THE WHELEN ENGINEERING CORVETTE DP IS PRIMED TO PERFORM AS THE IMSA WEATHERTECH SPORTSCAR CHAMPIONSHIP HITS THE STREETS OF LONG BEACH
The Whelen Engineering Chevrolet Corvette Daytona Prototype is headed west to the streets of Long Beach in pursuit of the team’s first victory of the 2016 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship following a runner-up performance in the Twelve Hours of Sebring.
Dane Cameron and Eric Curran have kicked off the 2016 championship in midseason form, and both are hoping that will lead to a victory in the BUBBA burger Sports Car Grand Prix at Long Beach. The duo trail the defending series champions, in the No. 5 Mustang Sampling Corvette DP by a single point as the series reaches its third stop. The two Action Express Racing Corvette DPs currently lead all full-season competitors in the championship standings.
Last season, Cameron was one of the few drivers who made a pass for position in the two-hour sprint race, which ran under green flag conditions for the entire event. With the difficulty in gaining track position on the narrow and demanding street course, IMSA’s winningest driver knows starting in the front and running a flawless race will be critical to his team’s success.
“Long Beach is one of our toughest races of the year with such a condensed schedule for practice and a shorter race,” said Cameron. “That format places a premium on showing up ready to go and maximizing every opportunity. It is tough to pass so qualifying well and using strategy and perfect pit stops to your advantage are a must at Long Beach. Overall its a great event and a really fun track to drive and I can’t wait to get back to work in our No. 31 Whelen Engineering Corvette DP.”
For Eric Curran, the 2015 season was remarkable for the No. 31 Whelen Engineering Corvette DP, but despite the success, the part-time resident of Southern California is eager for more on the first stop of the West Coast swing.
“Long beach is an amazing venue being able to race in the streets and on the main roads of the city,” said Curran. “The fact that at night the track turns right back into a main street just adds to the wow factor of this race. It’s really difficult to top the atmosphere that you have at Long Beach with the fans and being right on the water. In addition to the atmosphere, you’re part of a great racing history when you compete in the Long Beach Grand Prix and it would be incredible to win the race in our No. 31 Whelen Engineering Corvette DP.”
Curran will make an appearance on Wednesday night with the Whelen Engineering Corvette DP at the annual “Roar in the Shore” event taking place in Belmont Shore on Second Street in front of Legends Sports Bar (5236 E Second Street). Curran will answer questions from IMSA Radio’s Shea Adam and sign autographs for fans.
The Whelen Engineering Corvette DP currently sits third in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship after starting the season with a sixth place finish at Daytona and a runner-up result at Sebring.
Cameron has two previous starts in IMSA competition at the Long Beach Grand Prix, in 2014 with Risi Competizione and then last season with Action Express Racing. Cameron also made one start in the Formula Atlantic Series in 2008.
Curran has two starts, both coming in Coyote Chevrolet Corvette DPs, first with Marsh Racing in 2014, where he earned his first career top-5 finish in prototype competition, and then last year with Cameron in the Whelen Corvette DP for Action Express Racing.
The BUBBA burger Sports Car Grand Prix gets underway with practice on Friday, April 15 at 7:40 a.m. PT, with qualifying for prototype competitors at 6:15 p.m. PT. All on-track activity can be heard on IMSA Radio throughout the weekend. The BUBBA burger Sports Car Grand Prix goes green on Saturday, April 16 at 4:05 p.m. PT and will be televised live on FOX Sports 2 and on FOX Sports GO.
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