Written by: Matthew Boyce
Photos by: Matthew Boyce
The time has come.
After months of anticipation the 2014 IMSA TUDOR United Sports Car Championship will take the green flag on their inaugural season in just under a weeks’ time. For the first time cars, drivers and teams from both the American Le Mans Series and Grand-Am Road Racing Series will compete together, at the same time for one championship. The excitement for the future could not be any higher.
Corvette Racing will yet again play a major role in the IMSA Tudor United Sports Car Championship. With cars in both the prototype and GTLM classes, Corvettes will surely be contesting for wins and podiums every race weekend.
During the off-season, the sanctioning body began implementing and testing new elements to bring the speed and performance up to match the ALMS-style P2 cars. New features including a new diffuser, dual-element rear wing and carbon brakes quickly brought the Corvette Daytona Prototypes up to speed in recent Sebring and Daytona testing. With these new implementations, the Corvette Daytona Prototypes should be a force to be reckoned with in 2014.
The GT-LM class, which is essentially the “old” ALMS GT class, will see the Corvette Racing team trade in its dominating C6.R in favor of the brand new C7.R. The car debuted at the Roar Before the 24 test last weekend, with a livery announcement coming January 13th at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
Here’s a team-by-team look at the Corvette Racing cars, drivers and teams that will contest the inaugural IMSA TUDOR United Sports Car Championship:
PROTOTYPE CLASS:
#5 Action Express Racing
Drivers: Joao Barbosa and Christian Fittipaldi
The duo of Barbosa and Fittipaldi, who won two races at Mid-Ohio and Watkins Glen in the Grand-Am Road Racing Series last season, both return in 2014. Sebastian Bourdais will contest three of the four NAEC rounds with this car and team.
