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Magnussen, Rockenfeller Set for Unexpected Corvette Returns

Jan Magnussen, Mike Rockenfeller in line for unexpected Corvette returns in COTA WEC race…

Photos: Rick Dole/IMSA, Audi

Jan Magnussen and Mike Rockenfeller are set to drive the new Chevrolet Corvette C8.R in the FIA World Endurance Championship’s Lone Star Le Mans race later this month.

Both drivers are poised to make unexpected returns to the Corvette lineup after leaving the team at the end of the 2019 season.

While Corvette has yet to announce its drivers for the race, the pairing has been named on the latest version of the entry list for the six-hour contest at Circuit of The Americas.

Magnussen departed Corvette Racing’s full-season IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship squad in October after 16 years of association with the GM brand.

The quadruple 24 Hours of Le Mans class winner left after a long career with Corvette that included four IMSA championship titles and 35 race victories.

Rockenfeller, meanwhile, was forced out of Corvette’s extended endurance lineup because of a date clash between Le Mans and the DTM round at Anderstorp which couldn’t guarantee his participation in the 24 Hours.

The German driver is a pillar of the Audi DTM program and was confirmed for a fourteenth season with the manufacturer last week.

Rockenfeller’s seat in Corvette’s IMSA endurance squad alongside Antonio Garcia and Magnussen’s replacement Jordan Taylor ultimately went to Nicky Catsburg.

It’s unclear if the Lone Star Le Mans WEC race will mark the first in a series of Corvette comeback appearances for Magnussen and Rockenfeller, or if both drivers have regained formal race positions within the team.

Daniel Lloyd is a UK-based reporter for Sportscar365, covering the FIA World Endurance Championship, Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, among other series.

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