The Corvette captures the GTS crown at the 2001 Le Mans with the #63 car :happy :happy
(click image below to see 800x600 photo)
CORVETTE C5-R SCORES DOUBLE GTS VICTORY IN WORLD'S TOUGHEST RACE
CADILLAC NORTHSTAR LMP FINISHED FIFTEENTH OVERALL
source: corvetteracing.com
LE MANS, France, Sunday June 17, 2001 - Corvette Racing scored an historic
double victory in the GTS-class in the 69th edition of the Le Mans 24 Hours
endurance race. The 1 - 2 finish follows up on the podium finish at the first
Le Mans attempt last year and an overall win and a first and second in class
at the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona in February of this year.
The No. 63 Corvette, driven by Ron Fellows, Johnny O'Connell and Scott
Pruett, finished 278 laps/2340.76 miles for an eighth overall and first in
the production-based GTS class.
The second Corvette, driven by Andy Pilgrim, Kelly Collins and Franck Freon,
completed 271 laps/2281.82 miles to finish 14th overall and second in GTS in
a race slowed frequently by periods of heavy rain which caused extreme,
slippery track conditions and poor visibility.
Happy faces reigned in the Corvette camp following the first ever Le Mans
class win. "I just hope that somewhere up there Zora Duntov, (father of the
Corvette) is enjoying what is no doubt the greatest victory in Corvette
history," GM Racing Executive Director Herb Fishel said. "This is a great
testament to the concept of teamwork and to the Corvette and Cadillac teams
and their efforts."
GM Motorsports Manager Gary Claudio summed it up as follows: "This is another
great 1 - 2 for Corvette and both the No. 63 and No.64 teams dedicate this
win to our missing Daytona teammate... Dale Earnhardt, this one's for you."