hell of a job on their hands to make the class structure work. That’s not going to be easy. Some tough decisions are going to have to be made. But, we’ve got to wait and see how it pans out. I think, personally, everyone needs to be supportive of it, and also supportive of the fact they’ve got an incredibly tough job on their hands. ”
There’s been a lot of talk about performance balancing LM P2 and Daytona Prototype…
“It’s quite easy to make the DP considerably faster, but I think people are too concerned that you have to make them fast in the same places. To me, the great days of ALMS were in 2008, where LMP1 would win some races and LMP2 others. The P2 would be great at short tracks like Lime Rock and Detroit. We don’t have to have the two classes quick in the same places. It’ll be interesting for the fans. For instance – and I’m not saying this is the case – that the DP is good on the long straight tracks and the P2 better on the street circuits. If they don’t completely balance it? That’s not the end of the world.”
At Daytona next year, you might have to choose between Daytona Prototype and GT. Which would be your choice?
“Haha! I’d like to drive both. We’ve gotta sit down and look at which way I go next year. I’m not sure yet, it’s too early to say. I’ve got a big decision to make!”
Switching focus to Le Mans, it’s a strong field – where is the strongest competition?
“It’s pretty clear the strongest competition we’ll face in the class is Aston Martin. Pace wise, it’s their race to lose. They’ve got an incredibly strong package. On the straights, in the high downforce sections like the Porsche Curves, they’re good through the slow speed and have good acceleration out of the slow corners… They’re good at everything! That’s the leading package, and as I said, it’s their race to lose. For me, they’ve done a good job over the last couple of years and they are definitely the car to beat.”
But you started the season with a win at Sebring…
“There’s no point having a quick car if you going to make mistakes or have reliability issues. You’ve got to remember you’re racing the race. On paper, Aston Martin has the quickest car, but whether they can do it for 24 Hours… That’s where other teams are going to come into play – particularly us and Ferrari. Porsche is the unknown one. I was really surprised about its performance at the test, it was much better than I thought. They could be a dark horse.”
Viper are back with SRT – for American fans, it’s great to see that battle, isn’t it?
“Yeah, it really is. I don’t really know where they’re at, at the moment. Judging by their pace at Sebring, they’re going to be right there.”
So what can you achieve here?
“The expectation is a Corvette win. I have to keep reminding myself this is going to be the last time I drive this car at Le Mans. It’s the last year of the C6, and it’s such a fantastic car and it’s got an amazing pedigree around this track and we all wanna be in it, and on the top step of the podium in its last race at Le Mans. That would be nice!”
Jordan Taylor
So Jordan – you’re no longer a Le Mans virgin!
“It’s more of a relief coming here this year. It’s less stressful. Last year I was going into the unknown and I didn’t know what to expect. You get caught up in all the media side, the interviews and autograph sessions. It’s hard to keep your mind on the target – actually driving the race car! Last year when I got in the car it was almost like my mind wasn’t in the right place, but now I know to switch my mind on and off, driving, media, driving, media. I know the track, which is also important. Of course, I know the team and my team mates really well, better than last year even. Everything is just a little bit better than last year.”
There are a lot of family ties with the Taylor family and this race.
“My brother [Ricky] is here racing with Larbre in GTE Am, and he’s got a good shot at it as well – they’re the defending winners in the class. He’s excited. He and I were here 11 years ago watching my dad [Wayne] racing the Cadillac, so it’s weird to think that 11 years ago we were here watching and now we’re both driving in it. And my dad’s coming to watch, so the roles have been reversed. It was the goal for both of us to race here and now we’re both doing it.”
Is there much competition between you and Ricky?
“We’re not the competitive type of brothers – we’re more of the close brothers working together. We race against each other in America, but we always wanna help each other and see each other do well.”
What are your thoughts on the weather here? It’s been extremely changeable.
“I’d say we want fully wet, or fully dry. The problem is when it’s crossing in between and you’re trying to decide on tyre compounds. If you’re going in knowing it will be wet, then you’re ok but when it’s unknown… That’s when it gets tricky. For me personally, it would be great if it was dry the whole race but if it’s fully wet I’m mentally prepared for that.”
This is a mighty field of GTE Pro cars, isn’t it?
“It’s incredible how competitive it is. Look at the list of the cars in the class and every single car could win the race. It’s basically up to all the drivers and everyone in the crew not to make any mistakes. The car’s been prepared perfectly. The car shouldn’t miss a beat if the driver doesn’t miss a beat on track, in the pits, keep the car going… Everyone’s fast, it’s not like you can cruise around for 24 hours like you could in the old days. We’ll have to push for 24 hours, and I guess whoever’s making the least mistakes throughout the race will be there at the end.”
Is Le Mans 2013 going to be the hardest race you’ve ever done?
“Yeah, for sure. Especially with the weather looking the way it is. It’s a challenge. A rain race for just a sprint race is always stressful, so going into the 24 Hours of Le Mans, pitch black at night down the Mulsanne, not seeing where you’re going… Then throw some spray from the rain in there. That’ll make it interesting…”
We have to mention that mullet… It’s taking its sweet time growing!
“It’s shocking how long it’s taken. I haven’t had the length trimmed since 2012, and it’s been going for six or seven months now. It’s unbelievable. I’ve been taking Biotin to help it grow faster, but nothing works… I’m going to keep going, maybe ’til Petit, to make it actually look good.
Why?
“That’s a good question. I don’t know… I had one when I was young, four or five years old. I had a fantastic mullet. I posted a picture on Twitter and everyone loved it so I thought ‘why not bring it back?’ and people are loving the updates.
“I’m embracing it, and I’ll admit that I’m one of the weird guys for embracing it! Ryan Hunter Reay was my team-mate at Daytona and I told him I was thinking about growing the mullet. He pointed out that some people say things and then back out of them… I can’t back out of it, I’ll be a man of my word and I’ll commit to the mullet.”
And you’re also famous for your music videos.
“We’re still thinking about the next one. The first two were pretty good, so it’s going to be hard to top them. We’re still thinking, we’re highly motivated to top it…”
What about ‘Grand Am Style’…?
“I don’t think out dance moves are very good, so Grand-Am Style might be out of the question. We can’t go too far. What we have going for us is our weird creativity and awkward moments in our videos. If we can make it awkward, we’re happy. If we can get John Hindhaugh or Jamie Howe to join in, that would be fantastic. The more star power the better!”
Antonio Garcia
Is this the toughest field you’ve ever seen?
“I would say look back at 2008. There were two big teams fighting against each other. Aston Martin are as strong now as they were back then, then add Porsche, Ferrari and the Vipers as well as our Corvettes. It’s the biggest competition we’ve ever had.”
Who is the strongest in the class?
“The main thing is that everyone plays their own plan. It’s very easy now, especially with such a spread of big manufacturers, with changing conditions, to get really excited. There will be a lot of happenings in the race, so there will be points where maybe Porsche will be really fast, or the Aston, or us. The main thing is to stick to your plan and do your own race. If you start doing mistakes or risky decisions, it can ruin your race. You definitely need to stick to the plan and not get upset if someone is really fast, because it might turn around in the race.”
There’s been a lot of talk about weather – what are you hoping for?
“I’m not sure there’s a condition we prefer. The weather situation is not a good point for anyone. Nobody in the paddock likes [changeable conditions]. It’s these conditions, though, where experienced drivers and experienced teams come into play. In that situation, even if you don’t have the fastest car, if the team has huge experience at this race you can make up all your deficit. It brings the team into play, instead of just car and driver speed.”
You took a win at Laguna – how much has that helped the team, and your car in particular?
“That’s boosted us a lot. It was not only a Corvette win, it was the second one this year, after Sebring. It’s good for the team to prove we have a winning team – but the #3 car [#73 at Le Mans] really needed that win. Last year we had, I think, five second places. It wasn’t our year. We got unlucky two or three times in turn one. Last year we had the car and the team to win, everything was right on, but we always had some small thing going on that didn’t help us to win the race. So this year we had it right away. From Sebring we showed we had the speed, but we had problems right at the start. Laguna was a perfect race, even if it wasn’t easy, and everything came together. We led almost the whole race.”
What are your expectations for this race?
“We’ll just drive around and try and drive as fast as we can! We need to deliver everything we have. Everybody has been preparing, the team has been preparing this race since we left last year! Everything was based on improving the car and learning from every mistake we made. We’re at 100% – we have to show our 100%, and hope that that’s enough. If someone’s faster than us and they win it, that’s the best we can do!”
Jake Yorath
