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Corvette Racing Veteran Oliver Gavin To Step Away From Team After 18 Seasons

Oliver Gavin has elected to step away from his full-time role with Corvette Racing at the conclusion of the 2020 IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship season.

The Briton first joined Corvette Racing for the 2002 season and has been a staple of the team’s driver lineup ever since. Gavin has started more races than any other Corvette Racing driver at 201, taking 51 race wins, 25 pole positions and five championships in the process. He also has five 24 Hours of Le Mans victories to his name, along with five wins at both the 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans. Additionally, Gavin won the 2016 24 Hours of Daytona alongside teammates Oliver Gavin and Marcel Fassler, helping to set him up for his final IMSA GT Le Mans driver’s championship.

“To have been with the same team for 19 seasons has been an immense privilege, and I thank from the bottom of my heart each and every person who has shared that journey with me,” Gavin said in a statement. “It’s been an amazing run, and I’ve been very lucky to have been able to drive at such a high level for so long.

“I’m extremely proud of what we’ve achieved together, especially the championship wins and milestone victories at Le Mans, Daytona and Sebring, among others.”

Gavin’s input has been crucial to the development of Corvette Racing’s various cars, as well. The Briton has driven every iteration of Corvette Racing car, from the C5-R to the new mid-engine C8.R, and plays a major role in the technical development and setup work for team’s iconic yellow ‘Vettes.

“I’m also very proud of the part I played in developing four generations of Corvette race cars for both IMSA and at Le Mans, and I look forward to exploring opportunities to represent Chevrolet and Corvette Racing in the future,” Gavin said, alluding to a potential co-driver role for select endurance races in the future.

“No driver at Corvette Racing has started more events, captured more championships or won more races,” added Chevrolet’s vice president of motorsports, Jim Campbell.”Oliver’s success has brought great improvements over the years not just to Corvette Racing, but also to every Corvette that sits in an owner’s driveway.

“We are hopeful of creating more of those opportunities with Oliver into the future.”

Gavin’s exit is the second major driver departure at Corvette Racing in as many years after Jan Magnussen left the team at the conclusion of the 2019 season. Magnussen, who much like Gavin was veteran of the Corvette team, was replaced by American driver Jordan Taylor. The young American driver won this year’s driver’s IMSA GTLM championship alongside teammate Antonio Garcia.

Gavin’s final race as full-time member of Corvette Racing will be the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring, set to kick off on November 13th at 9:05 a.m. It’s currently not clear who his replacement could be for the 2021 season.

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Sam loves to write and has a passion for auto racing, karting and performance driving of all types.

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Comments

  1. Chevrolet can’t really afford to let Corvette Racing Veteran Oliver Gavin simply walk away from the company after almost two decades because Gavin probably knows the Corvette as well as anyone within the Chevrolet team; Chevrolet needs to find a spot for Gavin because it is doubtful that Mercedes Benz will simply let Lewis Hamilton walk away and not become a member of their design group as you don’t throw away all that knowledge and experience.

    Reply
    1. Olly is going to be a Chev Corvette Ambassador, like Ron Fellows.
      And may be a 3rd driver team member for the longer races.
      He is not totally leaving.

      Reply
  2. Generally what they sign the drivers to deal to promote the brand and to show for events with the car.

    Ron Fellows has a deal like this as well as a car deal for his driving school.

    Johnny O’Connell has a deal as he is at Mid Ohio with the team though he is not driving anymore.

    Gavin said he expect to be an ambassador for the brand in the future so I expect he also has a deal in place.

    He is not going to build or design cars. He is a race driver and the cars he have driven have few carry over parts to the production car. The R models are all to their own amazing machines that are set apart from their stock cousins.

    Reply
  3. The part of this article that is missing is who will replace Gavin – a bit useless beyond it’s “puff piece” value. #4 has Milner & Fassler in various races until Gavin’s announcement, so who will be added???

    I don’t know if it could be arranged – I’d like to see Shane Van Gisbergen (SVG), winner of this year’s Bathurst 1000, given a test drive, at least. He has driven in various US endurance events in the past, and currently drives for 888 Engineering, using Holden/GM “Commodores” in VASC (Supercars), which will switch to Camaro in 2022. Not sure he would give up his top-tier status in VASC before winning a championship – next season looks to be his best chance, with Penske’s departure from the DJR Mustang program, taking Scott McLaughlin with him to the IndyCar world.

    Reply
  4. William you just hit the bullseye. SVG would be the perfect fit!

    Reply
  5. oopsy!

    “Additionally, Gavin won the 2016 24 Hours of Daytona alongside teammates O̶l̶i̶v̶e̶r̶ ̶G̶a̶v̶i̶n̶ and Marcel Fassler”

    “Additionally, Gavin won the 2016 24 Hours of Daytona alongside teammates TÍŸoÍŸmÍŸmÍŸyÍŸ MÍŸiÍŸlÍŸnÍŸeÍŸrÍŸ and Marcel Fassler”

    Thanks Oliver, wish you the best in the future, hope the Corvette racing team can find a young stud to fill your big shoes as they build on the early success of Zora Arkus Duntov’s dream!

    Reply
  6. Y’all are missing a great potential replacement; Ernie Francis Jr,, Trans Am supper star.
    He has won 33 races and four Championships. He is from South Florida, was raised around racing
    as his father, Ernie Francis Sr., was a Corvette race car driver and tuner.
    I’ve suggested to Doug Fehan he take a serious look at Francis Jr.

    Doug, are you listening?!

    Reply
    1. Mike – no intent to overlook anyone, and I don’t have any defense as far as not coming up with more names, including EFJ. He checks some boxes that might be worth it, especially being a US driver, when so many are foreign, including my suggestion. His strong affiliation with Ford – whether any plans exist for him to expand his experience beyond TA, is something I’m not aware of. The comparison, between SVG & EFJ sees to favor the Kiwi when you look at breadth of experience. Maybe I don’t know enough about Ernie….except he wins a lot. TA is mainly short races with no co-drives, unlike GTLM. Not opposed to the idea.

      Reply
      1. Hey Bill,
        True enough. Albeit, Ernie Sr. has significant GM/Chev/Corvette connection.
        Yes, 1 hr races, so no long distance enduro experience, per se, but as a very young man he is very fit and I would presume has the stamina.
        From the US, as you point out, although we have Catsburg and Fassler as the 3rd member of the driver teams, so I don’t think that is a factor as such.
        TA laps times are very close to IMSA GTLM lap times, so he has and can handle the speed.
        Ernie Jr is very technical, setting up his suspensions himself, so he would be a very good fit for P&M on a technical basis.
        We watched him at NJMP a few years ago. He had to start last as a result of a blown engine before qualifying. Katech rebuilt the engine under their tent out in a field overnight and he won by 27 seconds in that 1 hr race.
        It was a great drive to witness.
        He’s a very talented driver with success on every track CR races at, except LM, so a small, truly a very small, learning curve in that respect, even with GMs simulator.
        Just sayin’.
        Mike

        Reply

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