After struggling in Free Practice this week, Corvette Racing and their two Corvette C7.Rs have qualified 13th and 14th in GTE Pro for the 84th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Just like in practice, the No. 64 C7.R was the faster of the two General Motors factory entries, lapping Circuit de La Sarthe in 3:55.848. The No. 63 car posted a fastest lap of 3:57.967, by far the slowest time in GTE Pro.
The fastest car of the day was the No. 68 Ford GT of Dirk Mueller, which turned in a lap of 3:51.185. Mueller’s teammate Ryan Briscoe claimed second with a lap of 3:51.497 in the No. 69 Ford GT, while AF Corse’s Gianmaria Bruni claimed third on the grid with a lap of 3:51.568 in his No. 51 Ferrari 488 GTE.
The qualifying session was hard for Corvette Racing, but as driver of the No. 63 C7.R Jan Magnussen pointed out on twitter, the team won the GTE Pro class last year starting from last on the grid and with only one car.
Not the result we were looking for but we’ll fight. No.64 won from last on the grid in ’15! https://t.co/eBb1LpwFSk pic.twitter.com/H5KLhVa1uo
— Jan Magnussen (@janmagnussen) June 16, 2016
The Fords were by far and away the fastest cars in the session, with Chip Ganassi Racing also claiming fourth and fifth on the grid in the No. 67 and No. 66 Ford GTs. The Ferraris were similarly as strong, forcing the ACO to make Balance of Performance changes to level the playing field.
In race trim, the Ford GTs will be 10 kg heavier than they were in qualifying and will operate with less boost pressure. The Ferrari 488, meanwhile, also received a 10 kg weight increase. The Corvette C7.R has received a 0.3mm smaller air restrictor, but will now get an additional 7 liters of fuel for the race.
Click here for full results from qualifying for the 84th 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Comments
The headline here is a little misleading.
Note what Corvette got back was what they lost from when they were fastest in class. The added fuel will also help cut the number of stops if needed.
Folks this is a 24 hour race and a lot can happen. right now the cars are all pretty much close and should all be competitive.
Ferrari is going to be tough and never count the 911 out as they know this race as well as Corvette. The race required you to be there at the end with a compete competitive car. Ford has yet to finish a 24 Hour race with out major issues.
I hope this kills all the conspiracy cries from those who really do not understand that racing is business.
Chevy once they bring the C8 will have to deal with much more in reliability of a new car and changes in the rules to keep them equal with the other brands.
Go Jake and Go Pratt and Miller team. Bring the C7 home first again!
I want for fathers day to see the Corvette and Cavs in victory.
I couldn’t believe the 4 sec advantage Ferrari and Ford put up against the C7r. Obviously they were absolutely sandbagging to receive increases in BoP lol! “Honesty, integrity, and sportsmanship
If you have raced you have sandbagged some where depending on the rules and sanctioning body.
GM has done it too in Indy car and even with the Corvette team in the past.
I would not be surprised if the Vette held back some too just not as much as the Fords. It is just part of the strategy with the rules you are facing.
It would be wise for the Corvettes to run only as fast as needed the rest of the year or they could get a penalty in IMSA later on like they have seen in August the last two years.
It is sad it has come to this but the way technology is today and the high cost of racing there is little chance a racing series will survive anymore if one brand stinks up the show.
I know many people now are not watching NASCAR because Gibbs is winning a lot and Chevy is not as dominate. They are taking cars to the wind tunnel to see if they can even things up a bit.
In today’s racing you really get two ways they level the playing field. Rules like this that change often or cars that are all alike with only engine changes like NASCAR and INDY Car.
Yes Andrew, I agree. The BoP is BS and now at almost the 1/3 completion mark ford GT’s dominate with the ferrari’s in the mix. C7’s? Well they’re a bit back in the pack running something like 11’th and 13’th so it appears the sandbagging paid off as even if their BoP was adjusted as the Vette’s were, they STILL were not penalized enough. Scooter3 doesn’t grasp the concept that the “officials”, if you can call them that, are tired of seeing Corvette kick@$$ and take names. Yes, there’s a lot of time left but those GT’s are looking pretty damn strong and ferrari is making a go of it too so time will tell but I’ll predict it doesn’t end well for the C7’s and then Scooter3 can stuff it when Magnussen really talk’s about the GT sandbaggin’ and getting away with it. Oh, yeah…isn’t it the 50th anniversary for the GT sweep at Le Mans?? Incredible coincidence, if you believe in that sort of crap.
You really need to join the real world C4ass.
Like I said this is a buisness anymore and it is what it is.
Also you are not to 24 hours yet.
Trust me the Corvettes over the years kicked ass many times because things wen their way those years too.
You need to stop being so emotional and use your brain and not your heart.
Oh Scooter boy, did I offend thee??? ROFLMAO since U’r SUCH a douche. FORD GT’S pi$$in’ on your parade??? Like I said, M0R0N, time will tell but IF & WHEN the GT’s win, It proves your FOS once again. Stick that in U’r @$$, F00L. Emotional enough for U D0uche??
You are no threat as You are just all feathers and no chicken.
I don’t have to mock you as you drive a C4. Lol!
I hope you at least pony up enough to do better than the Crossfire 84 model.
Bwaahahaha…you’re priceless princess. Mine’s a 1990, D0uchey, with a future LS upgrade. What do U have F00L? Yes, a cruz, isn’t it? Bi0tch……Oh and not for nothing, my Father has a 1984 with only 16K on it, in immaculate condition which I would be proud to own, but not you, you arrogant POS. Quit $uckin’ DIOCK biotch, as it’s why your down voted soooo often. Jack@$$.
So loser produce losers. You really need to set your standard much higher. If you bought a good Vette it would have had an LS in it. I bet your family is the envy of the whole trailer park.
I can see your resorting to the poorly worded colorful metaphors that you are reaching. LOL!
Well wish you dad a happy fathers day.
Sorry to see how things turned out this year but then again the C8 and the expected Turbo engine may be what they need to remain competitive in this class as the competition has changed. We are no longer racing the Vipers anymore.
The P&M team will do well in IMSA but they will need a new car. What they have is very old and with the rules on Turbo engines it may force them into other packages. .
It is a good thing you are not into Porsche as you would be driving a 924 waiting for a 928 engine transplant.
Good Vettes do not need engine swaps.
As for racing you need to learn that it is all about marketing, rating, fans attending and return on a dollar to MFG while holding cost down.
Sorry but today it is all about business and that is just the way it is.
Even with that congrats to the #2 Porsche as they have shown that the fastest cars don’t always win. You have to finish first.
Exactly.