Gavin to Step Away as Full-Time Corvette Driver

Photo: IMSA

Oliver Gavin will step away as a full-time driver at Corvette Racing at the conclusion of the 2020 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season, marking the end of an era for the team’s longest-running driver.

The 48-year-old Englishman has been part of the Pratt & Miller-run factory squad since 2002 and will complete his 18th full-season with the team in next month’s Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.

Gavin’s list of accomplishments with Corvette Racing is unmatched.

He has more starts (201), championships (five), race wins (51), 24 Hours of Le Mans victories (five) and pole positions (25) than any other driver in program history.

He also has won five times at both Sebring and Petit Le Mans with Corvette Racing and captured the Rolex 24 at Daytona in 2016 to begin his latest championship run.

“To have been with the same team for 19 seasons has been an immense privilege, and I thank from the bottom of my heart each and every person who has shared that journey with me,” Gavin said.

“It’s been an amazing run, and I’ve been very lucky to have been able to drive at such a high level for so long.

“I’m extremely proud of what we’ve achieved together, especially the championship wins and milestone victories at Le Mans, Daytona and Sebring, among others.

“I’m also very proud of the part I played in developing four generations of Corvette race cars for both IMSA and at Le Mans, and I look forward to exploring opportunities to represent Chevrolet and Corvette Racing in the future.”

Gavin claimed the first pole position for the C8.R at Daytona in July, and he and Milner won the next event at Sebring.

They currently sit second in the GT Le Mans Drivers’ Championship entering this weekend’s penultimate round of the season at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

“All of us at Chevrolet thank Oliver for his nearly 20 years of contributions to Corvette Racing,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet U.S. Vice President, Performance and Motorsports.

“No driver at Corvette Racing has started more events, captured more championships or won more races.

“Oliver’s success has brought great improvements over the years not just to Corvette Racing, but also to every Corvette that sits in an owner’s driveway.

“We are hopeful of creating more of those opportunities with Oliver into the future.”

Various Drivers Linked to Vacant 2021 Full-Season Seat

A number of drivers have been suggested as possible replacements for Gavin in the No. 4 Corvette next year, including both Marcel Fassler and Mike Rockenfeller, two of the team’s endurance drivers.

Rockenfeller, who has long contested the DTM series with Audi, is understood to have been pushing for a full-time seat with Corvette for a number of years.

Veteran Porsche factory driver Nick Tandy, meanwhile, has also been rumored in making a potential switch to Corvette for 2021 amid the end of the German manufacturer’s factory IMSA program.

Former Corvette factory driver Richard Westbrook has also been in the rumor-mill.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John