Daytona Corvette Prototype

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Jan Magnussen Presse

The new Corvette prototype will be driven by Jan Magnussen at the 24 Hours of Daytona.

In November 2011 General Motors unveiled their new Corvette Daytona Prototype, which will get its debut at the 24 Hours of Daytona, 28-29. January 2012. Today, it was revealed that Dane Jan Magnussen will be among the drivers who will try to give the Corvette an overall victory at the 50th edition of the Rolex 24h at Daytona. With this new venture in Grand Am, Corvette is now strongly represented in both American sports car series as Corvette Racing, along with Jan Magnussen, will be continuing their efforts in the high-profile GT class in the American Le Mans Series.

At the jubilee race at Daytona in 2012, four teams in all will use the new Corvette Daytona Prototype. It is "Spirit of Daytona Racing", "SunTrust Racing", "Gainsco / Bob Stallings Racing" and finally "Action Express Racing", who will have two new Corvettes. Jan Magnussen joins "Spirit of Daytona Racing", where he is joined by three of his Corvette teammates Spaniard Antonio Garcia and Englishmen Oliver Gavin and Richard Westbrook.

For Jan Magnussen it will be the eighth time, he will try to win the American classic. Twice before he is tried to start in a prototype, and in 2007 when he was with
SunTrust Racing they came close to victory but became plagued in the last hour of the race with brake and clutch problems, which meant that the team had to
settle for a nice third place.

In the following years, General Motors used Jan Magnussen in their GT program, with Pontiac and Camaro respectively and Magnussen did look like the eventual winner if no mechanical problems and accidents not had put a stop to the heroic drives.

The winners of the Rolex Daytona 24h will be presented with Rolex Daytona watch and Jan Magnussen hopes he in 2012 finally win one of the most coveted timepieces.

"I'm really excited to be back in a prototype in Daytona. Especially with the Corvette in a car I am sure can help to get the overall victory, "says Jan Magnussen. "It's a really exciting project. I've seen the car and I cannot wait to get out and drive it. The car is obviously new, but I know Corvette and know they will not start unprepared and with the drivers involved we are really strong. But I'm also realistic and it can be really, really hard to win at Daytona. There is typically at least 10 cars that can win the race and 2012 promises to be another one of those years when the race is decided in a battle for seconds in the last hour. I've been close so many times and yet some others who have gone home with the watch placed on the wrist. Due to the track layout, where you have the long wide straights with raised curves the roadsection in
contrast is very narrow, where you can lose a lot of time being stuck in traffic. In the roadsection the racing is close and you have to stay away from the inevitable troubles with physical contact between the cars. So you have to be restrained aggressive. And then you should take care not to be stationary in
the garage while the others are racing! Unfortunately, that has happend too often, but now I hope that luck turns with the Corvette, so I can win that watch. "