Corvette Confirms FIA WEC COTA Entry, Driver Lineup

As Sportscar365 revealed last week, Corvette Racing will enter the next round of the FIA World Endurance Championship Sept. 20 at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas.

An all-American driver lineup will race the team’s Corvette C7.R in GTE Pro, with Corvette Racing regular Tommy Milner joined by brothers Jordan and Ricky Taylor.

While Jordan has experienced the Corvette C7.R as the team’s third driver for endurance races, this will mark Ricky’s debut in the C7.R. Ricky has past Corvette experience in the prior generation C6.R, which he raced at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2013 with Larbre Competition.

“This is an amazing opportunity. To be racing a Corvette in the FIA World Endurance Championship on American soil, with an all-American lineup… it couldn’t be any cooler,” Jordan Taylor said.

“It will be my first time racing in the WEC, other than doing Le Mans the past few years, so it’s going to be a bit of a different feel racing in more of a sprint race format. We’ll be representing America on a world stage. I can’t wait.”

Added Ricky, “It is a very important weekend for us on many levels. For me it will be my first opportunity to drive for Corvette Racing and my first time in GTE Pro.

“I am really looking forward to getting to know the team and working with everyone on a race weekend. With three American drivers in an American marque, we have a really special opportunity here.”

Ricky will sit in the Corvette C7.R this weekend to determine whether a new seat will be required for the COTA weekend.

Both Konica Minolta, the Taylor brothers’ sponsor of their No. 10 Corvette DP in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, and Corvette Racing tire technical partner Michelin will serve as co-primary sponsors for Corvette’s FIA WEC effort.

“Chevrolet and Corvette Racing pride themselves on competing against the best sports car manufacturers and teams in the world,” said Mark Kent, Chevrolet Director of Racing. “This is a great opportunity to race in both the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship and FIA World Endurance Championship at Circuit of The Americas. The event will shine a spotlight on Chevrolet and the Corvette brand domestically and internationally.

“Chevrolet is fully committed to help grow the stature of sports car racing in North America,” Kent continued. “It is important for us to support our partners in the TUDOR Championship as well as the FIA and ACO during one of the biggest weekend for sports car racing in North America.

“We greatly appreciate Konica Minolta and Michelin as without their support, this FIA WEC entry would not have been possible.”