
When Corvette Racing made its debut at the 1999 24 Hours of Daytona,
the team had high expectations. They announced that 1999 was a test year and
they would only run a limited number of races in order to sort out their new
car. Their real goal was to take a competition proven racer to the 2000 Le
Mans 24 Hour race in France. The new car was sleek and well prepared. At Daytona
the Corvette was running in fifth place overall at the 20 hour mark when it
was delayed by a massive oil leak. Undaunted, the team licked their wounds
and went to Sebring, Road Atlanta, Sears Point, Laguna Seca and Las Vegas.
At each race, the Corvettes performance improved. By the end of the
year the team had several second - and third-place podium finishes to their
credit. The crew and drivers tested, tested and tested some more. At each
race the C-5Rs got closer to their main competition - the French ORECA
Dodge team thats now in their fifth season. They are very well sorted,
fast and reliable racecars.
During the winter racing break, Corvette Racing manager
Doug Fehan had his team work