While Corvettes made their return to Daytona in DP class in 2012, the last time the trademark Yellow Corvettes of Corvette Racing made an appearance at the 24 Hours of Daytona was in 2001. The new C7.R returns to Daytona in 2014 but the start to the new Tudor United SportCar Championship for Corvette Racing did not end as planned.
Trouble started first with the number 3 C7.R of Antonio Garcia, Jan Magnussen, and Ryan Briscoe. While starting from the rear of the field, the number 3 ran to the top of the grid at the 6:30:00 mark thanks to the driving skills of the three. Halfway through Garcia’s stint, trouble bubbled up with an overheating problem. It was pulled into the pits and even the garage to solve it but none of the solutions would prove fruitful.
The number 4 C7.R, on the other hand, was running great and was even chasing the number 555 Ferrari of Level 5 racing with only three hours to go. It looked as if Oliver Gavin, Tommy Milner, and Robin Liddell would bring home a podium for Corvette Racing but disaster struck after gearbox temperatures rose drastically. A bearing had failed and the team was able to still swap out the gearbox in just 30 minutes, allowing Milner to recover a fifth place finish.
Racing is tough and the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona is an extreme endurance race, but the season is far from over. Sebring is right around the corner and is a track Corvette Racing is very familiar with. It will also be another chance for a win in GT Le Mans.
