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Corvette Daytona Prototypes haven’t lost at Belle Isle since program debut in 20122016-06-01
· Curran, Cameron defending race winners in Action Express/Whelen Engineering Corvette DP· Action Express Racing 1-2 in Prototype Driver’s, Team Championship standings
· Visit Florida Racing, Action Express/Whelen Engineering coming off Monterey podiums
DETROIT (June 1, 2016) – Chevrolet’s Corvette Daytona Prototype teams will have quite the home-field advantage once again as the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) visits the Motor City for the annual Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix weekend. The Chevrolet Sports Car Classic presented by Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers is the fifth Prototype race of the season in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with Chevrolet looking to add to its already stellar record in the event.
With Chevrolet World Headquarters overlooking the 2.3-mile, 14-turn Raceway at Belle Isle Park, the Corvette DP program has raced to four straight victories in Detroit – an unbeaten record. In addition, Corvette DP drivers have won each of the last three pole positions at Belle Isle and set the fastest race lap three of the last four years. Chevrolet also looks to take the lead in the Prototype Engine Manufacturer’s Championship.
Action Express Racing’s duo of Eric Curran and Dane Cameron will arrive at Belle Isle not just as defending race winners but also holding the Prototype Driver’s Championship. They have driven the No. 31 Whelen Engineering/Team Fox Corvette DP to podium finishes in the last three IMSA events – second at Sebring, and third and Long Beach and Laguna Seca.
The pairing started fifth in last year’s race and took the lead for good with 28 minutes left. It was the first victory for Cameron/Curran duo together.
Their Action Express Racing teammates Joao Barbosa and Christian Fittipaldi, drivers of the No. 5 Mustang Sampling Corvette DP, were third last year at Belle Isle and sit second in this year’s championship standings. The two-time IMSA Prototype Driver’s champions were second in the 2013 race, and Barbosa was 2012 winner; he set the fastest race lap in 2012 and 2015.
Wayne Taylor Racing also is a two-time winner on Belle Isle, having won in 2013 and 2014 with its No. 10 Konica Minolta Corvette DP. Jordan Taylor and Ricky Taylor - full-season teammates this year – captured their first victory together two years ago, and Jordan Taylor won with Max Angelelli the year before.
Visit Florida Racing’s duo of Marc Goossens and Ryan Dalziel are coming off a runner-up finish at Laguna Seca in the most recent IMSA round. Goossens is third in Driver points, and the No. 90 VisitFlorida.com Corvette DP finished second in the 2014 Belle Isle race and set the fastest race lap.
The Corvette DP bodywork reflects the Corvette C7 production lineup. At the heart of the Corvette Daytona Prototype is a purpose-built 5.5-liter Chevrolet LS9 V-8 engine developed by ECR Engines.
The Chevrolet Sports Car Classic presented by Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers is set for 12:40 p.m. ET on Saturday. It will air live on FOX Sports 1 with audio coverage from IMSA Radio is available on IMSA.com.
CHRISTIAN FITTIPALDI, ACTION EXPRESS RACING NO. 5 MUSTANG SAMPLING CORVETTE DP: “I am very excited to head back to Detroit; we have had a very strong car there in the past, and street courses come with their own challenges, which is always fun. Action Express is very proud to be representing Chevrolet at its title event in their hometown of Detroit. We are looking for another podium finish.”
RICKY TAYLOR, WAYNE TAYLOR RACING NO. 10 KONICA MINOLTA CORVETTE DP: “Our car has always been good at the street courses, and I think street courses also reward good execution on the pit stops which is something our guys work very hard on. As a driver I enjoy all of the tracks, and the passing opportunities at Detroit make it a unique street course for racing. It does feel somewhat like a home race. But also the pressure of representing Chevrolet is exciting that we are racing in the automotive capital of the U.S.”
DANE CAMERON, ACTION EXPRESS RACING NO. 31 WHELEN ENGINEERING/TEAM FOX CORVETTE DP: “Last year was a really special year for us as a new team – being able to capture our first win in the Whelen Engineering/Team Fox Corvette DP. To be able to do it at Detroit, in GM’s backyard, made it that much better. This is a big weekend for us; we are looking forward to coming back to Detroit with our sights set on making it a back-to-back win and extending our points lead.”
RYAN DALZIEL, VISIT FLORIDA RACING NO. 90 CORVETTE DP: “Detroit is a great venue for us especially since it's the home race for Chevrolet. So we will be doing our best to get the Visit Florida Racing Corvette on the podium. Obviously Laguna Seca was a great points weekend for us, but we lacked the pace we needed to challenge for the win. The guys have been working really hard since the last race to find some more speed so looking forward to getting there and seeing where we stack up.”
JIM LUTZ, CORVETTE DAYTONA PROTOTYPE PROGRAM MANAGER: “It’s always a pleasure to race in Detroit and in the shadows of the Renaissance Center. This is a very important weekend for everyone at Chevrolet, and our Corvette DP program is ready to deliver for them. Belle Isle is fast for a street circuit plus there is the looming risk of concrete walls and narrow sections around the track. We would like nothing better than to take a fifth straight win at Belle Isle and gain the Engine Manufacturer Championship lead for Chevrolet.”
Corvette Daytona Prototype Statistics
Year
|
Events
|
Wins
|
Podiums
|
Poles
|
Fast Laps
|
Notes
|
2012
|
13
|
8
|
19
|
9
|
9
|
DP Engine Manufacturer Title
|
2013
|
12
|
8
|
18
|
7
|
5
|
DP Drivers, Engine Manufacturer Titles
|
2014
|
11
|
6
|
19
|
4
|
2
|
TUDOR Prototype Driver, Team, Engine Manufacturer Titles
|
2015
|
10
|
8
|
21
|
5
|
3
|
TUDOR Prototype Driver, Team, Engine Manufacturer Titles; Wins at Sebring, Long Beach, Laguna Seca, Detroit, Watkins Glen, CMTP, Road America, Road Atlanta
|
2016
|
4
|
1
|
9
|
1
|
1
|
Win, podium sweep at Long Beach
|
Totals
|
50
|
31
|
86
|
26
|
20
|
Driver Standings
|
Team Standings
|
Manufacturer Standings
|
| 1. Dane Cameron/Eric Curran – 121 2. Christian Fittipaldi/Joao Barbosa – 118 3. Marc Goossens – 117 4. Jordan Taylor/Ricky Taylor – 1155. Ozz Negri/John Pew – 107 | 1. No. 31 Action Express Racing – 121 2. No. 5 Action Express Racing – 118 3. No. 90 Visit Florida Racing – 117 4. No. 10 Wayne Taylor Racing – 1155. No. 60 Michael Shank Racing – 107 |
1. Honda – 135
2. Chevrolet – 1313. Mazda – 118 4. BMW – 56 5. Ford – 30 |
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