Fifty-year-old Cunningham Corvette shares the limelight with thundering C6.R racecars at this year’s 24-hour enduro.
One racetrack looms large in Corvette racing history: Le Mans. Although separated by a vast ocean and great differences in language and culture, this legendary circuit has played a key role in establishing Corvette's standing as a force in international sports car competition.
On Saturday, May 22 at the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) race at Laguna Seca in Monterey, Chevrolet kicked off its celebration of the 50 th anniversary of Corvette's first appearance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Fans were able to give the series' most successful team a spirited send-off before the Compuware Corvette C6.R racecars began their transatlantic journey to France. They will compete in the world's most prestigious sports car race on June 12-13.
The roar of Corvette thunder has rocked the central California coast for six decades. Corvettes raced through the streets of Pebble Beach on temporary circuits until sports car enthusiasts found a permanent home with the construction of Laguna Seca Raceway in 1957. Renowned drivers John Fitch, Dick Thompson, Dick Guldstrand, Bob Bondurant, and others gilded their reputations by racing Corvettes in the Golden State. Chevrolet saluted the marque’s rich racing history with a special Corvette Legends of Le Mans display at Laguna Seca.
"For many years we have talked about the legacy of Corvette Racing and the role that the team plays in Corvette's history," said Corvette Racing program manager, Doug Fehan. "The reason this is important today is because of the strong foundation that people like Dick Thompson, Dick Guldstrand, Zora Arkus-Duntov, and many others built for Corvette. They set the bar high, and they accomplished so much with so little. Today we have the full resources of Chevrolet and GM behind Corvette Racing, but these pioneers are the ones who truly began Corvette's performance heritage. Corvette Racing is continuing to build on that foundation for those who will
come after us."
L to R: Dick Thompson, Ron Fellows, Dick Guldstrand
In addition to the Corvette C6.R Team, enthusiasts attending Le Mans this year will also be treated to the 1960 # 2 Cunningham Corvette that Dick Thompson and Fred Windridge drove at Le Mans in 1960. While it retired early and did not finish, it had clocked 151 mph on the 3.7-mile Mulsanne Straight and recorded a best lap of 4:26.2 (113.12 mph). The #3 Corvette driven by John Fitch and Bob Grossman finished eight in class. Prior to the 1960 Le Mans race, the best showing for a Corvette was ninth at the 12 Hours of Sebring. Chevrolet and America left its marks in International racing fifty years ago. And the beat goes on!
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