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Action Express Debuts New Corvette C7 DP Bodywork

Action Express Racing debuts new Corvette C7 bodywork…

Photo: Brian Cleary/BCPix.com

Photo: Brian Cleary/BCPix.com

Action Express Racing took the wraps off the new Corvette C7-inspired DP bodywork this week during a two-day test at Daytona International Speedway, as the defending TUDOR United SportsCar Championship-winning squads and a handful of other teams prepare for next month’s season-opening Rolex 24 at Daytona.

Joao Barbosa and Christian Fittipaldi handled testing duties of the No. 5 Corvette DP on Monday, which sported an updated nose and tail section to reflect the latest-generation Corvette road car. Max Papis and 2015 Sunoco Whelen Challenge winner Phil Keen turned laps in the car today.

“Obviously, we have new bodywork with the Corvette C7 configuration, and it’s working out real good,” Barbossa said.” We’re testing the new parts to make sure everything is working as expected.

“From a driving standpoint, the new bodywork is pretty much the same. But we’ve finally gone with the paddle shifter for next year, and it’s a pleasant surprise to see how well it’s working.

“The guys at the shop really did a great job preparing everything, and everything is doing as it’s supposed to. We can’t stand still; we want to win another championship so we have to keep working as hard as we did last year and keep developing the car. I’m sure the competition is doing everything they can to beat us.”

Also on hand at Daytona was the RG Racing Riley-Dinan DP of Shane Lewis and Robert Gewirtz, which is slated to run in the Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup races this year, as well as the Magnus Racing Porsche 911 GT America with full-season drivers Andy Lally and John Potter.

Konrad Motorsport had two Porsches on hand, including the ex-Dempsey Racing chassis with drivers Rolf Ineichen, Christian Englehart and Klaus Bachler. The German squad is reportedly aiming to also contest the Patron Endurance Cup races next year.

Extreme Speed Motorsports had planned to test its HPD ARX-04b on the Daytona high banks as well, but will instead focus on a two-day private test at Sebring next week.

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

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