Memories from Corvette's two decades at Le Mans

Corvette Racing announced yesterday that its streak of 20 consecutive appearances at the Le Mans 24 Hours would finally be broken this year amid the fallout of the coronavirus. Ahead of its 20th appearance in the race last year, Autosport spoke to those involved in the programme about their favourite memories

Published May 12, 2020, 3:12 PM

The news yesterday that Corvette Racing would not be participating in the rescheduled 2020 edition of the Le Mans 24 Hours in September was a significant one for sportscar racing.

Although a statement from General Motors' vice-president of motorsports and performance Jim Campbell stressed that Chevrolet intends to return to Le Mans with the latest-generation Corvette C8.R, which made its race debut at the Daytona 24 Hours in January, the decision to withdraw its two-car entry brings a temporary halt to a 20-year streak of appearances dating back to 2000.

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Author Gary Watkins

Gary Watkins has, for reasons best known to himself, devoted all his working life to covering sportscar racing. This season is his 33rd as a motorsport journalist, during which time he has reported on major long-distance events on four continents and approaching 80 24-hour races. He reckons a degree in political philosophy makes him well qualified for covering the sometimes Machiavellian world of international sportscars.

Gary, who also writes for Motor Sport, Autocourse, RACER and others, lives in Surbiton close to the former workshops of the Cooper Formula 1 team but spends more time on the road than at home for most of the year.