Team Chevy VIR race report

Autohaus Motorsports Scores First-Ever Win in Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series Grand Touring (GT) Competition at Virginia International Raceway

ALTON, Va. – For Camaro GT.R drivers Bill Lester and Jordan Taylor, the trip to victory lane today at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) will remain memorable for both in their Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series Grand Touring (GT) careers. Not only did each celebrate their first career wins in the series, but, also gave Autohaus Motorsports its first Grand Am GT victory as an organization.

Taylor, who turned just 20 years-old earlier in the week, was behind the wheel when the checkered flag flew on the 2:75-hour Bosch Engineering 250. Lester was the lead-off driver in the effort that gave Team Chevy its first victory of the 2011 Grand-Am season.

In a race that featured both ends of the weather spectrum from heavy downpours to sunny conditions, Team Chevy enjoyed a one-two finish in GT at VIR with the No. 07 Banner Racing Camaro GT.R piloted by Oliver Gavin and Gunter Schaldach solidly in the runner-up position.

#88 Autohaus Motorsports Camaro GT.R: Bill Lester, Jordan Taylor

Photo by: Eric Gilbert

"At the end of a grueling race that started in heavy rain and ending in dry sunny conditions, Chevrolet Camaros finished 1st and 2nd in the GT class,” said Mark Kent, Director of GM Racing. “The #88 Autohaus Motorsports Camaro was the first to cross the finish line and the #07 Banner Racing Camaro finished a close second. The ability to adapt to the wide range of weather conditions demonstrates the strength of our Chevrolet teams as well as the strengths of the Chevrolet Camaro. This was the first GT win for Autohaus Motorsports and also the first win for their outstanding drivers, Bill Lester and Jordan Taylor. It was a great way for Jordan Taylor to celebrate turning twenty earlier this week."

Said an elated Taylor after the race: “It was a crazy race you saw out with the rain coming down but Bill did a great job in the beginning in just keeping out of trouble. You saw the guys just flying off the track. He kept us out of trouble, I managed to keep us out of trouble luckily. We had good strategy and a quick car so it is a great win for us and a great win for Camaro.”

“Everything came together,” said Lester. “Don’t let Jordan sell himself short, i mean that guy’s is really a rock star; he can flat drive a car. He brought it home, all I had to do is bring him the car. But it all starts with preparation at Autohaus, they did a phenomenal job.”

The No. 57 Stevenson Motorsports Camaro GT.R was the pole sitter for today’s race and brought home a seventh-in-class finish today.

After capturing the top-three qualifying positions in the Rolex Sports Car Series Daytona Prototype (DP) class, the No. 10 SunTrust Racing Chevrolet/ Dallara was the top-finishing Chevrolet in the race with their fourth place finish with drivers Max Angelelli and Ricky Taylor.

Heavy late-race on-track contact relegated the pole-winning No. 90 Spirit of Daytona Chevrolet/Coyote finished 10th in-class.

"In the Daytona Prototype class” concluded Kent. “All three of our Chevrolet-powered entries were strong with each of them leading laps. Congratulations to Wayne Taylor Racing for being the highest finishing Chevrolet."

Team Chevy Camaro GS.R finishing positions in the Grand Sport class of the Bosch Engineering 200 for the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge were: the No. 00 CKS Autosport Camaro GS.R-7th; No. 9 Stevenson Motorsports GS.R-9th; No. 01 CKS Autosport Camaro GS.R-12th; No. 6 Mitchum Motorsports Camaro GS.R-17th and No. 62 Mitchum Motorsports Camaro GS.R-19th position.

The next Grand-Am Road Racing event for both Rolex Sports Car Series and Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge will be May 27-30, 2011 at Lime Rock Park, Lakeville, CT.

-source: team chevy