Sebring International Raceway held its annual winter test on February 8-9, to allow teams to shake down their new cars before the start of the 2012 season. A total of 25 cars from the prototype and GT classes took to the track for the test. Four Corvettes were part of the mix-two from Corvette Racing and two from Larbre Competition in France.
Pratt & Miller expanded the...
Pratt & Miller expanded the front and rear fenders on the C6.R by one inch on each side. The wider track should help handling, but it might reduce top speed.
Corvette Racing shook down the revised 2012-spec C6.R, which features a two-inch-wider track as compared with last year's car. Larbre, meanwhile, has purchased a second Pratt & Miller chassis and will campaign both cars in the World Endurance Championship this season, including Le Mans. One of the cars made contact with the Turn 12 wall at Sebring and will have to be returned to Pratt & Miller for repairs.
Ferrari brought several revised Italia 458s to Sebring, and former Corvette Racing driver Olivier Beretta drove one of them to the quickest GT time of the session. Porsche brought its revised GT3 RSR, sporting new bodywork, and it set the second fastest GT time.
The Sebring test provided a snapshot of what the Corvette teams will need to improve on before the start of the 12-hour race. We're confident the booming C6.Rs will be very competitive at this year's event.
The French Larbre Competition...
The French Larbre Competition team purchased a second C6.R chassis from Pratt & Miller and will run a two-car team this year. The new car is fitted with last season’s bodywork and is shown here exiting Sebring’s hairpin turn. The team placed first in the GTE AM category at Le Mans last year.
Magnussen/Garcia/Taylor were...
Magnussen/Garcia/Taylor were seventh fastest in the GT class. The new wider bodywork can be seen in this photo.
The No. 4 Corvette is being...
The No. 4 Corvette is being pursued by two prototypes as they enter the Turn 14 Bishop Bend. Gavin/Milner/Westbrook were fifth fastest, about one minute slower than the Beretta Ferrari 458 Italia.
The No. 70 Larbre Competition...
The No. 70 Larbre Competition Corvette was driven by the team of Bourret/Gibson/Belloc during the test.
The No. 70 Larbre car tagged...
The No. 70 Larbre car tagged the wall in Turn 12, a tricky, high-speed corner catches a lot of drivers by surprise. Fortunately, the driver was unhurt.
After the crash, the Larbre...
After the crash, the Larbre team quickly disassembled the car and discovered that the suspension was too heavily damaged to be fixed on site. It will be returned to Pratt & Miller for extensive repairs before the Sebring 12-hour race.